Cats may acquire worms through several routes. The most common method of worm transmission in adult cats is ingestion of eggs from contact with infected feces. Tapeworms may be contracted through ingestion of fleas or through hunting and killing of wildlife or rodents. Hookworms may be transmitted through the skin by coming into contact with hookworm larvae in the environment. Pregnant and nursing cats may also transmit roundworms and hookworms to kittens through the placenta or milk.
Types of Worms Found in Cats and Kittens
Worms in cats and kittens may cause any or all of the following symptoms:
- Diarrhea, sometimes with blood
- Weight loss
- Changes in coat and general appearance
- Vomiting, occasionally with worms present, as sometimes seen with roundworms
In some cases, few or no clinical signs are observed.
Roundworms
Roundworms are probably the most common worms seen in cats. A large percentage of kittens are born with roundworm larvae in their tissues, transferred from the mother across the placenta. Roundworm larvae may also be transmitted to nursing kittens through the mother’s milk. Adult worms develop and mature in the intestinal tract and may pass eggs through the stool, which can reinfest other cats that come into contact with it. When worm eggs hatch inside your cat, young roundworm larvae are released internally and migrate to the lungs. Kittens with active roundworms in the intestines often have a potbellied appearance and do not grow as well as non-infected kittens. In rare and severe cases, intestinal blockages may occur. In adult cats, roundworm larvae can encyst in the body tissues and remain dormant for periods of time, later becoming activated during periods of stress or pregnancy. Most common cat wormers for roundworms work only on the adult parasites in the digestive tract.
Tapeworms
Tapeworms are fairly common in juvenile and adult cats and are typically transmitted to cats that ingest fleas or that hunt and eat wildlife and rodents. Tapeworms can reach up to six inches in the digestive tract and often have as many as 90 segments, which may be seen in the stool or around the rectum of infected cats. This is the most common way that tapeworms are diagnosed. In most cases, tapeworms cause very few clinical signs, with mild illness and weight loss being the most common symptoms.
Hookworms
Although more common in dogs, hookworm infections do occur in cats. These blood-sucking parasites are often found in the small intestine of infected animals. Hookworms may be transmitted through contact with larvae in stool-contaminated soil or through ingestion of eggs. Hookworms are also transmitted through milk to nursing kittens. Hookworms most commonly cause diarrhea, which may be bloody, as well as severe anemia in heavily infested kittens.
How to Deworm Your Cat
Worming schedules will vary depending on your cat’s age and the type of worm identified. Kittens are usually wormed at six weeks of age, with further treatments every three weeks until they are four months old. A broad-spectrum wormer such as Drontal, which is often effective against hookworms and roundworms common in kittens of this age, is frequently used. For cats with tapeworms, Praziquantel is the most common medication given. This drug can be found in Droncit, Drontal, Tape Worm Tabs for Cats, and Profender Cat Wormer, and treatment can be repeated a second time in three weeks. Heartworm prevention medications such as Revolution also prevent hookworms and roundworms.
Consult Your Veterinarian
Cat owners should always consult with their veterinarian before giving their cats any over-the-counter worming medication. If tapeworms are present, most over-the-counter wormers are not effective, so it is best to consult with your veterinarian when trying to rid your cat of tapeworms.
