This is what I found on 3 websites I trust & have used in the past (within 5 minutes, might I add). If my doc told me to give up ANY of my pets for whatever reason, you better believe I'd do some research before just handing them over. Ferrets do possess toxoplasmosis in their systems. However, unlike cats they cannot release/ shed the infected eggs back into the environment, they hit a dead end, so humans cannot catch the disease. (source: http://www.ferretuniverse.com/health/index.asp) Toxoplasmosis is a disease which is sometimes spread through animal feces, especially cats'. It's nothing to worry about, unless you're pregnant, have a very young child, or have a weakened immune system -- it's very dangerous to a human fetus in the first stages of development, it may be dangerous to infants and toddlers, and it's a concern for those who are HIV+. Ask your doctor if you think you might be susceptible. Dr. Bruce Williams, DVM, says: Toxoplasmosis has been reported twice in ferrets. Ferrets will not shed the toxoplasma organism to the extent that cats do, but if they are exposed to cat feces, they may contract the disease and shed very low amounts of oocysts. Here's the bottom line. Because of the devastating effects that Toxoplasma can have on a developing human fetus in the first trimester you don't want to take ANY chance at all on exposing [a pregnant woman] to Toxo. So [someone in the household who isn't pregnant] inherits all litterbox duties for the next nine months. Actually, she probably stands a higher chance of getting Toxo from poorly cooked beef. The doctor says - if she's a carnivore - better get used to well-done steaks... (source: http://www.ferretcentral.org/faq/part5.html#toxo) Ferrets cannot pass infective toxoplasmosis oocytes in their feces (Dr. Bruce Williams). To contract Toxoplasmosis from a ferret, one would have to eat poorly cooked ferret meat. If you are pregnant and concerned about this disease, have your husband or SO clean the litter boxes. (source: http://www.miamiferret.org/faq.htm#toxoplasmosis) [Posted in FML 6965]