What type of worms can cats get

This usually causes no harm, but when a female cat becomes pregnant, these larvae migrate to the mammary glands and are excreted in the milk she produces for the kittens. This is a very common route of infection and we should assume that every kitten will be infected with Toxocara cati as a result.

However, to determine if a cat is actually infected with worms, a faeces sample can be collected and examined in the laboratory to look for the presence of the worm eggs. Hookworms are a type of small intestinal roundworm found in most countries throughout the world, but are more common in some countries than others. These worms can cause damage to the lining of the intestine where they attach to the surface, and this may result in weight loss, bleeding and anaemia. Common cat hookworms include Ancylostoma tubaeforme, and Uncinaria stenocephala, but other species occur in some countries.

Tapeworms are generally long flat worms composed of many segments. Mature segments containing eggs are released from the end of the tapeworm and are passed in the faeces. To complete their life-cycle, all tapeworms require an intermediate host to first eat the eggs from the environment, and then the cat will become infected by eating the intermediate host. Animals that act as intermediate hosts vary depending on the species of tapeworm. The most common tapeworms that infect cats worldwide are Dipylidium caninum and Taenia taeniaeformis.

Dipylidium caninum is transmitted to cats by fleas. The immature fleas larvae ingest the eggs of the worm, but infection is then passed on to a cat when it swallows an infected flea during grooming. It should be assumed that any cat infected with fleas also has Dipylidium caninum and vice versa. Taenia taeniaeformis is passed on when they eat small rodents rats and mice , the rodents having eaten eggs from the environment.

While it may seem like a faster and cheaper alternative to visiting your veterinarian, there is NO guarantee that those products are safe or effective in treating any type of medical condition, and they could actually be harmful to your cat. Your veterinarian may prescribe an oral or injectable dewormer that will kill the adult and larval worms in the intestine at the time of diagnosis. Your cat may require multiple doses to kill any larvae that may have hatched after the first dose was given.

Praziquantel is also available as a one-time injectable treatment for tapeworm infections, which works by paralyzing and dislodging the sucker of the worm from the intestinal wall, allowing the worms to be passed in the feces.

Your veterinarian may also recommend starting your cat on a monthly topical or oral flea prevention, since tapeworm infections can recur if there are fleas in your home environment. Migration of larvae through the organs and tissues of the body as they make their way to the intestine could result in severe skin infections, blindness, convulsions, or pneumonia, depending on the path of larval migration.

Ongoing losses of blood and vital nutrients, which should be absorbed by the intestines, can result in progressive anemia, weight loss, dehydration, and death. Worm infestations in cats and transmission to children and adults can be prevented through good hygiene practices and the year-round use of heartworm, intestinal worm, and parasite prevention.

For indoor cats, cleaning the litter box on a daily basis, as well as changing out the litter and scrubbing the litter box on a regular basis is vital for minimizing exposure to contaminated feces. For outdoor cats, regularly scooping feces from the yard, sandbox, and flower beds will minimize the potential for propagation of the parasite life cycle.

Home Cat Care Center. How to Get Rid of Worms in Cats. Published: November 03, Types of Worms in Cats The most common types of worms in cats are: Roundworms Hookworms Tapeworms Whipworms There are also a number of less commonly diagnosed worms in cats that can cause serious health problems and can even be fatal, including: Lungworms Stomach worms Bladder worms Liver flukes Heartworms Symptoms of Worms in Cats Worm infestations in cats may be completely asymptomatic showing no symptoms or severe and life-threatening, depending on the type of worm and severity of the infestation.

The most common types of worms in cats and dogs are tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms and whipworms dogs only. Read on to learn how pets and people can pick up intestinal worms and the symptoms to watch for.

Hookworms are found in both dogs and cats. Long, white and spaghetti-like, roundworms are one of the most common intestinal parasites found in both cats and dogs. Tapeworms are segmented worms that live in the small intestine of infected cats and dogs. Whipworm affects dogs. Whipworms resemble whips, with a thicker front end and a longer, thinner back end.

This worm infects adult dogs more often than puppies. They can infect your pet, too, but are not intestinal worms. Rather, they live in your cat's or dog's lungs and heart. Visit our heartworm education section for more information about deadly heartworm disease. Deworming your dog or cat is recommended to help protect them from the potentially harmful effects of intestinal parasites.

These parasites can cause a range of health issues — but how do cats get worms in the first place? Cats infested with roundworms pass microscopic eggs in their faeces. These eggs can leach into the surrounding environment, like the soil in your garden, where they can survive for years.

If your cat accidentally eats these eggs, for example, if they walk over contaminated ground and then groom and lick their feet, they can develop a new roundworm infection.

In the case of hookworm, eggs on the ground hatch,. The most common way for a cat to get tapeworms is by eating infected fleas carrying the larval form of the worm. It is estimated that a cat will ingest around 50 percent of any fleas present during grooming — so fleas carrying tapeworm larvae will often end up in their gut.

Rodents, birds, lizards and other small animals can be infected with the larval stages of roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms. If cats ingest all or part of these animals while hunting or scavenging, they can become infected too. Because kittens are so small and vulnerable, this can be particularly dangerous, causing diarrhoea, vomiting, and poor weight gain.