Feline: Other Concerns

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a common parasite of warm-blooded animals and is a potential zoonotic disease, meaning that it can be transferred to humans.

Cats become infected when they eat prey animals hosting the organism. Once a cat is infected, oocysts can be shed in their feces from three to 21 days after infection and, once sporulated (the infectious stage), can survive in the environment for months to years. Primary infection of pregnant women can lead to problems with the fetus.

Pregnant women and immuno-compromised individuals are at the highest risk of infection.

Several things can be done to decrease the risk of exposure to Toxoplasmosis. Cats are infected by eating prey animals, so if they are not allowed to hunt, they will not become infected. Oocysts sporulate three days after entering the environment, so the cat litter should be changed daily by someone other than the individual at risk. Remember that oocysts survive in the environment for years, so care should be taken when working with soil and potentially contaminated water.

It is more common to be infected by eating under-cooked meat (particularly pork in the USA). Cook meat to medium-well to inactivate tissue cysts and wear gloves when handling raw meat. If you are concerned that you may have Toxoplasmosis, you should see your doctor for testing.

Vaccine Site Tumors

At the present time, there is a lot of research being conducted to determine the best vaccination protocols for cats. Much of the concern centers around the risk of a tumor developing at the site of injection, primarily with the rabies and leukemia vaccines.

Depending on the study, somewhere between 1 in 10,000 or 1 in 50,000 cats will develop a locally aggressive tumor at the site of vaccination. We can decrease the risk of tumor development by customizing each cat's vaccination requirements and giving only the vaccines that cat needs.

If your cat has a lump at the site of injection two months after vaccination, please notify us and bring your cat in for an examination. We are currently using a line of vaccinations for cats specifically designed to reduce the incidence of vaccination site tumors.

Feline Heartworm Disease

Heartworm disease also affects cats. Unfortunately, unlike canine heartworm disease, there is currently no safe cure for cats. However, the disease is preventable. There are currently two monthly preventatives for cats, one oral and one topical. For more information, consult our heartworm disease page or ask your veterinarian during your pet's next visit.