Toxoplasmosis in cats – signs and treatment

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: International Cat Care (iCatCare)

Book a vet visit

Book a vet appointment if you think your cat has this – a vet needs to confirm it and plan the treatment. Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease that can make cats ill.

What to do now

What you can do now

  1. Contact your vet
  2. Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see
  3. Take a photo or short video to show the vet
  4. Keep fresh water available
  5. Let your cat rest somewhere calm

Don't

  • Do not give any human medicine
  • Do not wait if it gets worse

What it is

Toxoplasmosis can cause high temperature, eating less, weight loss, tiredness, breathing difficulties, inflammatory eye problems, liver disease and nervous system signs in cats. [1][1] A diagnosis can be difficult, so a vet may use your cat’s history, a physical examination and blood tests. [1][1]

Signs

  • High temperature
  • Eating less
  • Weight loss
  • Lethargy or tiredness
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Inflammatory eye problems
  • Liver disease
  • Tremors or seizures
  • Enlarged lymph nodes

How a vet finds out

  • Detailed history
  • Physical examination
  • Blood tests to look for toxoplasmosis antibodies

How vets treat it

  • A course of antibiotics
  • Further care if your cat is very sick, depending on their signs

What the experts say

“Of the diseases people can get from cats (zoonoses), Toxoplasmosis is the most well-known. However, there’s a huge amount of misunderstanding about this disease and the role cats play in causing human disease.”

— International Cat Care (iCatCare) [1]
If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

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Common questions

What signs can toxoplasmosis cause in cats?

Signs can include high temperature, eating less, weight loss, tiredness, breathing difficulties, inflammatory eye problems, liver disease, tremors or seizures, and enlarged lymph nodes. [1][1]

How does a vet diagnose toxoplasmosis?

Diagnosis may involve a detailed history, a physical examination and blood tests to look for toxoplasmosis antibodies. [1][1]

How do vets treat toxoplasmosis?

Vets treat toxoplasmosis with a course of antibiotics. If a cat is very sick, further care may be needed depending on the cat’s signs. [1][1]

Sources

  1. International Cat Care (iCatCare)

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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