After reading up on the sad case of sea otter deaths linked to feline-transmitted parasite toxoplasma gondii:
- Not a problem for domestic indoor-only cats
- Feral and indoor/outdoor cats represent highest risk because of exposure to birds/rats/other animals carrying the parasite
- Even these cats seem to become immune to passing on the parasite more than once
California passed a law in 2006 requiring litter bags to warn users about flushing litter down the drain. Presumably, the intent was to prevent transmission of T. gondii. However, it seems to miss several points:
- Follow-up studies seem to have detected concentrations of T. gondii in storm water runoff, streams, and so forth, but not in sewage treatment plant runoff
- This seems to imply feral and indoor/outdoor cats account for the majority of the transmission, not domestic cats
- Litter bagged and shipped to landfills is eventually broken down and made available to carriers of the parasite
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