Use Care with Cat Caca
小心！此处有猫便便出没
撰文/播音 凯瑟琳•哈蒙
翻译 吴兰
Cleaning your cat's litter box can be annoying. And it might actually pose a health risk.
猫咪身上可能携带有高级危险品，要拾掇它们的粪便，还是小心些为妙。
The reason is a microscopic organism called Toxoplasma gondii. This protozoan has been linked in humans to congenital birth defects and nervous system damage. There’s evidence that it’s also tied to an increased risk for psychiatric illnesses, rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions.
一切都要归咎于一种叫鼠弓形虫的（Toxoplasma gondii）微小生物。鼠弓形虫感染能够造成婴儿的出生缺陷，并且损伤神经系统。有证据表明，它还会增加人患精神病和风湿性关节炎等疾病的风险。
It reproduces in cats, which shed parasites in their feces. These oocysts can then be picked up by birds, mice or people.
鼠弓形虫在猫咪体内繁殖后代，它们的卵囊随着猫粪便排出，继而传播到鸟类、老鼠和人类身上。
Cats produce 1.2 million metric tons of waste outdoors each year in the U.S. And about 1 percent of cats are likely shedding Toxo at any given time.
美国的喵星人每年能在家门外创造120万吨粪便，每100只美国猫中就有一只随时可能拉下一堆寄生虫。
Indoor-only cats are less likely to pick up the parasite. Nevertheless, best to be cautious when around the garden box, sandbox and litter box.
猫咪若是从不出门，感染寄生虫的概率要小得多。尽管如此，对喵星人的粪便还是小心些为妙。
（题图来源：spreadshirt.com）
京公网安备11010502039775号
信息网络传播视听节目许可证0111611号
国家科技基础条件平台
