Worms in cats, symptoms and treatment

Worms are one of the most common parasites in cats. As with external parasites such as fleas, felines need proper deworming to ensure complete physical and behavioural health.

When a cat has worms it is easy to detect due to the very characteristic symptoms that are presented, before which you must act quickly with the aid of the veterinarian to get rid of the parasites and the risks that these can entail.

Types of worms in cats

There are several types of worm parasites that can affect domestic felines. They are usually spread by eggs, passed from the cat to her kittens, through eating infected food or water, through an insect bite, or through direct contact with another cat that is infected.

The most common worms in cats are the following:

  • Intestinal worms
  • Lung Worms
  • Heartworms
  • Eyeworms

How can you know if a cat has worms?

Worm infestation in cats leads to the appearance of a series of characteristic symptoms that you must pay attention to in order to know if a pet is affected with this type of internal parasites:

  • Diarrhoea or loose stool
  • Constipation and/or intestinal obstructions
  • Intestinal discomfort
  • Swollen belly
  • Vomiting
  • Slimming
  • Anal irritation
  • Cough, in the case of pulmonary or cardiac worms
  • Tearing and eye inflammation if worms are found in the animal’s eye

Worms in kittens

Worms in kittens usually have a much more obvious manifestation than in adults. It is common for kittens of worm-infested cats to also have these parasites at a very early age, although treatment to eliminate them cannot be started until the kitten is at least 15 days old.

From this age the kitten can start with complete deworming, repeating the treatment every 2 to 4 weeks within its vaccination calendar.

Cats that are in contact with environments where this type of worm could be found need to repeat the treatment every 4 to 6 months, in order to avoid the parasite eggs from reproducing and eventually affecting their health.

Treating worms in cats

The best treatment for worms in cats is proper prevention. The application of an internal antiparasitic suitable for the animal is essential to eliminate the parasites and prevent their further development.

Antiparasites are administered by the veterinarian as a tablet. Depending on the conditions and needs of each pet, the treatment must be adapted to avoid the spread of the worms. If giving a tablet is complicated for some cats, there are other possible forms of administration, which you can consult with your vet.

The detection of worms in cats must be done early in order to be able to apply an effective treatment. At Sepicat we stress the importance of correct deworming of the animal both externally and internally, so that our pets are always healthy and can live comfortably.

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