Worms in cats

Cat worms are a frequent problem that many pet owners will eventually encounter. If these internal parasites are not treated, they may result in discomfort, health issues, and even more severe consequences. Maintaining the health and happiness of your cat depends on your knowledge of the different kinds of worms, how they spread, and how to prevent them.

Cats are susceptible to various types of worms, such as roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms. It’s critical to recognize the symptoms as each type can cause distinct symptoms and health problems. Cats may exhibit symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, or edema in the abdomen. But occasionally, they might not exhibit any symptoms at all, which emphasizes the significance of routine examinations.

There are several ways that worms can spread, such as through contaminated food, fleas, or their surroundings. Due to the possibility of infection from their mother’s milk, kittens are particularly susceptible. Although worms are widespread, they can be avoided and treated with the appropriate attention and medication.

It’s crucial to speak with a veterinarian if you think your cat may have worms. They are able to identify the problem and recommend the best course of action to get rid of the parasites. You can spare your cat from the discomfort and dangers of worms by being vigilant and aware.

Types of worms in cats and cats

Cat worms differ in size, shape, mode of feeding, and mode of reproduction. For a very long time, they were divided into three groups: roundworms, tapeworms, and flukes. Let’s research our adversary!

Features

Signs in a feline

A cat that consumes crustaceans or drinks from unclean sources can contract this infection. Cystic formations caused by tapeworms cause lung destruction.

• high temperature;
• refusal to eat;
• fever;
• wheezing and frequent coughing.

The parasite can enter a human’s or cat’s body with ease. The tapeworm rarely grows longer than 30 cm in cats. Damage to the intestinal walls is one way that the danger is expressed. Lice and fleas can transmit the parasite.

The pet loses weight, throws up, and acts agitated. Diarrhea develops and the stomach rumbles all the time.

In animals, the parasite can grow up to 1.5 meters in the body; in humans, it can grow up to 12 meters. Eating raw fish and crustaceans as well as drinking river water can expose you to infection.

• diarrhea;
• lack of appetite;
• vomiting;
• weight loss.

The fluke does not despise the pancreas or the gall bladder; it has made the liver its home. You can eat raw fish in order to obtain such a neighbor.

Yellow-colored vomit is produced, the animal is weak, and there is no appetite. The temperature may increase and diarrhea manifests. Because standard treatment is ineffective in this case, complex treatment is employed.

The parasite, which grows to a length of 4-5 mm, is harmless to cats. This neighborhood is peaceful for many years, but trouble arises as soon as someone gets infected. Diagnosis is challenging, a liver tumor appears, and the patient faces imminent death from organ metastases. Eating a rodent can result in the entry of a worm into the body.

Five-centimeter helminths are found in the liver, gall bladder, and esophagus. Food is the source of infection; intrauterine infections are also known to occur. Because of the rapid development of toxocara, which is prone to small intestine ruptures, the parasite poses a risk to kittens.

No symptoms are noticed

These visitors to the cat’s body are no larger than one centimeter. Antylostomes select the intestines as their home and the blood as a food source. Eggs of helminths can enter the body through food, and the larvae can even pierce a pet’s skin.

The animal loses its appetite and becomes lethargic and indifferent to everything. There is blood visible in the liquid feces.

The cat coughs up a lot of vomit.

These are the primary parasitic organisms that can cause significant difficulties in a pet’s and owner’s life.

Can you get worms from a cat

There are roughly thirty-two species of worms that are known to exist in cats, and they do not refuse to enjoy living inside of humans. The effects of living in a neighborhood like this can have distinct effects on both people and animals. In certain situations, a person may suffer severe consequences if a pet has a body that is easily infected with certain helminth species.

After worm eggs or larvae enter the oral cavity, infection happens. They essentially enter through the hands. The parasite eggs stay on the hands even after the pet has been removed from the hands for a few hours. Cats spread pathogens from their anus, where helminth larvae and eggs gather, by licking their fur. When someone caresses a pet and neglects to wash their hands with soap, they quickly discover that they have brand-new tiny "friends" inside of them.

In addition to direct contact, worms can spread through a cat’s belongings and litter box.

Worms that are dangerous for humans

Let’s examine some harmful helminths that are spread from cats to people:

• flatworms cause a disease called opisthorchiasis. The parasite settles in the liver, gall bladder and pancreas, affecting the ducts of these organs. You can get sick by eating raw or poorly cooked fish, mainly of the carp family;
• a broad tapeworm of the cestodiasis group causes diphyllobothriasis. The worm occupies the small intestine and grows up to 10 meters. Iron deficiency anemia and dyspeptic disorders gradually develop. A source of infection can also be raw freshwater fish;
• Echinococcus in the larval stage can seriously affect the internal organs of a person. Also, a cat carries a dangerous disease called alveococcosis to humans. Contact with a sick animal is fraught with a fatal outcome for people.

Maintaining proper hygiene is still the best line of defense against the spread of these illnesses.

Cat worms are a common but dangerous health problem that can negatively impact your cat’s quality of life. Some cats may not exhibit any symptoms at all, but these parasites can cause symptoms like weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, and a dull coat. It’s critical to comprehend the different kinds of worms, their life cycle, and the most effective preventative and therapeutic measures. The risk can be considerably decreased by deworming your cat on a regular basis, keeping them inside, or limiting their outdoor exposure. You can protect your cat from worms and maintain their health with the right care.

Signs of worms in a cat

The amount of helminthic infection in the body directly correlates with the development of symptoms, which do not appear right away.

Worms in cats can cause a variety of symptoms, such as:

• depressed and apathetic state;
• problems with appetite;
• weight loss;
• fatigue;
• slow development in kittens;
• unusual condition of the coat, its disheveled appearance;
• noticeable yellowness of the mucous membranes;
• enlarged liver is noticeable upon palpation (trematodosis);
• anemia of the mucous membranes (cestodosis);
• constipation alternates with diarrhea, vomiting;
• cough;
• frequent licking of the anus due to itching;
• intoxication in the form of convulsions, paresis of the limbs;
• premature birth and sometimes miscarriage;
• blood in stool.

There are numerous symptoms on the list, and they don’t just show up one at a time.

Treatment of worms in cats

A veterinarian will perform tests before prescribing an anthelmintic treatment. Finding the lesion and correctly identifying the enemy are essential.

Why is a consultation with a veterinarian necessary? It turns out that eliminating worms from a cat is more difficult than it seems because anthelmintic medications only target specific types of parasites. However, some sophisticated medications also target a specific number of helminths.

The deworming medication is administered once in the morning and again after ten days. This is the straightforward treatment plan. Additionally, a 10-day deworming period is followed by a vaccination. Deworming cats occurs two to three weeks prior to and following childbirth.

Deworming drugs for cats

Examine the list of medications that can be used to deworm your cat if you think it may be worm-infested. In many cases, these are effective medications.

Veterinarian pharmacies possess tablets, suspensions, and injections that can be given to cats in case of worm infestation. Tablets come in two varieties: complex and narrow-profile. Drugs with a narrow profile target a single parasite, while those with a complex profile work against multiple helminths.

Deworming tablets for cats

Antihelminthic medications that work well include:

• sugar cubes (Polyverkan) at a price of up to 50 rubles each;
• Caniquantel tablet, which can be bought for 55-65 rubles;
• Drontal with a price of up to 70 rubles;
• Milbemax, which is sold in the form of two tablets from 350 rubles;
• Dirafen (35-100 rubles per package);
• Alben (35-75 rubles per pack).

Using sugar cubes is simple; they dissolve quickly in water, and the cat willfully ingests the medication from a syringe. It takes skill to give a pill to a cat the right way. If not, the medication will either enter the body at the incorrect dosage or not at all.

Anthelmintic suspension for cats

Cats can also be wormed out with suspensions. Using a dose syringe, they are administered orally to the animal.

The following medications are on the list of fantastic, successful suspensions:

• Dirofen (150-180 rubles);
• Prazicide for adult cats or kittens (140-150 rubles);
• Pyrantel (in suspension, from 50 to 60 rubles);
• Prazitel (120-145 rubles).

The animal will not object as much to the suspension as it would to a bitter tablet, and it is easier to give the animal and has a pleasant taste. Kittens prescribed suspensions begin at three months of age. Administration must be done precisely in accordance with the dosage recommended on the package. The cat is given activated charcoal six hours after administration in order to stop intoxication from setting in.

Drops for worms for cats

Drops work well against fleas, lice, and ticks in addition to treating worms in cats.

• Stronggold (from 200 rubles);
• Advocate (1100 rubles);
• Profender (450 rubles);
• Dironet (from 320 to 350 rubles).

There is no possibility that the animal will lick the withers and become poisoned because the drops are applied directly to them.

Injections for worms for cats

Not just tablets, drops, or suspensions can be used to treat helminth infections in cats at home. Worm injections also have a rapid effect.

The following drugs are typically prescribed by veterinarians:

• Novomek (50-70 rubles);
• Ivomek (150-200 rubles);
• Barmek.

One does not use injections without first seeing a specialist.

How to give a cat a deworming pill

It is not a simple task to give a pill to a cat. There will be no outcome no matter how hard you try to get the animal to open its mouth and swallow the "treat." The cat can be given a prescription medication by following a set of standard procedures.

The best course of action is to break up the pill into a powder, roll it into a ball with a delectable treat, sit the animal facing away from you, and let it loose its jaws. The therapeutic ball is pressed into the animal’s mouth, shut, and stroked across the cat’s throat. You must ensure that the medication is swallowed as soon as the swallowing motion is made.

Giving a pill to a cat can be done in different ways.

If a pregnant cat has worms

If the cat is pregnant, the owner will clearly be concerned about the health of the expectant mother and her offspring. For this purpose, preventive measures are carried out three weeks before mating, treating both the groom and the bride if necessary. However, if the cat is preparing to become a mother and managed to catch helminths, then you need to check with the veterinarian what treatment is appropriate to prescribe based on the test results. There are antihelminthic drugs that have no contraindications for pregnant cats, but there are instructions for taking medications regarding the period. Some drugs for cat worms are indicated for the early stages of pregnancy, and some can be taken in the last weeks.

Type of Worm	Symptoms
Roundworms	Vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss
Tapeworms	Rice-like segments in stool, itching
Hookworms	Bloody stool, anemia, lethargy
Heartworms	Coughing, difficulty breathing, fatigue

Cat worms are a common problem, but they can be controlled with the correct care and attention. It’s critical to recognize the symptoms, which include changes in appetite, weight loss, and digestive issues. Worms can be detected early with the help of routine veterinary examinations and close monitoring of your cat’s health.

The best course of action is always prevention. Make sure your cat doesn’t have access to places where they can pick up parasites, such as areas where they hunt wild animals or dig through trash, and keep their surroundings tidy. As advised by your veterinarian, regular deworming procedures will also help shield your pet from recurring infections.

Don’t wait to seek assistance if you think your cat may have worms. Your cat’s discomfort and more serious health issues can be avoided with prompt treatment. You can prevent worms from bothering your pet and maintain their happiness and health with the right care.

Video on the topic

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