Worms in cats are a more common affliction than you might think! Even cats that are kept indoors can be become infected.
Worms can cause serious illness in unprotected pets. Your cat can pick up worms in the garden and from other animals, including mice, rats and fleas. By the time you notice the problem, your pet could be quite ill.
Let's look at symptoms of worms in cats, and how to treat them.
Types of worms in cats
Cats can become infected with several types of worms. These include:
- Roundworm – one of the commonest types in cats, roundworms can grow up to 12cm and survive by feeding on the food your cat eats.
- Hookworm – so-called because of their hook-like mouth that attaches to the gut wall. These worms feed on your cat’s blood which can lead to anaemia in your pet.
- Tapeworm – these worms mature inside a cat’s large intestine. Small pieces of tapeworm that contain eggs are passed out in the cat’s faeces.
How cats get worms
Cats can pick up worms from eating infected rodents, ingesting infected fleas, being bitten by worm larvae, or by stepping in infected faeces prior to grooming themselves.
Kittens can also get worms through nursing from an infected mother. This makes it doubly important to treat adult cats as well as kittens for worms.
Symptoms of worms in cats
A healthy cat will be sprightly, alert, and have clear eyes and a glossy, clean coat. They will also have a normal appetite and healthy skin.
The signs of worms in cats can be subtle and ambiguous. Because of this, it's a good idea to take your cat to the vet if you notice any of these signs:
- Loss of appetite, or eating ravenously while still losing weight
- Become thin but also have a bloated belly due to the infestation
- Dull coat condition
- Less energetic than usual
- An itchy rear-end – indicated by your cat dragging its bottom along the ground
- Less commonly, there may be vomiting and diarrhoea.
However, not all cats infected with worms show symptoms unless they are very heavily infected.
Diagnosing worms
If your cat is an indoor cat, you can check the litter tray for signs of worms or eggs in the faeces. You may find segments of the tapeworm, about the size of a rice grain, or tapeworm egg packs that look a bit like cucumber or sesame seeds. You may also notice these in the fur around the cat’s anus, or in her bedding.
Roundworm eggs are too small to see but occasionally you’ll see an actual roundworm, about the same diameter as a strand of spaghetti and up to 15cm long.
It’s harder to check the faeces of outdoor cats, but if you watch where they relieve themselves, you can select a sample and take it to your vet to analyse.
A note of caution: humans can become infected by worms passed on by cats, so take extra care when you’re handling cat litter or faeces.
Treating worms in cats
There's a range of products that can help eradicate and prevent worms in cats. The good news is that the days of doing battle with your cat to get a tablet down its throat are long gone. These days it’s a simple matter of squirting a liquid onto the back of your pet’s neck, where they can’t lick it off, or adding a paste to their food.
The medication begins work immediately and within a couple of days your cat should be back to the energetic animal you know and love!
If you're looking for worming solution check out the advocate flea and worm treatment which is a monthly treatment preventing heartworm, hookworm, roundworm and whipworm as well as providing flea protection.
Prevention of worms in cats
You should do what you can to prevent worms in your cat in the first place. This includes:
- Flea prevention – through oral treatments and / or a flea collar.
- Keeping your cat away from rodents, such as by keeping it indoors or contained.
- Frequently emptying and cleaning your cat’s litter box. To protect yourself from infection, wear gloves while cleaning out the tray.
- Regular worming prevention treatments. This should start in the kitten stages. Kittens should be dewormed every two weeks for the first three months, then every month for the next three months after that. Adult cats should be dewormed every three months.
A new cat or kitten is an exciting addition to your family that comes with a lot of responsibility. Vaccinations, flea treatments and regular vet check-ups as well as deworming can all contribute to keeping your cat healthy and happy for years to come.
Check out our cat flea, tick and worm treatment selection here to protect your kitty.