More than half of New York City’s free-roaming cats are infected with parasites that can spread to people, according to a new study, with young male cats shedding the highest numbers of parasite eggs into the environment.
Widespread Infection Found
Researchers tested 87 free-roaming cats captured through a Trap Neuter Return (TNR) program in New York City between May and July 2023. Fecal flotation testing found that 57.5 percent of the cats carried at least one parasite species.
The most common was Toxocara, a roundworm that infected 54 percent of the cats sampled. Ancylostoma, or hookworm, was found in 13.8 percent, and coccidia, a single-celled parasite, was detected in 11.5 percent of the animals.
Additional testing turned up further infections. Giardia, another microscopic parasite, was also found in 11.6 percent of cats tested. Blood testing showed that 8.9 percent of cats had antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that can cause serious illness in pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems…