What Causes Worms in Cats?

Worms are a problem that many pets can be afflicted with, and although most people associate intestinal worms with dogs, they can develop in cats too. Usually, the most common feline sufferers of worms are kittens under the age of six months. For that reason, many veterinarians will recommend that a cat owner vaccinate their cat against worms once a month for six months until they are six months of age. The is important because many kittens are born with worm larvae within them. De-worming kills live worms, but they do not kill worm eggs and if the worms have already laid eggs, that is the setting of the groundwork of a new infestation of worms, which is not something that anyone wants to deal with.

The causes of worms in cats are many, but the reason why they are such a worry is not only because they pose a threat to the well-being of your cat; they also pose a threat to the people living in your home. Yes, it is true - worms can manner people too, just in a different manner.

Tapeworms are a common type of worms in cats. Cats can get tapeworms by eating fleas that have eaten tapeworm eggs, which many of them do. Once the cat eats the flea, the eggs can hatch and develop tapeworms inside their body. Not only do tapeworms make feces that much harder to clean up, they are transferable to humans and cause a great deal of distress and other problems. You can prevent tapeworms by having your cat checked for fleas and applying a preventative medicine, like Advantix.

Roundworms and hookworms are another type of worm in cats. These can be ingested through eating soil or things in the soil or through the transfer of the larvae through nursing or pregnancy. Since mother cats clean their kittens' feces with their mouths, the larvae can easily re-infect a mother kitten if she and her young are not both treated for worms. Hookworms are not the type of worms that you can see through visually inspecting your cat's feces. However, roundworms and their eggs can be seen in the feces of a cat.

Worms be prevented and treated very easily. De-worming a cat is one of the simplest medical treatments to administer and it doesn't take long for the effects of the medicine to take place and the worms to be eliminated. Additionally, you should keep your cat and home free from fleas to prevent any chances of re-infestation.

Natalie is the author of WormsInMyPet.com. Visit her site for additional tips on eliminating and preventing worms in your pet.