Internal Pests and Parasites in Cats
Parasites can cause serious problems for your cat.
Your pet can be afflicted with internal parasites like tapeworms or roundworms, as well as external parasites such as fleas and ticks. Regular monthly dosage of a prescription medicine may be necessary to prevent heartworm infections, which is also caused by a specific parasite.
Your vet can diagnose and treat these infestations. For products that can prevent or kill internal pests, please click on Internal Pest Control .
Internal parasites – inside the body:
Kittens are more susceptible to internal parasites than are adult cats. Here are some of the common internal parasites that can afflict your companion:
Roundworms
These are little spaghetti-shaped worms that live in the kitten’s small intestine, weave themselves into balls and can obstruct the intestinal tract.
Symptoms of roundworms are diarrhea, vomiting and a distended stomach.
A stool sample is necessary for the vet to detect the eggs in the feces.
Tapeworms
Tapeworms are acquired from your cat swallowing an infected flea, or eating mice or other rodents outdoors.
These are segmented worms that attach themselves to the wall of your pets intestines and cause diarrhea and bloating.
A stool sample is necessary to detect the white segments (looks like little bits of rice) in the feces.
Lungworm
Lungworm requires special tests to detect. If your cat has a persistent cough, this may be a sign they are infected with a lungworm parasite. Contact your veterinarian for advice.
Whipworm, Hookworm, Heartworm
These parasites are not present in all localities. If you live in an infected area, or plan to travel with your cat to an infected area, check with yoru veterinarian regarding preventative measures.
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that can cause a zoonosis disease, called Toxoplasmosis, in both cats and humans (zoonosis means a disease that is transmitted form animals to people.)
Young cats are especially susceptible to this disease.
Toxoplasma gondii is a common parasite present worldwide, and with human infections is usually linked to eating undercooked meat or infected vegetables.
Preganant women (and their unborn child) are considered especially at risk, so should not handle litterbox duties, while others should wear disposable gloves. Children's sand boxes should be covered when not in use (stray or outdoor cats may decide to use the uncovered sand box as a litter box.) Self emptying litter boxes help keep possible contamination at a minimum.
Coccidia
Coccidia are digestive system parasites contracted from infected birds and mice, or from the feces of an infected cat.
Symptoms to look for are weight loss, diarrhea, and listlessness, especially in kittens.
Giardia
Giardia is a microscopic protozoa that attaches to the mucous membranes of the intestines, and can cause incomplete digestion, gradual weight loss and diarrhea.
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