Cat Worms Symptoms and Treatment
Fleas and worms are two of the most common parasites in household pets. For the typical cat, worms symptoms can be diverse and range from the trivial to the serious. In many cases, cats can live with worms without ill effects. In other cases - such as with young cats - they may become extremely ill. At the very least, worms are likely to weaken the cat's immune system, leaving it open to other conditions. Either way, regular treatment is best.
Fleas are a nuisance in themselves, but they also harbor certain types of worm (tapeworm) and transmit them to the cat. This means that if your pet has both fleas and worms and you only treat the cat for worms, symptoms will return comparatively quickly. The fleas eat the tapeworm eggs that are passed by the cat, and when the fleas are ingested as the cat grooms itself, their bodies are digested, leaving the tapeworm free to infect the cat. The worms grow to adulthood in the intestine, and segments of their body - each filled with new eggs - break off and are passed. You may see these where your cat sleeps; they resemble rice husks.
Cat worms symptoms include changes of appetite - being either constantly hungry or disinterested in food - inactivity (beyond normal), vomiting and diarrhea, and general poor health. You may notice that they are uncomfortable around the abdomen, too.
Depending on the type of cat worms, symptoms differ widely. It is not possible to be sure of the diagnosis in every case; although some types of worm are clearly visible in the stool, and at other times the symptoms are relatively obvious, in other cases you will need a vet to check the animal and confirm the type of worm (hookworms, for example, are tiny and cannot be seen with the naked eye).
Treating for cat worms every three months at a minimum is important, and probably more frequently if there is lots of contact with other animals. If your cat is an avid mouser, it is likely to pick up parasites this way too. House cats tend to be less affected, since there are fewer sources of infection.
Treatment can be done with readily available over-the-counter medication such as Drontal and Frontline. These can be applied either orally or topically, to the skin at the back of the neck.
Finally, it is important to recognise that some types of worm can be transmitted from cats to humans - something best avoided.
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