Research out today offers a potential warning for cat owners everywhere: your precious feline might be harboring a parasite that can cause trouble for your toilet and their litter box at the same time.

Veterinary scientists studied clinical lab samples sent in from across the U.S. and parts of Canada. Roughly one in every 15 cats seems to be carrying a diarrhea-causing parasite known as Giardia duodenalis, they found, some strains of which can also sicken humans. Though the infection is manageable, especially when caught early, the findings highlight the importance of keeping a close eye on your cat’s gastrointestinal health, the researchers say.

“Giardia is a parasite veterinarians know how to diagnose, treat, and help prevent, but some infected cats may not appear sick,” study author Anne Kimmerlein told Gizmodo. “It’s important that pet owners keep up on recommended preventive veterinary care, including fecal parasite screening tests.”

Giardia is a parasitic protozoan. In its hosts, it infects the small intestine, causing diarrhea, stomach cramps, and other GI symptoms. Though the illness usually only lasts a few weeks in humans, some unlucky few can develop chronic gut issues. Eventually, new generations of the parasite are pooped out, allowing them to contaminate the environment as hardy cysts and start the cycle all over again.

There are several major types of this particular species of Giardia , two of which can easily infect humans as well as other mammals like cats. , with more than a million cases seen every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; it’s an even larger problem in developing countries that have inadequate sanitation.

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