Worm infestations that are left untreated can be dangerous, even fatal, for your cat. 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.
Importantly, while worms can sometimes cause problems for the cat itself, some worms can also be passed on to humans and on rare occasions can be a cause of serious human disease. For these reasons, regular treatment of cats and kittens to prevent or eliminate worms is very important.
Adult cats: Most cats should be dewormed at least every three months.
What happens if worms go untreated in cats? Depending on the type and severity of infection, worm infestations that remain untreated can lead to serious health issues for your cat – including malnutrition, severe anemia, and intestinal obstructions – which can become life-threatening.
In short, yes. All cats should be regularly wormed. Tapeworm-carrying fleas can easily get into our homes, hitching a ride on our clothes and bags, other pets or visitors.
Indoor Cats
Because fleas can carry worms, your indoor cat should be wormed as well. It's better to be safe than sorry, and both flea and worm treatment is easy and safe, whereas elimination of parasites once they have taken hold can be more complicated.
Cats can get worms after coming in contact with infected feces or parasite eggs. Symptoms of worms in cats include vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, lethargy, swollen belly, and a dull coat.
What happens when my cat is dewormed? The dewormer that we're giving is killing the worms in there, and it's the adult stage of the worms. Sometimes you can see those adult worms pass in the stool - that's not uncommon - but not all of these worms are visible to the naked eye. Some owners do, and some owners don't.
This can be done with the help of a veterinarian, or at home with the correct over-the-counter medication and information. Dewormer can be given as young as 2 weeks of age, and should be repeated at 4 and 6 weeks of age.
So how do indoor cats get infected with worms? Indoor cats will hunt just about anything in your home. Rodents, insects, and other household pests harbor worm eggs, which are passed on to your cat when he devours them. Mice and the common house fly are just two of the many critters that can carry roundworms eggs.
Both indoor cats and outdoor cats are at risk of contracting worms. Infestation depends on the type of worm, but most often, cats get worms by coming into contact with fleas, eggs or infected particles in feces.
Worming treatments usually start to work within a few hours and you may see worms or worm segments in your cats poo in the day or two after treatment.
Yes. These worms, like other infections that humans can get from animals, are called zoonotic (zoe-o-NOT-ick) infections or zoonoses (zoe-o-NO-sees). By learning about these infections and how to prevent them, you can help protect your pets, yourself, and your family.
Are there any side effects from deworming medication? Although side effects of dewormer medications are uncommon, some cats may have vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or increased salivation. These symptoms, if occurred, are usually seen within 24 hours of taking the medication and should spontaneously resolve.
Worms are not susceptible to the medication until they have matured, so treatment must be repeated several times at intervals to kill all of them. These treatments are included in the cost of your kitten's vaccine visits. But treating a few times won't prevent your cat from catching more worms later on in life.
The safest and most effective way to deworm your cat is with a deworming medication prescribed by a veterinarian. A Hello Ralphie consult can help you determine which approach is best for your cat. Most deworming medications are administered orally or topically.
Signs that your cat has worms
"Healthy adults may not have symptoms from worms, which is why your vet tends to recommend periodic fecal testing," McNabb says. But in some cases, your cat may show symptoms of a worm infection including: Vomiting. Diarrhea or soft stool.
The answer is yes. Unfortunately, even cats that never venture outside are still at risk for intestinal parasites like tapeworms and roundworms. That's why it's important to familiarize yourself with the types of worms your indoor cat could get, as well as the treatment options.
You may notice adult roundworms in your cat's feces or vomit. They will appear white or light brown in color and may be several inches long.
Cats who suffer from stomach worm infections may exhibit signs of gastrointestinal discomfort, including vomiting, loss of appetite, and dark feces. A stomach worm infection is easily treated, but cat owners should still take this condition seriously and bring their cats to a veterinarian right away.
Cat Health Section – Worming Kittens. Unlike puppies, kittens are not born with worms. However, disgusting as it sounds, most kittens become infested with the cat roundworm, Toxocara cati, from their mother's milk shortly after birth.
Kittens need to be treated every 2 weeks, from 3-8 weeks old and then every month until they are 6 months old. Adult cats (6 months and older) need to be treated every 1-3 months.