There is an understandable desire by many cat owners to keep their cat companion off the kitchen counter. If this troubles you then the best way forward is through positive reinforcement training. You might be aware of that. The short Infographic on this page explains what I mean and is one example of how a cat caregiver might modify what they consider to be unwanted behaviour.
Train a cat to stay off the counter by Michael Broad
All cat training is based on positive reinforcement. It perhaps goes without saying that you should never punish your cat for jumping on the counter as they won’t get it because for them it is entirely normal, natural and acceptable. Punishment is the people. Positive reinforcement is for cats!
You might also look up on the Internet whether there is any health reason why a cat should be kept from jumping up onto the counter. A lot of the time this might be more about perceptions that domestic cats might spread diseases on surfaces where food is prepared for people. But there are not many diseases that can be transferred from domestic cats to human food at which point the human contracts the disease. I mention toxoplasmosis below.
Others would include: Campylobacteriosis, Salmonellosis and Giardiasis. There are perhaps 10 major viral diseases and 11 major bacterial diseases, adding up to at least 21 distinct viral and bacterial diseases that can affect domestic cats. However, this is not exhaustive, and the actual number may be higher depending on the inclusion of emerging diseases, rarer pathogens, and regional differences in disease prevalence.
However, in a lifetime of living with cats and allowing my cats to jump on the counter I have never contracted these diseases.
As I said this is about perceptions rather than a reality in my view. But this is a personal view perhaps. Others are more concerned and I respect that. The vast majority of feline diseases stay within the cat community and cannot be transferred to people. Further, it’s unusual for a disease to be transferred via food or via human hands provided the caregiver takes normal precautions and maintains reasonable hygiene. Perhaps it is those who are do not maintain decent hygiene that are at risk.
Toxoplasmosis
That said, I think this is about toxoplasmosis which can be transferred to people through oocysts in cat faeces and these oocysts might be on the paws of a cat after they have been to the toilet. This might leave the oocysts on the countertop which if not cleaned off might be transferred to food. That I think is the reason behind the desire to keep a cat off the counter. Entirely understandable but the chances of this happening would be very rare.
It’s also worthwhile noting that cats only shed these oocysts for a very short period of time once in their lives. I fear that there might be some misconceptions about toxoplasmosis as a zoonosis. But that would be understandable as well. A lot of people have toxoplasmosis without knowing it as there are no symptoms. See below for more…
Is it true that domestic cats only shed toxoplasmosis oocysts for about ten days once in their lives if they are infected with the disease?
Yes, it’s generally true that domestic cats only shed Toxoplasma gondii oocysts for a short period, typically for about 1 to 3 weeks (around 10 days is an average) once in their lives if they are infected with the parasite. Here’s how it works:
- Initial Infection: When a cat first becomes infected with Toxoplasma gondii, usually by consuming infected prey (like rodents) or contaminated raw meat, the parasite goes through a cycle in the cat’s intestines.
- Oocyst Shedding: During this initial infection, the cat’s body produces millions of oocysts (the infectious form of the parasite), which are then shed in the cat’s feces. This shedding typically lasts about 10 days to a few weeks.
- Immunity: After this initial shedding period, the cat usually develops immunity to the parasite, meaning it will not shed oocysts again if reinfected. However, the cat may carry the parasite in a dormant form within its body, but it won’t actively shed oocysts.
- Environmental Risk: The oocysts shed during this period can survive in the environment for long periods, where they can infect other animals or humans.
This limited shedding period is why not all cats pose a continuous risk of spreading Toxoplasma gondii, and why the risk is higher from newly infected cats.
Percentage of people infected with toxoplasmosis?
Approximately 11% of people in the United States are estimated to be infected with Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. This figure comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, the prevalence can vary depending on factors like geographic region, age, and certain behaviors or exposures (e.g., consumption of undercooked meat, exposure to cat feces).
In comparison, the global prevalence of toxoplasmosis is higher, with estimates suggesting that around 30% to 50% of the world’s population may be infected.
Often the disease is asymptomatic. Correct?
Yes, that’s correct. Toxoplasmosis is often asymptomatic, meaning that most people who are infected with Toxoplasma gondii do not experience noticeable symptoms. In fact, many individuals may not even know they are infected.
For those who do develop symptoms, they are usually mild and flu-like, such as:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Swollen lymph nodes, especially in the neck
- Muscle aches
These symptoms typically resolve on their own in healthy individuals.
However, in certain populations, toxoplasmosis can be more serious:
- Pregnant Women: If a woman becomes infected for the first time during pregnancy, the parasite can be transmitted to the fetus, potentially leading to serious complications, including congenital toxoplasmosis, which can cause birth defects or miscarriage.
- Immunocompromised Individuals: People with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, or organ transplant recipients, may experience severe symptoms. In these cases, toxoplasmosis can cause serious complications, including encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and damage to other organs.
