Happy Pets

Roundworms and tapeworms are the main internal parasites of cats, but there are others. There is the protozoan Toxoplasma, for example, which often produces no symptoms, and the single- celled parasite Isospora; fortunately both are rare. Two tiny intestinal worms — threadworms and wireworms — can occasionally cause problems, as can flukes picked up from infected raw fish. Lungworms are fairly common among country cats, but only serious infestations seem to worry them. Finally, there are hookworms, which attach themselves to the intestinal wall and can cause anaemia and diarrhoea. They are much more of a problem in hot, humid countries than in temperate lands such as the British Isles.

Roundworms

These creepy-crawlies, which include Toxocara cati, can usually be recognized as thin threads in faeces and vomit. In extreme cases they can grow into thick, white worms up to 4 in (10 cm) long. They live in the cat’s intestines on already digested food and their eggs are excreted in the faeces. The eggs can survive for years, hatching only if ingested and passed to the intestines.

The larvae of Toxocara cati migrate through the blood to the liver or lungs and can even be carried in the milk of a nursing mother and so passed on to her kittens. Although adult cats may be able to tolerate them in their system, the larvae seriously weakens kittens, producing coughing or even pneumonia as they work their way through the lungs in the direction of the intestine.

Symptoms of an infestation include failure to put on weight despite a hearty appetite, a pot belly and dry, harsh fur, usually accompanied by vomiting or diarrhoea. The adult worms are easily destroyed with the right worming tablets, but not so the larvae, and kittens are at risk because they cannot be treated until at least two weeks old. You would be well advised to have your vet check for any infestation during a pregnancy and to keep a regular watch for signs of the worms themselves at all times. Careful hygiene and the cooking of food will reduce the risk of infection.

Tapeworms

Tapeworms rarely have a noticeable effect on a cat‘s health, although they can cause a general loss of condition. In order to satisfy the demanding host lodged in its intestine, an infected cat will show a voracious appetite, often accompanied by digestive upsets. The segments of the worm break off and are expelled in the faeces, which is when you are most likely to be aware of them. They resemble long grains of rice, near the anus. If the cat seems to have an irritation around its rear end, keep an eye out for them.

Treatment is by worming tablets, but you should ask your vet to inspect the cat first. There are several different kinds of tapeworm and effective medication has to be matched to the right type and the degree of infestation. One type of worm spends part of its life cycle in the cat flea, so have your pet treated for fleas at the same time, along with any other animals in the home.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, April 24th, 2008 at 4:35 pm and is filed under Cats, Fish, Foods, Health, Kittens. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.