Worming your cat regularly is extremely important for their health and wellbeing. Failure to worm cats properly can lead to a number of serious issues that pet owners should be aware of.
What are the most common worms in cats?
There are four main types of intestinal worms that commonly infect cats:
- Roundworms – The most common worm in cats. Roundworm eggs can survive in soil for years. Cats can ingest them by grooming after digging in contaminated soil or by eating infected rodents. Kittens can also get roundworms in utero or by drinking their mother’s milk if she is infected.
- Hookworms – Cats get hookworms by ingesting larvae through contaminated soil, food or water. The larvae then migrate through the tissues and into the intestine where they attach and mature into adult worms.
- Tapeworms – Tapeworms are transmitted when a cat ingests a flea infected with tapeworm eggs or eats infected rodents. The larvae hatch inside the cat and mature into adult tapeworms that attach to the intestinal wall.
- Whipworms – Whipworm eggs are ingested from contaminated soil or water. They hatch in the small intestine. Blood loss occurs when the whipworms use their whip-like tails to damage the intestinal lining.
What health problems do worms cause in cats?
There are a number of health issues that can occur if a cat has a worm infection:
- Nutritional deficiencies – Intestinal worms compete for nutrients from the food cats eat. This can lead to weight loss, a dull haircoat, lethargy and other signs of malnutrition.
- Intestinal disturbances – Worms irritate the intestinal tract causing vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, excess gas and belly pain.
- Anemia – Hookworms and whipworms attach to the lining of the intestines and feed on blood. This can cause life-threatening anemia, especially in kittens.
- Damage to intestines – The hooks on hookworms’ mouths burrow into the intestinal wall. Roundworms have sharp teeth that can rupture intestines.
- Intussusception – Roundworms can cause telescoping of one segment of intestine into another. This is a medical emergency requiring surgery.
- Rectal prolapse – Severe whipworm infections can cause the last part of the intestine to protrude through the rectum.
- Death – Roundworms can travel to other organs like the lungs. A heavy infestation can kill a kitten or puppy.
How do I know if my cat has worms?
Some common signs your cat may have worms include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Gas or belly bloating
- Increased appetite
- Scooting bottom along the floor
- Bloody or mucus covered stool
- Weight loss
- Poor body condition
- Dull coat
- Roundworms visible in vomit or stool
However, some cats show no obvious clinical signs. The only way to be sure your cat is not infected is through regular fecal screening tests performed by your veterinarian.
Why is it important to regularly worm your cat?
There are several key reasons routine worming is vital for your cat’s health:
- Prevent serious illness – Worms can make cats very sick. Regular wormer removes worms before they can multiply and cause harm.
- Stop environmental contamination – Worm eggs shed in your cat’s feces can reinfect your cat or other pets.
- Protect humans – Some worm eggs and larvae can infect people and cause health problems, especially in children.
- Improve nutrition – Worms steal nutrition from your cat, so worming allows proper nutrient absorption.
- Treat an existing problem – Cats that hunt are prone to frequent reinfection. Ongoing worming treats any worms your cat has picked up.
- Prevent proliferation – Roundworms and hookworms rapidly multiply, so stopping them early prevents infestation.
How often should cats be wormed?
Veterinary guidelines advise worming kittens every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age. Thereafter indoor cats should be wormed at least 4 times per year. Outdoor cats may require monthly worming depending on risk factors.
Pregnant and nursing mothers need worming 2-4 weeks before birth to prevent milk transmission. Shelter cats should be wormed every 2 weeks. Show cats need worming before competitions to prevent spreading worms.
Your vet will tailor a worming plan for your cat based on their age, health status, hunting behavior, parasite risk and living conditions.
What treatments are available?
There are many safe, effective wormers for cats. Common options include:
- Pyrantel – Treats roundworms and hookworms. Often used for initial puppy and kitten worming.
- Piperazine – Also eliminates roundworms plus some tapeworms. Used for short term worm clearance.
- Fenbendazole – Broad spectrum dewormer that kills roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and some tapeworms.
- Praziquantel – The most effective treatment for tapeworms in cats.
- Milbemycin oxime – Kills a wide range of adult intestinal worms and prevents heartworm infection.
- Selamectin – Topical parasite control that treats roundworms, hookworms and prevents heartworm.
- Emodepside/praziquantel – Tablet that treats all common intestinal worms.
Your vet will prescribe the best dewormer to safely eliminate your cat’s worms while minimizing side effects.
Are wormers safe for cats?
Modern cat wormers are extremely safe and effective when used as directed. Common side effects like vomiting and diarrhea are rare and mild. More serious side effects are very uncommon.
However, some basic precautions are advised:
- Follow label dosing guidelines carefully based on your cat’s weight.
- Do not treat pregnant cats with certain wormers like piperazine.
- Consult your vet before deworming sick or debilitated cats.
- Rotate between wormer classes to prevent resistance.
- Read the label warnings carefully.
Overall, when used properly, cat worming medications provide huge health benefits with minimal risk.
Can cats transmit worms to humans?
Some cat worms can infect people under the right circumstances:
- Roundworms – Humans can accidentally ingest infective eggs that have been shed in the cat’s feces. Children are at highest risk due to playing in dirty areas and hand-to-mouth transfer.
- Hookworms – Larvae can penetrate human skin from contaminated soil. This causes cutaneous larva migrans, an itchy skin condition.
- Toxocara cati – Roundworms of cats can cause visceral larva migrans in people. This occurs when larvae migrate through the body and damage organs and tissues.
- Toxoplasmosis – The Toxoplasma gondii parasite causes this disease. Humans can catch it after accidentally ingesting oocysts shed in cat feces.
Regularly deworming your cat helps break the parasite life cycle and prevents contamination of the environment with worm eggs and larvae.
How can human infection be prevented?
You can minimize the risk of parasitic infection through good pet hygiene practices such as:
- Prompt removal and hygienic disposal of cat feces from litter trays and outdoor areas.
- Keeping pets indoors to stop hunting and prevent access to fecal contamination outdoors.
- Daily litter tray cleaning and regular full tray changes.
- Covering outdoor sandpits to prevent cats defecating in them.
- Washing hands after handling cats, cleaning litter trays and gardening.
- Treating pets with flea and worm treatments as prescribed by your vet.
- Stopping children playing in dirt where cats roam and go to the toilet.
- Wearing gloves and thoroughly washing hands after gardening.
- Having pregnant women avoid changing cat litter.
Conclusion
Intestinal parasites are extremely common in cats. While semi-outdoor pets are most at risk, even exclusively indoor cats can acquire worms.
Cats with intestinal worms may show obvious clinical signs or no symptoms at all. Letting worm infections go untreated allows parasites to proliferate, contaminate the environment and spread to other pets and people.
Regular worming removes these parasites before they can cause harm. Kitten schedules and ongoing adult worming protects your cat’s health. It also prevents transmission of zoonotic worm species to human family members.
Modern cat wormers are extremely effective and safe when used correctly. Work closely with your vet to implement a tailored worm control plan for your feline companion.
With routine worming and sensible hygiene, you can keep your pet worm-free and eliminate the risks these parasites pose to your family’s health.