Worms in Cats

Worms are parasites that can reside in the stomach lining or intestinal wall of many animals, including cats and dogs. There can be several types of worms that can infect your cat and cause a lot of cat health problems. The common worms are roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, stomach worms, lung worms and heartworms. So, your cat can become a victim of different types of worms and the illnesses caused by them.

Worm Infestation in Cats

Causes
There can be several ways in which a cat can get infected with worms. Some worms like roundworms are very common in young kittens, and they are suspected to pass from the infected mother to her child through milk. The mother can in turn get infected by roundworms by eating rodents, that contain the larvae of these worms or through soil contaminated with eggs of roundworms. On the other hand, cats get tapeworms by ingesting fleas that contain the eggs of the worms. This usually happens when the cats groom themselves, and in the process, ingest the fleas that act as the carrier of tapeworms. Apart from these, some other ways through which cats can get infected with worms are, eating feces of an infected cat, ingestion of slugs or snails and through mosquito bites (heartworms).

Symptoms
Worm infestation can seriously affect the overall health and well-being of cats. The most common symptoms of worms are gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, bloating, loss of appetite and weight loss. Cats with worms are also seen to develop a pot belly. Sometimes, cat worms may not show any symptom at all, while at other times, symptoms can vary considerably depending on the types of worms that have affected the cats.

In case of tapeworm and roundworm infestation, the worms can be easily observed in the stool of the animal or near its anus. The specific symptoms for hookworm infestation include, diarrhea, abdominal pain, anemia and presence of blood in the stool, while the cat may not show any symptom in case of heartworms. But, severe heartworm infestation can damage the heart or lungs of the animal. On the other hand, stomach worms can cause vomiting, lethargy and weight loss in cats. However, in case of lung worms, symptoms are present only in case of a severe infestation. Such symptoms can include coughing and breathing difficulties.

Diagnosis and Treatment
Worms in feline creatures are usually identified with the help of stool examination. Some worms like, tapeworms can be easily identified even with the naked eye. They can be seen as small grains of rice in the stool of the animal or near its rear end. Similarly, roundworms can also be visible in the stool or vomit of the animal. But, certain worms like lung worms and hookworms are not visible to the naked eyes and hence, diagnosis would require proper examination of the stool sample. So, if you suspect worm infestation in cat, then it is better to get the stool of the animal examined by a veterinarian, as soon as possible.

Worm infestation in cats is usually treated with deworming medications. A number of over the counter deworming medications are available for treating cat worms. However, it is always preferable to consult a veterinarian for proper treatment. Besides, the techniques or approach of treatment can vary to an extent, for different types of worms.

The medications given for worms can destroy these parasites, but cannot prevent further infestation. Therefore, along with treatment, following certain precautionary measures are very crucial for the pet owners, to lower the chances of future worm infestation. So, keep your cats away from other worm infected cats and animals, as well as from their feces and vomit. Controlling flea infestation can also help, as fleas are an important carrier of worms. At the same time, you should regularly get your cat checked up, or its stool examined by an expert veterinarian, so that, worm infestation can be detected quickly, before the situation becomes alarming.