Do Cats Cause Infertility? Read the Full Explanation from IPB University Clinical Pathology Experts
“Don’t keep cats, or you’ll become infertile.” Some of us may have heard this statement. But is it true?
Dr Leni Maylina, a lecturer at the IPB University School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (SKHB), refutes this assumption. According to her, keeping cats does not directly cause infertility.
“The issue that often circulates in society is related to infection with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, not because of the cats themselves,” said Dr Leni in the IPB Podcast aired on the IPB TV YouTube channel regarding myths and facts about the relationship between keeping cats and human reproductive health.
She explained that Toxoplasma gondii is a very small protozoan parasite. It can only be seen under a microscope. Not all cats are infected with this parasite. In fact, based on several studies, the number of infected cats is very small.
“Not all cats can be infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Many studies show that its prevalence is very low, especially in cats kept indoors,” she explained.
According to Dr Leni, cats can become infected with toxoplasma primarily if they eat raw meat or prey such as mice that contain parasite cysts. Infected cats can excrete the parasite in the form of oocysts through their feces. However, these oocysts are not immediately infectious.
“The oocysts that come out in cat feces are not initially infectious. They need about one to five days to become infectious. Therefore, it is very important to clean up cat feces every day,” she said.
She added that cats that have been infected will generally develop antibodies, making it unlikely that they will excrete infectious oocysts in the future.
To confirm infection medically, testing can be done using cat feces, although the results are not always accurate. Further tests such as PCR or immunological tests can also be conducted at veterinary health facilities.
Regarding transmission to humans, Dr Leni emphasized that the primary source of toxoplasmosis infection is actually food, not cats.
“The biggest transmission to humans is actually from food, especially meat that is not cooked thoroughly and vegetables and fruits that are not washed properly. More than 80 percent of infection cases come from food,” she said.
Regarding the link between toxoplasmosis and infertility, Dr Leni mentioned that there is no evidence that toxoplasmosis directly causes infertility.
“If you say it causes infertility directly, I don’t think so. However, in pregnant women, toxoplasma infection can cause miscarriage or fetal disorders, especially in the first trimester,” she said.
She also emphasized that pregnant women or those planning to become pregnant do not need to remove cats from their homes. The most important thing is to avoid direct contact with cat feces, use gloves when cleaning the litter box, and always wash your hands thoroughly.
“The most important thing is hygiene, including food hygiene and handwashing habits. Don’t eat immediately after touching a cat without washing your hands,” she advised.
Closing the discussion, Dr Leni urged the public not to be afraid of keeping cats because of the issue of toxoplasmosis. “Don’t be afraid to keep cats. The important thing is not to feed them raw meat, clean their feces every day, use gloves, and regularly take them to the vet for health checks,” she said. (Fj) (IAAS/FHD)
