Helminths or worms in cats are parasitic worms that can live in all parts of the mammalian body. Parasite eggs can be found everywhere: in grass, sand, soil, foods raw fish, raw meats, water as well as in the air. Learn how your pet can be protected against worms.
Helminthiasis is an extremely widespread parasitic disease that the owner of a cat should take very seriously even if the animal does not leave the house.
Types of helminths in cats
The worms are very many and are of many kinds. Nematodes include round and flatworms; trematodes are flukes; toxocariasis includes roundworms; opisthorchiasis is a fluke; and cestodes include tapeworms. At present, there are over 30 varieties of such worms in this group.
Flatworms:
- Trematodes (flukes). Opisthorchiasis is relevant for cats and humans.
- Cestodes (tapeworms).
- Tapeworms.
- Chains.
Roundworms:
- Nematodes.
- Ascaris.
- Toxocara.
- Ancylostoma.
Every type of worm can infect animals nevertheless the most frequent worms in cats are roundworms or tapeworms.
Nematodes
Nematodes are slender and measure only up to 2mm in length and are sometimes called roundworms. These are some of the popular internal parasites which affect the animals. The nematodes are consumed by felines through direct contact with affected animals or overly, through the consumption of feces which contains the eggs of helminths. Newborns can get worms if they suckle their mothers’ milk. The parasites consume blood from animals, and they fix themselves on the intestinal walls; they are a great threat to the lives of animals, particularly kittens. They get released with feces to contaminate humans or other animals with eggs or larvae.
Cestodes
Tapeworms also known as cestodes range in size between 10 and 80 centimeters long. The worm has a segmented body which sub divided into pleasant segments known as segments. Some cats contract this type of parasitology when they consume the intermediate hosts such as fleas, or rodents. In infected animals, white rice-like granules of the helminths are often found on the animal’s fur in the perianal region or the feces. Cestodes are helminth parasites of the lungs of animals.
Roundworms
Roundworms are among the most frequently observed helminths in cats; these parasites look like spaghetti. The length of the parasites does not exceed 5 cm, but occasionally the length of some individuals is greater. The highest population density of roundworms is detected in the small intestine according to the research. In liver cirrhosis, there is a tendency for large aggregates of these particles, and their deposition results in blockage of bile ducts and lumen of the intestines. This group of parasites is rather dangerous for cats because their vital activity products are rather toxic for the organism and, if the cats are not dewormed, they can produce severe toxic and allergic reactions.
Toxocara
Worms of this type are five-centimeter round parasites that live in the esophagus, gall bladder, liver, and intestines of animals. Infection occurs orally or in utero. Toxocara are very dangerous for kittens, as they can cause intestinal rupture.
Cucumber tapeworms
Infection with these parasites occurs when cats have ectoparasites – fleas or lice – that carry worm eggs. In a cat’s body, the size of tapeworms can exceed 30 cm, and in a human body, under favorable conditions, more than a meter. A very unpleasant and dangerous type of internal parasite. Tapeworms are fixed on the intestinal walls with the help of sharp spines, affecting the mucous membranes.
Broad tapeworm
Parasitic worms of this type in the body of an adult animal can reach more than 2 meters in length, and in the human body, if not treated in time, more than 11 meters. As a rule, infection occurs when the animal eats raw river fish. The symptoms are similar to infection with cucumber tapeworms.
Causes of Worms in Cats
Helminths can affect both street and domestic pets. The larvae of worms enter the animal’s body with food or are brought into the house on shoes.
The reasons for the appearance of worms in cats, depending on the species, are the following:
- The presence of ectoparasites (fleas, lice) in the pet.
- Consumption of raw meat products, river or sea fish. Cysts are most often found in raw river fish.
- Contact with infected animals.
- Intrauterine infection from an infected cat.
In raw meat, even after freezing and thorough washing, worm cysts can be found. They are especially common in almost all types of river fish since it is in their bodies that the maturation process of larvae occurs. Fish is an intermediate host of many helminths. Besides, fish contains a significant amount of phosphorus, and due to the corresponding oversaturation of the pet’s body with this element, metabolism can be disrupted; therefore, one should exclude the contents of rivers from the cat’s diet.
Symptoms of a cat being infected with worms
The nature and degree of manifestation of symptoms of worms in cats may be different depending on the level of damage to the body and the presence of a certain type of parasitic worms. At the early stages of infection, symptoms of worms in cats may not be present or appear weakly.
What are the most common signs of worms in cats:
- Digestive and gastrointestinal disorders (vomiting, constipation in cats, followed by diarrhea, refusal to eat, or increased appetite, respectively).
- Periodically, your pet may experience coughing fits, especially as a result of infection with roundworms.
- Yellowish color of mucous membranes, enlarged liver.
- The manifestations of anemia, especially in kittens, are quite significant.
- Tousled, dull coat. Hair loss.
- Itching in the anal area.
- Small rash, hair loss near the anus.
- Severe purulent or severe discharge from the eyes or nose.
- Presence of blood in feces.
- In severe cases, signs of intoxication are diagnosed. Paralysis of the hind limbs may also develop.
- Premature birth or abortion.
- Significant increase in the cat’s abdomen.
- Developmental delays in kittens.
One must note that signs of helminthic invasion might be like signs of viral or infectious diseases. If the de-worming procedure is done, then the overall health condition of the animal would become worse in particularly critical conditions and it may cause death. One may establish that these are worms’ symptoms in cats only after conducting clinical and laboratory tests; hence, at the slightest suspicion of the presence of internal parasites in your pet, do not delay a visit to the veterinarian.
Treatment of helminthiasis in cats
Animals infected with worms are prescribed broad-spectrum anthelmintic drugs affecting all types of helminths or agents affecting specific worms. Modern drugs have almost no toxic effect on the body, but it is necessary to follow the dosage and take into account contraindications. Anthelmintic drugs are available in the form of tablets, suspensions, and drops on the withers.
The most effective drugs for treating cats from helminths:
- Drontal.
- Profender.
- Milbemx.
- Stronghold.
- Pyrantel.
- Caniquantel.
- Prosit.
- Prazicide.
- Pratel.
If you care about your pet’s condition, do not try to treat your cat with pills yourself because that would just worsen its condition. The process of development and reproduction of worms is rather rapid, and it can be days, especially if the animal is weakened. A veterinarian should prescribe medications for treating cats from helminths.
“When giving anthelmintic drugs, you must strictly follow the instructions for the drug and the dosage indicated in it.“
Before taking the pills, you need to rid the animal of fleas and other external parasites. Otherwise, the treatment for worms will be ineffective. You can use products to simultaneously get rid of external and internal parasites, such as Stronghold drops on the withers.
It is important to ensure that the animal swallows the tablet completely. A completely natural reaction of the cat will be to refuse such a tasteless and unusual “treat”, therefore, for the animal not to spit out the tablet, and for the antihelminthic drug to enter the body in the required volume, the following methods are used:
- The crushed tablet is mixed with a small amount of the cat’s favorite treat. The best food for this purpose is wet food with a uniform consistency, such as such types of industrial food as pate, jelly, or mousse, as well as homemade ground beef or chicken.
- You can use a pill peeler (inducer or pill pusher) – a special device sold in pharmacies and outwardly resembling a syringe with a soft rubber tip. The pill is fixed in the tip, the cat’s mouth is opened, the tip is placed as close as possible to the root of the tongue and the pill is pushed out by pressing the plunger. The cat’s mouth is closed and held, while simultaneously stimulating swallowing with stroking movements along the throat from top to bottom. A similar procedure can be performed using your fingers, but using a peeler is more convenient due to the small diameter of the instrument and the ability to place the pill closer to the larynx.
- The crushed tablet is dissolved in a small amount of water, after which the resulting solution is injected into the cat’s cheek using a syringe without a needle. The mouth is held until the animal swallows the medicine.
If you use the second or third method of giving the pill to your pet, you may experience excessive salivation – this is a normal physiological reaction of the cat.
For greater effectiveness, treatment of worms in cats is repeated after 10-14 days, depending on the drug and the degree of helminthic invasion. In more severe cases, longer treatment may be required.
Control of anthelmintic therapy is carried out using laboratory methods, examining feces for the presence of eggs and larvae of worms.
In what cases is deworming not recommended:
- If the animal is very exhausted, weakened; with viral and infectious diseases.
- For pregnant and lactating cats.
- Kittens younger than the age indicated in the instructions for the anthelmintic drug.
- If you need to treat an older animal, carefully read the instructions for the anthelmintic and be sure to consult with your veterinarian.
Prevention of worms in cats
It is necessary to follow simple rules that will help prevent your pet from getting infected.
Cats will not get worms if you follow these steps:
- Prevent your cat from coming into contact with infected animals.
- Regularly treat animals with special products against ectoparasites, even if your pet does not go outside and does not communicate with its fellows.
- Feed with quality food. Give the animal only fresh products and always put them away in the refrigerator or throw away any food left over that has been in the cat’s bowl for a long time. Completely exclude raw river fish from the diet.
- Store your shoes in closed cabinets if you have a pregnant cat or small kittens at home.
- Tablets for the prevention of worms in cats are given two weeks before mating and vaccination of the cat.
- Clean the cat litter box and cat bowls. To not infect your pet, the toilet of the cat must be cleaned with disposable gloves and follow the basic rules of hygiene.
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to follow the above rules fully, but it is possible to reduce the probability of infection. Prevention of worms in cats can also consist of the use of folk remedies, but their effectiveness is questionable. Carrot juice enemas, wormwood tincture, and tansy decoction will help prevent and even get rid of helminthic invasions at the initial stages. However, these remedies are less effective than medications for the prevention of worms in cats.
