Home | Pets And Animals | Horses
Your cat may have worms, but there is no need to panic. Worms in cats are very common, especially in kittens. Typically, your vet will test your cat annually via a stool sample. Worms are intestinal parasites either directly or indirectly feeding off of your cat. Worms use cats in order to reproduce and complete their lifecycle. There are a number of cat parasites out there, with a few major classes of worms. Roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms are the main types of worms found in cats. Fecal exam is the method of diagnosis and should be done during an annual check up. Cats in the same household are also nice enough to share worm infestations with each other. Normally, if a fecal sample from one of the cats tests positive, your vet will want to treat the whole crowd. Let's have a look at more detail on each of the major types of worms that attack cats. Roundworms - Roundworms (Toxocara Cati) look kind of like spaghetti, and you usually won't see them unless your cat vomits them up. Mother cats may show no symptoms, but can still pass roundworm on to their kittens. which lies dormant. Kittens will normally be wormed 2 - 3 times, whether they test positive or not. Mature cats often develop a natural immunity against roundworm. Adult cats, therefore, do not usually exhibit symptoms due to this parasite. Hookworms - Hookworms literally "hook" themselves to the inside wall of your cat's intestines. Since hookworms are tissue feeders, they can cause blood loss, which results in anemia. Other symptoms may include intestinal illness, poor hair coat, and weight loss. The good news concerning hookworms is that most of the roundworm treatments will also kill hookworms. You should note that at least two treatments are needed to rid your cat of this worm. Tapeworms - Tapeworms are made up of a series of segments containing eggs. When the segments drop off the worm, they are passed in the stool. When they dry out, they look like grains of rice, which you'll sometimes see in areas your cat frequents or around the your cat's anus. If your cat experiences anal irritation and/or exhibits excessive licking, this worm may be present. Fleas carry tapeworms into your cat's life. The fleas ingest tapeworm eggs and the cats ingest the fleas, thereby becoming infected. The tapeworm then lives in the intestinal tract of the cat and the cycle starts again with the eggs. More often than not, these worms do not cause any visible symptoms of illness in your cat. Understand that you cannot completely get rid of the tapeworm without also addressing the flea problem. As long as there are fleas, your cat is at risk. Your cat may have intestinal worms, but show no signs of illness. Cat parasites, like any illness, put undue stress on your cat. Keeping your cat's immune system up to speed is therefore vital. That includes not only regular vet visits, but also exercise, high quality cat food, and the room to play.
Article Source: http://www.content-corral.com
Kurt Schmitt, an experienced cat owner, keeps cat lovers only visitors informed about worms in cats and other feline health issues.
Please Rate this Article
5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5
Not yet Rated
