All About Worms

Intestinal worms pose a health risk for your cat and for your family. The following are some of the more common worms found in cats.

Roundworms live in the small intestine and feed on intestinal contents. They can interfere with digestion and can cause diarrhea, vomiting and in severe cases in young kittens, death.

Hookworms attach directly to the intestinal wall and feed on the cat’s blood. They can also cause gastrointestinal upset and can cause significant blood loss. This can result in vomiting, bloody diarrhea, anemia and death.

Tapeworms are often seen by owners as small rice-like pieces in the stool. While visibly apparent in this manner, cats may or may not be clinically ill. Common signs might include loose stools or nausea.

Cats get intestinal parasites in a variety of ways including common grooming practices, like cleaning their feet after being in the litterbox or walking around outside in contaminated soil. They can also become infected by ingestion of their mother’s milk and by eating infected hosts such as fleas or rodents.

Federal law (U.S.A.) restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.