Most kittens are born with intestinal worms—parasites that can cause illness or even death. Over-the-counter remedies are generally ineffective, so you’ll need to visit the vet for worming every three weeks between 6 and 16 weeks of age. After that, you can reduce worming to once every three months. Of course if you notice worm-like symptoms at any time you should visit your vet immediately.
In this post, we’ll explore the different types of worms that infest cats, their symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and a few tips for worm prevention.
What are the types of worms that infest cats?
- Tapeworms Cats get tapeworms by eating infected fleas, often during grooming. They’re made of small flat segments, each the size of a grain of rice. Although you’ll generally only see single segments in your kitten’s feces around the tail or bottom, an entire tapeworm can have 90 segments, making it about 6 inches in size.
- Hookworms Cats often give hookworms to their unborn kittens or pass them through breast milk. Other causes include: eating or drinking contaminated food or water, or eating hookworm eggs after another cat passes them in his stool. They are tiny and have teeth-like mouth parts that suck blood from the intestinal wall.
- Roundworms This is the most common source of worms in kittens, usually passed through mother’s milk or by eggs in the environment. Roundworms are long and thin, like spaghetti noodles. A severe infestation can lead to death as the worm blocks the intestines.
- Heartworm When a mosquito bites an infected animal and ingests some of the worm’s larvae, it then passes it to the next animal it bites. The symptoms for Heartworm Disease vary from other worm infestations—they include coughing, vomiting, and asthma-like symptoms. The mortality rate is 50 percent because treatment is difficult and dangerous. Some veterinarians recommend monthly preventative tablets.
What are the symptoms of worms?
- A pot-bellied appearance
- Licking the anus area
- Worm segments around the anus and in stool
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea, sometimes bloody
- Weight loss/loss of appetite
- Dull coat
- Lethargy
- Stunted growth
How are worms diagnosed?
Your veterinarian will look for worms (not including heartworm) in your kitten’s stool sample. He’ll mix it with a solution that makes the eggs more visible. Different worms require different medications because they all respond differently to treatment.
How can you protect your kitten from worms?
- Keep your cat away from dirt and soil, as worm eggs can live in the environment for a long time
- Make sure your kitten doesn’t catch rodents or birds, which are commonly infested
- Clean your kitten’s bedding and feeding bowls regularly
- Keep your kitten away from stray cats until they are checked for worms
- Keep your kitten flea-free
- Don’t leave stool sitting around your yard or in your kitten’s litter tray
great post! I keep my cat at home all the times. But my sister let her cats out freely. They have fleas I guess that’s why…
My dog licks his anus area sometimes. I wonder if this apply to dogs? I give him heartworm medicine every 3 month.
Once you have made sure your pets are treated, you can fight a flea infestation by using chemicals or by making use of dehumidifiers to prevent the larvae from hatching. Chemicals should not be used in homes with pets, as they can be toxic to animals. Dehumidifiers will greatly scale down the number of larvae that hatch, which helps to limit the infestation. All of these methods should be used while also taking the time to vacuum and keep your home clean. When you vacuum, bags should be disposed of immediately, as the bags can provide excellent homes for larvae to hatch.
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