Cats play an important role in the spread of toxoplasmosis.
Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a microscopic parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. It is present in many warm-blooded animals, but has only been found to reproduce in the guts of cats. When illness occurs, it is usually mild with "flu-like" symptoms that last for several weeks and then go away.
Steps
Avoid eating raw or uncooked meat, and make sure that meals are well cooked. This is especially important if you are pregnant.
Wash your hands immediately after handling raw meats, fruits and vegetables to avoid spreading any possible infection. Work surfaces and knives should also be cleaned immediately afterward.
Wear rubber gloves when cleaning out the litter tray. If you're pregnant it may be advisable to ask someone else to do this for you. The litter tray should also be thoroughly cleaned and washed out often.
Clean up any cat feces as soon as possible. The parasite does not become infectious until 1-5 days after it is shed in a cat's feces
Wear gloves when gardening. This will prevent any hand-to-mouth infection from contaminated soil.
Avoid feeding cats raw meat or untreated milk - this is one way that they can catch toxoplasmosis.
Freeze meat for several days before cooking to greatly reduce a chance of infection.
Pregnant women need to be particularly careful to avoid the infection, as there is a 40% risk that it could affect the unborn child, causing possible eyesight problems later in life.
Antibiotic treatment can reduce these risks if the infection is detected early.
Do not adopt or handle stray cats, especially kittens.
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