Worms in cats are a very common problem, especially in those younger cats, that we have just picked up from the street or that suffer from some disease. In this article on our site we are going to talk about the most appropriate internal deworming guidelines. We'll also go over the symptoms that can be caused by worms infesting cats.
Don't miss this article where we talk about how to prevent worms in cats, their symptoms, causes and treatment, as it is done consultation with the veterinarian is essential. Let's not forget that some of these parasites also affect people.
Wormworm symptoms in cats
In a he althy adult cat or in very small infestations, we will not normally detect any symptoms that make us suspect the presence of these parasites. But, when they do appear, most often the symptoms of worms in cats are as follows:
- Soft stool.
- Diarrhea.
- Constipation.
- Vomiting.
- Intestinal discomfort.
- Swollen abdomen.
- Anorexy.
- Bad appearance of the coat.
- Weight loss.
- Anal irritation.
In more severe cases, these symptoms of worms in cats can also occur.
- Gastrointestinal obstruction-Worms can form coils in the gastrointestinal tract and cause an obstruction.
- Anemia: Also in heavy infestations anemia in cats may occur, causing pale mucous membranes, stunted growth and malnutrition.
- Lung and heart worms: Although the most common worms are intestinal, there are also lung and heart worms. In the first case, its most distinctive sign is cough. In the second, there may also be cough and other respiratory problems, as well as sudden death.
- Eye worms: To a lesser extent, eye worms, such as Thelazia, cause tearing and inflammation.
If your cat suffers from diarrhoea, you may also be interested in this other article on our site on Soft diet for cats with diarrhea.
Types of worms in cats
The worms in cats that we can detect can be divided into several groups depending on where they are located. The cat is usually infected by contact with worm eggs that are deposited in the environment or by interacting with infested cats. But there are other ways to get these parasites, like:
- By transmission from the cat to her kittens.
- By eating some parasitized prey.
- Because of mosquito or flea bites.
- For your intake.
- By direct eye contact with a fly, as is the case with Thelazia.
Thus, we find intestinal worms, which are the most numerous, lung worms, heart worms and eye worms. Below, we mention the most common types of worms in cats:
- Intestinal worms: These are round worms such as Toxocara cati or Toxascaris leonina, flat worms such as tapeworms or Echinococcus and hookworms, among others.
- Lungworms: Strongyles stand out.
- Heartworms: Like Dirofilaria immitis, these types of worms in cats cause heartworms.
- Eyeworms: like Thelazia.
Worms in baby cats
Now that we've covered the types of worms in cats, let's focus on what happens if a baby cat has worms. We highlight the presence of worms in kittens because in them the consequences of these infestations can be more visible and serious. In addition, there is usually a greater lack of knowledge regarding internal deworming in baby cats.
This should start around fifteen days of age, regardless of whether the little one is with his mother or not. will be repeated every 2-4 weeks until the vaccination schedule is complete. It is then established every 3-4 months or at least once a year, depending on the circumstances of each cat. Kittens can pick up worms both from the environment and from their mother.
It is also important to know all the care that a baby cat requires. For this reason, you may also find this other article on Puppy Cat Care useful.
Treatment of worms in cats
Luckily, we have numerous medications to eliminate worms in cats. Ideally, as soon as we introduce a cat into the home, we go to the vet This professional can take a stool sample and look at it under a microscope to look for parasites.
If the vet finds worms in our cat, he will indicate the appropriate drug to treat the worms in the cat. But, even if he does not locate them at that time, since it is not always so easy to observe them, the veterinarian will prescribe a broad-spectrum product. This means that it will eliminate a high number of parasites. This is called internal deworming and should be repeated about 3-4 times a year or, at least one.
To carry out internal deworming in cats, we can choose between tablets, syrups and even pipettes This guideline is valid both for cats that live in inside the home as well as for those with access to the outside. And this is so because we ourselves can introduce parasites into the home.
Home remedies for worms in cats
There are no home remedies against worms in cats, but there are a good number of safe and effective products with different active ingredients that the vet can prescribe. Information circulates that it can be dewormed internally by offering the cat products such as garlic to combat intestinal worms. But its efficacy is questionable and more focused on prevention than on eliminating parasites, so we cannot consider it an adequate way of deworming.
In addition, if the cat shows symptoms compatible with the presence of parasites, before giving him anything, it will be the veterinarian who must confirm the diagnosis. If, for example, the condition is the result of a gastrointestinal disease, administering antiparasitic drugs can aggravate it.
For more information, you can read this other article of Parasites in cats - Symptoms, treatment and contagion.
Do worms in cats spread to humans?
Not all, but some cat worms, such as roundworms, which are associated with larva migrans, or the flat ones, linked to echinococcosis, can be transmitted to humans. Younger children are especially affected, since they tend to follow more lax hygiene measures.
It is enough that they play with sand where feces contaminated by worm eggs have been deposited so that, if they put their unwashed hands in their mouths, contagion occurs. That is why it is so important to maintain the hygienic measures and the deworming guidelines indicated by the veterinarian. Of course, we must go to the doctor if we observe any sign of infestation in humans.
