Worms in Cats

Worms in cats is more common than what most pet owners think. Avoiding worms is not as simple as just keeping up a cat’s hygiene (though that is important). Cats can be exposed to these parasites from several sources.

If there is a chance that your cat has worms, he or she should be taken to the veterinarian immediately for treatment because not only can worms harm the cat, but the pet owner as well. Here are some symptoms to look for and some advice on how to prevent your cat from catching worms:-

 “What Are the General Symptoms of Worms?

Symptoms differ depending on the type of parasite and the location of infection, but some common clinical signs

are:

Diarrhea

Worms visible in stool or segments of worm seen near anus

Bloody stool

Bloating or round, potbellied appearance to abdomen

Weight loss

Vomiting

Constipation

Coughing

Trouble breathing

How Can I Prevent My Cat from Getting Worms?

Keep your cat indoors to avoid exposure to infected cats, rodents, fleas and feces.

Make sure your home, yard and pets are flea-free.

Practice good hygiene and wear gloves when changing cat litter or handling feces.

It’s also important to   frequently dispose of stool.

Ask your veterinarian to recommend an appropriate internal parasite treatment or prevention program

for your cat.”

Though worms in cats may be common, do not let this fool you into believing that the infection is any less serious. If left untreated a cat’s health can be at serious risk. Certain symptoms are easy to identify such as vomiting, weight loss and diarrhea.

However, other symptoms may be harder to identify such as if a cat is having trouble breathing. The best advice is to just pay attention to your cat’s habits. If these habits change, there may be something worth investigating.

The above prevention section best suggestion is to ask your veterinarian for a worms in cats prevention program. By doing this, a pet owner is stopping a problem from arising before it even has a chance. This saves pet owners a lot of time, money and stress over their pet’s health.

Here is an excellent video on preventing internal parasites in cats.