Feral Cats Cause Disease in Sheep

Cats can be hosts for the parasites Sarcosporidia and Toxoplasma. These parasites infect sheep. Feral cats, stray cats, farm cats and even the pet moggie can carry these parasites. Pasture becomes infected when the cats defecate. Sheep pick up the parasites from eating infected pasture. Native animals and humans can also become infected with Toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasmosis causes abortion in maiden ewes. The loss to sheep farmers and the community can be significant.
Learn more about Toxoplasmosis.

Sarcosporidiosis requires the abattoir to trim infected meat, adding to processing costs and reducing saleable carcasse weight. This causes reduced returns to farmers and abattoirs.
Learn more about Sarcosporidiosis.