10/14/2026
I want to bring awareness to something that I don’t think is talked about NEARLY enough in the breeding community. TRITRICHOMONAS FOETUS.
This is a very real and very serious issue affecting cats here in the United States and around the world, and quite frankly, I think too many people are minimizing it.
The reason I’m bringing this to light today is because yet ANOTHER breeder is shutting down their cattery due to this parasite. That makes THREE breeders I have personally spoken with in just the last TWO MONTHS who have made the heartbreaking decision to close their programs because of infections within their catteries.
THREE. IN TWO MONTHS.
In my own breeding career, I have had TWO cats come to me infected with this protozoan parasite. A very good friend of mine has received EIGHT. Yes, EIGHT cats from different breeders, both internationally and right here in the United States, that tested positive.
For those unfamiliar, Tritrichomonas foetus is a highly contagious intestinal protozoan that spreads between cats through f***l contamination, particularly through shared litter boxes. It can cause:
* Chronic, extremely foul-smelling diarrhea
* Mucus and sometimes fresh blood in the stool
* Constant straining and urgency to defecate
* Inflammation and irritation around the re**um
* F***l leakage and incontinence
* Severe intestinal inflammation and, in some cases, re**al prolapse
* Dehydration, weakness, and potentially life-threatening complications
And here’s the scary part. Some infected cats show absolutely NO symptoms while still shedding the organism and potentially infecting other cats.
Something else that needs to be understood is that TRITRICHOMONAS FOETUS CAN BE FATAL. There are documented cases in veterinary literature of infected kittens dying, including a case involving suspected septic shock. While many cats survive this infection, not all do. Some suffer prolonged intestinal disease, recurring symptoms, and complications that can affect their quality of life for years.
So when I see people brushing this off as nothing more than a little diarrhea, it genuinely concerns me. Just because something isn’t commonly fatal doesn’t mean it isn’t capable of contributing to a fatal outcome.
Treatment isn’t as simple as giving a routine dewormer. The primary medication used is ronidazole, a drug also used in pigeons that is NOT FDA-approved for cats. It carries serious safety concerns, including neurological toxicity, and there are concerns about its potential carcinogenic effects. This is not a medication to take lightly, and treatment needs to be managed by a veterinarian. Even with treatment, there is no guarantee that every cat will clear the infection.
Testing is another HUGE concern. A routine f***l examination can completely miss this organism. A specialized f***l PCR is one of the most sensitive diagnostic tools available, but because shedding can be intermittent, a single negative test doesn’t always tell the whole story. Repeated negative PCR tests spaced several weeks apart can provide additional reassurance, but no testing protocol can guarantee that an infection will never recur or that a cat will never be reinfected.
And I want to be VERY clear about where I personally stand. I would NEVER knowingly introduce a cat into my breeding program that has a history of Tritrichomonas foetus. PERIOD. I don’t care how many negative PCR tests that cat has had, how beautiful it is, how exceptional its pedigree may be, or how badly I want those bloodlines. It is simply not a risk I am willing to take.
That is my personal biosecurity standard, and it is not up for negotiation. I have worked far too hard to build my program, and I have a responsibility to protect every single cat already in my care. No cat, no pedigree, and no breeding opportunity is worth jeopardizing the health of an entire cattery.
Even when the infection is successfully treated, some cats continue to struggle with chronic digestive issues, loose stools, or f***l incontinence. Stress can trigger recurring gastrointestinal symptoms, and determining whether those symptoms are caused by reinfection, persistent infection, or lasting intestinal damage isn’t always straightforward.
This is NOT something to take lightly. This is NOT something to minimize. And this is certainly NOT something breeders should knowingly pass along to another breeding program or an unsuspecting family.
Think about that for a minute. Three breeders in two months have personally told me they are shutting down because of infections in their catteries. These are real people, real breeding programs, and real animals being affected. The emotional, financial, and physical toll something like this can take is tremendous.
We have a responsibility to the animals we produce, the families who trust us, and the breeding programs we work with. That responsibility doesn’t end when a cat leaves our home.
If you’re bringing a new cat into your home or breeding program, PLEASE educate yourself about this organism. Ask about PCR testing. Practice proper quarantine procedures. Understand that a cat having normal stool does not automatically mean that cat is free of intestinal pathogens.
And breeders, if you have an infection in your program, BE TRANSPARENT. There is absolutely no shame in dealing with an infectious organism. These things can happen even in well-managed programs. But knowingly withholding that information and putting someone else’s animals at risk is an entirely different conversation.
I’m not sharing this to create panic or point fingers. I’m sharing it because I’ve personally dealt with it, I’ve watched others deal with it, and now I’m watching breeders make the heartbreaking decision to walk away from programs they’ve spent years building.
I genuinely believe this is far more widespread than people realize, and the only way we’re going to make progress is by having these uncomfortable conversations.
Awareness matters. Transparency matters. Responsible testing matters. And above all else, OUR CATS MATTER.
