Toxoplasmosis?

I recently got a new kitten to keep my older cat (Riley) company. Well, to make a long story short, Riley was less than pleased to have a new companion. He started acting really depressed and lethargic and then started to have diarrhea. I assumed this wasn't a normal reaction so I took him to the vet. At first, the vet gave him a clean bill of health, but then he called last week to let me know that Riley's stool tested positive for toxoplasmosis. He's now on antibiotics for 15 days. I brought the kitten's stool in to get tested too and she tested negative so the vet said that Riley must have gotten it from his mother and it just showed up now for some reason (he's an indoor cat so he hasn't been doing any hunting). He said it was just a coincidence it came at the same time as the new kitten.

Anyway, I'm just looking for some advice/guidance from anyone that has gone through this. Riley's been on antibiotics for 4 days now and he seems to be more active, but sometimes he still just lies around and hides, which is out of his character. His diarrhea is very mild, but he also hasn't had a solid stool in about 2 weeks. Is this normal for toxoplasmosis?

I just hate seeing him sick! The new kitten in the house is enough for one month, he doesn't need to be feeling crummy too

It isn't a coincidence. Once a cat has toxo, they always carry it. Their immune systems normally manage it just fine, but under conditions of stress, their immune systems (just like with people) weaken. So it was most likely the stress of the new kitten introduction that caused the "flare up" of the problem. The meds should take care of it, and I'm sure all will be fine. :rub:

I would put him on a probiotic, however, to restore his good gut flora. That will help him fight this. :nod: Go to any health food store, and ask for an acidophilus supplement that has 10 billion active cultures. If they have ones with only 5, give one to him in the morning (just sprinkle it on his food, most cats love it) and one in the evening. Just make sure you give the probiotics about 2 hours after you give him the antibiotics, or they'll just kill it right away (antibiotics kill all the bacteria in the gut, good and bad). I'd keep him on the probiotics for a couple of weeks after the antibiotics are finished up. (I keep mine on probiotics all the time - they take the same one I do ).

It may take a little while for the antibiotics to do their job, but the probiotic should help. But yes, diarrhea is the main symptom of toxo, and you only started him on the antibiotics a few days ago.