Cats are great animals and amazing pets. They are happy, lovable and uniquely awesome. Keeping a cat with you is like happiness all around you. Cat’s love their owners; they lick them, they sleep on their lap and sometimes they just be naughty around them.
Sometimes your cat can get an intestinal parasite which is also commonly known as “worms.” It does not matter if your cat lives completely indoors, worms can develop more commonly than you thought. It should be treated as soon as possible before they impact your cat’s health heavily. However, before that, you should know the symptoms of worms in cats.
Symptoms of Worms in Cats
Recognizing the infestation can be the tricky part, but you should know about it. Many people believe that worms can only affect kittens, but it is not true, cats can also get worms, as age plays no factor in getting worms. Symptoms of each infection are different, but there are also many common signs that you should notice. Symptoms of worms in cats depends upon the different types of parasitic worms.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is one of the most common symptoms of worms in the cat. You should check your cat to see if she is suffering from diarrhea. If your cat is suffering from diarrhea, then you must take care of her and if after giving the medicine, she is still suffering, then take her to the vet.
Worms Visible in Stool
This may sound a little disgusting, but to keep your cat out of danger, you have to do this. If in doubt on whether your cat has worms or not, check his waste. If you can see dead or alive worms, then take care of your cat at home or take her to the vet. This symptom clears the row about worms in your cat so you can now take the measure to keep your cat out of further danger.
Worm Near the Anus
Again, it will be a little disgusting, but as I said it earlier, it is something you have to do to check for worms in the cat. Sometimes you can see worms or segments of worms near your cat’s anus. So, check it properly and even see the nearby area by looking on the skin. Worms can be hiding in the hairs.
Bloody Stool
If you see your cat’s waste with blood, then it is time to visit a veterinarian as soon as possible. It is highly recommended to visit a vet whenever you see blood. It will not just treat the worms in your cat but also checks for any other infections or problems.
Weight Loss
Your cat might lose weight if there are worms in her. If you see that your cat is getting thin, then check her weight and if confirms then take her to the vet because it might be worms that are affecting her health badly.
Types of Worms in Cats
There are many types of worms that can be present in your cat, and the worms can affect the health of your cat. If you are a cat owner, then you must know about the types of worms and you should also know the symptoms of worms in cats.
Roundworms
They are one of the most common parasites present in your cat. Roundworms are two to four inches long and normally they are white colored worms. They are also known as Toxocara Cati, Toxascaris Leonine. Cats can get roundworms in many ways; a little kitten can get infected from her mother’s milk, and an adult cat can get infected by roundworms through the feces of an infected cat. It is important to take care of your cat and prevent him/her from getting this infection. Moreover; yes, they can also spread to humans, so beware while taking care of your cat.
Symptoms of Roundworms in Cats
- Regular vomiting is one of the major symptoms of roundworms in a cat. If your cat is vomiting regularly, then it may be because of the roundworm parasite.
- Being less active is also a big symptom of this condition. Your cat might be suffering from roundworms if she is less active, so take care of her and visit a vet.
- If your cat is looking pot-bellied, then it might be roundworms in her. The parasite causes this condition so check her for this symptom.
Tapeworm
Tapeworms in the cat are another one of the most common parasites which can enter your cat. Normally, fleas are the carriers of tapeworm, so if your cat is going through a flea infestation, then the chance of having tapeworms is very high. It is like a side effect of flea infestations. They are very visible, so if you check your cat’s stool, you will find them if they are infected. They are also visible on the fur near the tail of the cat. Tapeworms can grow to be several inches long. Their scientific name is “Dipylidium caninum, T. taeniaeformis”.
Symptoms of Tapeworms in Cats
- The basic symptom of tapeworm in a cat is that you will see them in their stool and see small segments of worm in the fur near the tail. This is one of the most common symptoms and the most visible symptom of “tapeworms in cats”.
- Your cat will suffer from weight loss, maybe in a sudden way. This is why you should take care of your cat when she is suffering from a tapeworm infection. It is important to check her weight from time to time for further information.
- It may sound contradicting but a cat suffering from a “tapeworm infection” will remain hungry constantly. Even after that, she will lose weight, but the constant hunger will be a problem for your cat.
Hookworms
Hookworms are a smaller type of worm in comparison to other worm parasites. They are less than an inch long and primarily reside in the small intestine. They live on animal’s blood, and this is why they can cause a major impact on the cat’s health. It can cause anemia which can be life-threatening. They are normally found in kittens. It can infect another cat by skin contact also. Their scientific name is Ancylostoma Brazilians.
Symptoms of Hookworms in Cats
- The most common symptom of hookworms in cats is blood in the stool. If you see your cat’s waste with blood in it, then take her to the vet before it is too late.
- Abdominal pain is also something that is caused by hookworms. If your cat is uneasy and making noises due to pain, especially in her abdominal area, then it’s ideal to take her to the vet.
When should you see a Doctor?
Your cat might be suffering from an infection caused by worms. These worms can make your cat very unhealthy and also it could be a life-threatening condition. Worms like hookworm live on animal’s blood, and it can be a life-threatening condition if not treated on time. It is good to find out about your cat’s condition as soon as possible and treat her by taking her to the nearest vet. When you see the above symptoms like bloody stool, abdominal pain, worms in the cat’s feces and worms near her tail area, it is highly recommended to visit your vet. A vet will treat your cat, and it will no longer be painful for her to bear the worms inside of her body.