WASHINGTON — The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) knows that cat owners who have suppressed immune systems or become pregnant may give up their feline family members out of fear of contracting toxoplasmosis, a disease that can lead to serious birth defects in newborn babies. Now there is mounting evidence linking toxoplasmosis with schizophrenia. The good news is that toxoplasmosis is easy to avoid, given the right information.
Dr. Milton H. McAllister, professor of pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, recently announced the strong likelihood of a link between toxoplasmosis and schizophrenia. The HSUS supports Dr. McAllister's recommendations that more research is needed to clarify this association. Dr. McAllister's review, which appears in the September 30 issue of the Journal of Veterinary Parasitology, also recommends that pet cats be kept indoors, for people to cook meat sufficiently, and that veterinary and public health professionals reconsider the way they think and teach about toxoplasmosis.
The HSUS is in full agreement with those recommendations, but not with Dr. McAllister's recommendation to not feed stray cats. "Starving the cats and instituting bans on feeding are ineffective because the cats don't simply go away and they will continue to reproduce," said Nancy Peterson, HSUS companion animals issues specialist. "If such methods to reduce cat populations were effective, there wouldn't be millions of homeless cats across this country. Attempts to starve out cats only result in hungry, unhealthy animals who are more vulnerable to disease and severe parasitic infestations."
The HSUS believes that people and animals should be protected and supports managed Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs to reduce the numbers of free-roaming cats. A reduction in the cat population will mean fewer nuisance complaints (about overpopulation, fighting, spraying, and roaming) to animal control and city officials, fewer public health risks (toxoplasmosis, bites, rabies), and less predation.
Although epidemiologic studies of populations of cats in communities across the United States indicate that TNR can be an effective method of control, it is important to recognize that TNR programs alone can not solve the problem of free-roaming cats in the face of continuous emigration from the owned cat population. Responsible care of owned cats must include spay and neuter before they produce even one litter, safe confinement, and identification.
Fortunately, toxoplasmosis is a rare disease in the United States, with approximately 3,000 newborns per year suffering from birth defects after their mothers acquired the infection, according to a 1999 study referenced in "Toxoplasmosis: A Practical Guide for the Clinician," written for The HSUS by Dr. Jeffrey D. Kravetz of the Yale University School of Medicine. The disease-causing parasite is found in the feces of cats who ingest raw meat, birds, mice or contaminated soil. It is extremely unlikely that a cat kept indoors will carry toxoplasmosis. Outdoor cats have a slightly higher risk.
What many people do not know, is that toxoplasmosis is more commonly found in uncooked or undercooked meat. Pregnant women or women who think they may be pregnant can easily avoid the disease:
- Don't handle or eat uncooked or undercooked meat
- Clean all surfaces and utensils that come in contact with raw or undercooked meat
- Keep your cat safely indoors and away from wildlife
- Have someone else clean the litter box daily
- Wear rubber gloves and follow with a thorough hand washing if you must clean the litter box. Scoop feces as soon as you can, and at least daily, since it takes one to five days for feces to become infectious.
- Feed cats only commercially prepared cat food
The HSUS’s Safe Cat campaign provides people with real solutions for keeping their pet cats safe and happy by providing a stimulating indoor environment and supervised outdoor access with the use of a harness or a special cat enclosure. Our brochures, “A Safe Cat is a Happy Cat,” and “The Uninvited Cat,” are available from The HSUS. Click on http://www.safecats.org.
The HSUS patient brochure “Your Baby & Your Pet,” (also available in Spanish) and Dr. Kravetz’s guide for clinicians are available. The “Your Baby & Your Pet” brochure includes valuable information to help pet owners prepare pets for the new baby’s arrival and to help acclimate pets once the baby comes home. For more information on toxoplasmosis, go to www.hsus.org.
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization representing more than 9 million members and constituents. The non-profit organization is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy, and field work. The group is based in Washington and has numerous field representatives across the country.
