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Symptoms of Worms in Cat
(Symptoms of cat worms)
Even though you may not see any outward signs of infestation,
internal parasites may be to blame if your cat has intermittent
diarrhea, does not seem to gain weight despite a healthy diet, has
dull fur or is not as active as you think she should be.
Most cats will not show signs of intestinal parasitism at first. The
initial step in parasite control is having a stool sample tested by your
veterinarian. If the fecal exam is positive, the proper medication can
be prescribed or recommended for purging that particular worm.
Never use a de-wormer on a cat that is otherwise sick, pregnant or
debilitated. Worms are a health risk for sure, but properly treated,
they can be cured effectively.
Parasitic worms in cats normally reside in the intestines. Worm
larvae and eggs can remain dormant for years in tissues and wait for
an appropriate trigger to surface and infest your pet. In many cases,
stress acts as a trigger for worms to migrate. Parasites like
roundworms and hookworms can surface abruptly in advanced
stages of pregnancy and transmit to the young ones.
Kittens can get infected while in the womb or through the milk of an
infected mother. Adult cats can get infected by ingesting worm-
infested feces when grooming themselves. They can also become
infected if they consume a prey that is infected.
ROUNDWORMS are the most common type of worm to infect the
animal kingdom. These are usually 2 to 4 inches long, tan or white
“spaghetti-like” creatures with tapered ends. If the infestation is
severe, a cat may vomit these worms or pass them whole in the
stool. In addition to causing vomiting and diarrhea, roundworms can
have an effect on a cat’s overall health and appearance. Kittens
infected with roundworms will have a potbellied, bloated look to them
and may be constantly hungry. Larvae of roundworms can migrate
to various parts of the body and can travel up to the eye and cause
damage to vision. Although uncommon, roundworms can actually
become so numerous that they create an intestinal blockage so that
stool cannot pass. Roundworms can be transferred to humans and
can cause an infection that may result in inflammation of muscle
tissue and blindness. For this reason, feces should be scooped
from the litter box daily and disposed of in the household trash.
HOOKWORMS are blood-sucking intestinal parasites and have the
ability to cause anemia and sometimes death in kittens and adult
cats. Hookworms cannot be seen by the naked eye, and the severity
of adverse effects will depend on the amount of worms in the
intestine, the animal’s overall health, age and acquired immunity.
Fortunately, cats become more resistant to hookworms as they grow
older.
TAPEWORMS are the other type of parasite that’s visible to the
naked eye. Tapeworms are made up of segments. You will see
tapeworm segments that have broken off from the adult parasite that
is attached to the lining of the cat’s intestinal tract. These tapeworm
pieces vary in length, are usually white and are frequently seen
(while still alive) contracting and expanding around the cat’s rectum
or in its stool immediately after elimination. Once the segments die,
they will look like grains of rice or sesame seeds and are often found
where the cat sleeps.
A severe infestation of tapeworms causes abdominal pain and an
abnormal increase in appetite. An exceptionally severe infection
manifests in symptoms like coughing, high temperature, pneumonia
and heart and liver diseases. Worms multiply in geometric
progression in the intestines. A single female roundworm can lay up
to a hundred thousand eggs in a day. If left untreated, the worms
can block the intestinal passage and cause death.
The most common route of infection occurs when the cat swallows a
flea that is carrying the parasite’s eggs. De-worming can be done by
either oral medication or by injection.
COCCIDA is not a worm, but a single-cell microscopic organism that
will wreak havoc in a cat's intestinal tract when present in great
numbers. This protozoa will cause watery diarrhea in young and
susceptible animals that have immature or compromised immune
systems; in some cases, the diarrhea can be severe enough to be
life-threatening. Eradication of this parasite is usually successful
with a daily dose of medication.
How do I know if my cat has worms?
A number of intestinal parasites will produce no visible symptoms in
your cat at all, or at least not at first. Other parasites such as
tapeworms will usually be visible in your cat’s feces and around his
anus. Other symptoms of worms may include:
-- vomiting
-- persistent dry cough
-- swollen abdomen
-- anemia
-- diarrhea
-- dehydration
-- persistent scratching or licking around the anus
-- weight loss
-- eating a great deal without gaining weight
-- breathing problems
-- bad breath
-- listlessness
A cat infested with worms becomes more vulnerable to other
diseases. Since worms can remain in a cat without causing any
visible symptoms, it is imperative that you get your cat’s feces
checked regularly for larva or worm eggs. Outdoor cats need more
frequent checking since they are more susceptible to the problem.
(Symptoms of cat worms)
Even though you may not see any outward signs of infestation,
internal parasites may be to blame if your cat has intermittent
diarrhea, does not seem to gain weight despite a healthy diet, has
dull fur or is not as active as you think she should be.
Most cats will not show signs of intestinal parasitism at first. The
initial step in parasite control is having a stool sample tested by your
veterinarian. If the fecal exam is positive, the proper medication can
be prescribed or recommended for purging that particular worm.
Never use a de-wormer on a cat that is otherwise sick, pregnant or
debilitated. Worms are a health risk for sure, but properly treated,
they can be cured effectively.
Parasitic worms in cats normally reside in the intestines. Worm
larvae and eggs can remain dormant for years in tissues and wait for
an appropriate trigger to surface and infest your pet. In many cases,
stress acts as a trigger for worms to migrate. Parasites like
roundworms and hookworms can surface abruptly in advanced
stages of pregnancy and transmit to the young ones.
Kittens can get infected while in the womb or through the milk of an
infected mother. Adult cats can get infected by ingesting worm-
infested feces when grooming themselves. They can also become
infected if they consume a prey that is infected.
ROUNDWORMS are the most common type of worm to infect the
animal kingdom. These are usually 2 to 4 inches long, tan or white
“spaghetti-like” creatures with tapered ends. If the infestation is
severe, a cat may vomit these worms or pass them whole in the
stool. In addition to causing vomiting and diarrhea, roundworms can
have an effect on a cat’s overall health and appearance. Kittens
infected with roundworms will have a potbellied, bloated look to them
and may be constantly hungry. Larvae of roundworms can migrate
to various parts of the body and can travel up to the eye and cause
damage to vision. Although uncommon, roundworms can actually
become so numerous that they create an intestinal blockage so that
stool cannot pass. Roundworms can be transferred to humans and
can cause an infection that may result in inflammation of muscle
tissue and blindness. For this reason, feces should be scooped
from the litter box daily and disposed of in the household trash.
HOOKWORMS are blood-sucking intestinal parasites and have the
ability to cause anemia and sometimes death in kittens and adult
cats. Hookworms cannot be seen by the naked eye, and the severity
of adverse effects will depend on the amount of worms in the
intestine, the animal’s overall health, age and acquired immunity.
Fortunately, cats become more resistant to hookworms as they grow
older.
TAPEWORMS are the other type of parasite that’s visible to the
naked eye. Tapeworms are made up of segments. You will see
tapeworm segments that have broken off from the adult parasite that
is attached to the lining of the cat’s intestinal tract. These tapeworm
pieces vary in length, are usually white and are frequently seen
(while still alive) contracting and expanding around the cat’s rectum
or in its stool immediately after elimination. Once the segments die,
they will look like grains of rice or sesame seeds and are often found
where the cat sleeps.
A severe infestation of tapeworms causes abdominal pain and an
abnormal increase in appetite. An exceptionally severe infection
manifests in symptoms like coughing, high temperature, pneumonia
and heart and liver diseases. Worms multiply in geometric
progression in the intestines. A single female roundworm can lay up
to a hundred thousand eggs in a day. If left untreated, the worms
can block the intestinal passage and cause death.
The most common route of infection occurs when the cat swallows a
flea that is carrying the parasite’s eggs. De-worming can be done by
either oral medication or by injection.
COCCIDA is not a worm, but a single-cell microscopic organism that
will wreak havoc in a cat's intestinal tract when present in great
numbers. This protozoa will cause watery diarrhea in young and
susceptible animals that have immature or compromised immune
systems; in some cases, the diarrhea can be severe enough to be
life-threatening. Eradication of this parasite is usually successful
with a daily dose of medication.
How do I know if my cat has worms?
A number of intestinal parasites will produce no visible symptoms in
your cat at all, or at least not at first. Other parasites such as
tapeworms will usually be visible in your cat’s feces and around his
anus. Other symptoms of worms may include:
-- vomiting
-- persistent dry cough
-- swollen abdomen
-- anemia
-- diarrhea
-- dehydration
-- persistent scratching or licking around the anus
-- weight loss
-- eating a great deal without gaining weight
-- breathing problems
-- bad breath
-- listlessness
A cat infested with worms becomes more vulnerable to other
diseases. Since worms can remain in a cat without causing any
visible symptoms, it is imperative that you get your cat’s feces
checked regularly for larva or worm eggs. Outdoor cats need more
frequent checking since they are more susceptible to the problem.
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