Intestinal Worms in Cats: An Overview
Worms in cats are a common occurrence, especially in kittens, and your vet will test for them once per year. Testing is done by way of a stool sample.
Worms are intestinal parasites either directly or indirectly feeding off of your cat. Worms use cats in order to reproduce and complete their lifecycle. There are a number of cat parasites out there, with a few major classes of worms.
Roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms, are the main types of worms found in cats. During annual check ups, your vet should do a fecal exam for diagnosis.
Given enough time, cats that share litter boxes will also share worm infestations. A fecal sample from one of the cats in the house is usually enough to determine if all are infected. All felines unlucky enough to live with an infeced cat will need to be treated.
Let's have a look at more detail on each of the major types of worms that attack cats.
Roundworms - Roundworms (Toxocara Cati) look kind of like spaghetti, and you usually won't see them unless your cat vomits them up. Mother cats may show no symptoms, but can still pass roundworm on to their kittens. which lies dormant. Kittens will normally be wormed 2 - 3 times, whether they test positive or not.
In adult cats, infestations of this parasite severe enough to cause illness are unusual. This is because mature cats often develop a natural immunity against roundworm.
Hookworms - Hookworms literally "hook" themselves to the inside wall of your cat's intestines. Since hookworms are tissue feeders, they can cause blood loss, which results in anemia. Other symptoms may include intestinal illness, poor hair coat, and weight loss. The good news concerning hookworms is that most of the roundworm treatments will also kill hookworms. You should note that at least two treatments are needed to rid your cat of this worm.
Tapeworms - Tapeworms consist of segments containing eggs. The segments drop off the worm, and along with the eggs are passed in the stool. They then dry out and begin to look like grains of rice and are fairly easy to spot. You'll sometimes see them in heavily traveled areas or around the cat's anus. Cats with these worms have been known to experience anal irritation and exhibit excessive licking.
Since these worms are transmitted by fleas, flea control is essential. Your cat eats the flea after the flea eats the tapeworm egg. The tapeworm then lives in the intestinal tract of your cat, and is able to start the process over.
Usually, there will be no visible signs of illness in your cat from tapeworms. Remember that as long as there are fleas, your cat is at risk. Until you completely get rid of the fleas, a potential tapeworm problem exists.
Tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms are enemies of your cat. Keep in mind that while intestinal worms in cats may not always produce any visible signs of illness, your cat is still sick. Cat parasites put undue stress on your little friend, and you should do all you can to help him or her. That includes not only regular check ups, but proper care, high quality food, regular exercise, and the room to play and explore.
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