Looking at a purring feline, it might be impossible to believe the kitty could be suffering from dangerous worms living inside them as parasites. Though the topic isn’t appetizing to anyone but those parasites, it’s still important—plenty of both indoor and outdoor cats contract and suffer from worms each year. If not prevented or quickly treated, these worms can cause major havoc for kitty.
Roundworms are the most common in cats. They look like spaghetti and can be three to four inches long. Nursing kittens can get them from an infected mother’s milk, and adults can get them by eating an infected rodent or (sorry for saying so) the feces of an infected cat.
Hookworms are much smaller and live in the small intestine. They feed on the host’s blood and can cause anemia. Eggs are passed via stool and hatch into larvae that connect with other cats who ingest or touch them.
Tapeworms are long, flat, and can be four to 28 inches long. Cats catch them by eating an infected host such as a flea or rodent, and the worms cause vomiting and weight loss. Tapeworms can often be seen on the skin of infected cats around the animal’s hindquarters.
Lungworms live in the lungs, causing many cats to cough. Snails and slugs are common carriers, and cats often catch the worms from eating a bird or rodent who has feasted on another infected host.
Outdoor cats are most susceptible to worms, but even indoor cats can get worms by licking the bottom of your shoe, eating flies, or chewing a flea.
I know… Gross, gross, and more gross! It’s enough to make you never want to leave your house again, right? It’s okay, though—I promise. Dr. Brent Bilhartz from LazyPaw Animal Hospitals is here to help.
First, never try to treat worms yourself at home or with over the counter worm medicines. Different worms require different medical treatments, and only a trained veterinarian should be trusted to take care of kitty’s worm problem. Animal hospitals use a variety of tools and medicines, from oral deworming agents to physically deworming the animal.
The signs of worms are hard to diagnose at home, since they can vary. Symptoms may include trouble breathing, constipation, diarrhea, weight loss, bloody stool, or bloating. Bringing your cat to your local animal clinic should be the first step if there are signs of trouble, since worms can multiply and grow quickly. Humans can catch some worms, such as roundworms, so it’s especially important to deal with a potential worm issue as fast as possible.