The Canadian Family

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 parasites that feed off of their host. In this case, the host is your cat. There are a number of cat parasites, but there are three major players when it comes to intestinal 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.

Typically, cats that share litter boxes will all be afflicted. A fecal sample from one cat, therefore, is usually sufficient to determine if an infestation exists in the home. By the same token, it is recommended that treatment be given to all cats sharing litter boxes if one of them is infected.

Below is an overview on each of the major types of worms found in cats.

Roundworms – Roundworms (Toxocara Cati) have a spaghetti-like look to them, and you usually won’t see them unless your cat vomits. Roundworm is common in kittens, who can become infected via their mothers, who may be asymptomatic. The mother cat may have the encysted form of the worm which lies dormant. Don’t be surprised if your vet wants to worm your kitten 2-3 times, even if the test results are negative.

Mature cats often develop a natural immunity against roundworm. Adult cats, therefore, do not usually exhibit symptoms due to this parasite.

Hookworms – Hookworms hook themselves to the cat’s intestinal wall. Rather than get their nutrition from what the cat takes in, hookworms are tissue feeders. Because of this, they can cause blood loss which may result in your cat developing anemia. In addition, a cat with this worm may also experience weight loss, poor hair coat and intestinal distress. Luckily, most of the medications that are used to treat roundworms will also take care of hookworms. At least two treatments are needed to get rid of hookworm.

Tapeworms – Tapeworms are made up of a series of segments containing eggs. When the segments drop off the worm, they are passed in the stool. When they dry out, they look like grains of rice, which you’ll sometimes see in areas your cat frequents or around the your cat’s anus. If your cat experiences anal irritation and/or exhibits excessive licking, this worm may be present.

It’s important to control fleas. The flea ingests the tapeworm eggs and then your cat eats the flea. The tapeworm then lives in the intestinal tract of your cat and then produces, you guessed it, more tapeworms.

Usually these worms do not cause any visible symptoms of illness in your cat. You cannot properly address the tapeworm issue without also addressing the flea problem, or you risk the possibility that your cat will get them again.

Intestinal worms in cats can be present without any sign of visible illness. Since cat parasites put undue stress on your kitty, you should do what you can to keep his/her immune system strong. That includes not only regular vet visits, but also high quality food, regular exercise, and the room to explore.