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Your cat may have worms, but there is no need to panic. Worms in cats are very common, especially in kittens. Typically, your vet will test your cat annually via a stool sample. Worms are intestinal parasites and may or may not cause visible signs of illness. Worms use your cat as a host in order to get nourishment, reproduce, and complete their lifecycle. There are a number of cat parasites, including a few major classes of worms. The main types of intestinal worms in cats are hookworm, roundworm, and tapeworm. Fecal examinations are done as a diagnostic. Typically, cats that share litter boxes will all be afflicted. A fecal sample from one cat, therefore, is usually sufficient to determine if an infestation exists in the home. By the same token, it is recommended that treatment be given to all cats sharing litter boxes if one of them is infected. Let's have a look at more detail on each of the major types of worms that attack cats. Roundworms - Roundworms (Toxocara Cati) look kind of like spaghetti, and you usually won't see them unless your cat vomits them up. Mother cats may show no symptoms, but can still pass roundworm on to their kittens. which lies dormant. Kittens will normally be wormed 2 - 3 times, whether they test positive or not. Mature cats often develop a natural immunity against roundworm. Adult cats, therefore, do not usually exhibit symptoms due to this parasite. Hookworms - Hookworms hook themselves to the inside wall of your cat's intestines and hang on. Since they're tissue feeders, hookworms can cause blood loss, resulting in anemia. In addition, you may observe weight loss, intestinal illness, and poor hair coat. Most of the roundworm treatments used today will kill hookworms as well. Two or more treatments are required to eradicate this worm. Tapeworms - Tapeworms consist of a series of segments. The segments contain eggs and as they drop off the worm they are passed in the stool. You'll sometimes notice them around a cat's anus or in a high traffic area. They look like grains of rice. They sometimes cause your cat to lick excessively or create anal irritation. Fleas carry tapeworms into your cat's life. The fleas ingest tapeworm eggs and the cats ingest the fleas, thereby becoming infected. The tapeworm then lives in the intestinal tract of the cat and the cycle starts again with the eggs. Usually, there will be no visible signs of illness in your cat from tapeworms. Remember that as long as there are fleas, your cat is at risk. Until you completely get rid of the fleas, a potential tapeworm problem exists. Intestinal worms in cats can be present without any sign of visible illness. Since cat parasites put undue stress on your kitty, you should do what you can to keep his/her immune system strong. That includes not only regular vet visits, but also high quality food, regular exercise, and the room to explore.
Article Source: http://www.philvault.com
Kurt Schmitt keeps cat lovers only visitors informed about problems like worms in cats and other feline health issues.
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