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Jul 27, 2024 · Cats are susceptible to many different types of bugs and parasites, but there are two main classifications of them. Cats will either get internal or external parasites. Internal parasites are inside the body, while external parasites live on the outside of the body—in the skin or ears of a cat.
- Cat Parasites
Parasites can cause major health problems in cats. Learn...
- Parasites in Dogs That You Should Know
A mild infection may have no symptoms, but severe infections...
- Cat Parasites
- Roundworms
- Tapeworms
- Hookworms
- Heartworm
- Whipworms
- Stomach Worms
- Lungworms
- Liver Flukes
- Bladder Worms
- Eye Worms
Roundworms(Toxocara cati, Toxascaris leonina) are very common in cats. They get their name from the distinctive shape of their bodies. They are long and circular, with two pointed ends. Their eggs are microscopic, so are unable to be seen by the naked eye. The worm dwells in your cat’s intestines and the eggs are passed out in the feces. Roundworm ...
Most pet owners will have heard of tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum, Taenia taeniaeformis) and possibly have seen them as well. Tapeworms latch onto the inside of the intestinal wall and develop long bodies with distinctive segments. The end of the worm is where the egg sack is. This breaks off and is shed out of the cat’s butt. It is these segments t...
Hookworms(Ancylostoma spp, Uncinaria stenocephala) are smaller worms that latch onto the intestinal lining and suck the cat’s blood. They can cause severe anemia and diarrhea, especially in young kittens or immunosuppressed cats. Hookworms pose a zoonotic risk to humans too as the larvae can enter our skin. Also Read: The 9 Best Cat Foods For Diarr...
Heartworms are extremely dangerous for cats. Cats get infected from the bite of an infected mosquito. The worm burden is usually only very low in a cat, but it only takes one or two to cause serious problems. Heartworm diseasecan cause sudden death in cats. A big downside for cats is that heartworm treatment is not suitable for them, so prevention ...
Whipworms (Trichuris vulpis, Trichuris serrata)are less common in cats than some of the other worms. They get their name from their characteristic shape, which is literally like a whip. Cats become infected by ingestion of any substance contaminated with the larvae or eggs of the whipworm. This includes contaminated soil, food, water, and other ani...
Stomach worms (Ollanulus tricuspis, Physaloptera spp) are most commonly seen in outdoor cats and cats living in multi-cat households. They are usually spread through contact with the vomitof an infected cat. Some cats might show no symptoms at all; others vomit intermittently and will gradually lose weight. Also Read: Stomach Cancer In Cats: Causes...
Infection with lungworms (Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, Capillaria aerophila)occurs when cats eat or drink something that has been contaminated with the larval stage of the worm. The larvae move out of the intestines and find their way to the lungs by traveling in the bloodstream. In the lungs, they develop into adult worms and lay eggs. The eggs eit...
Cats usually pick up liver flukes (Opisthorchis felineus)from a secondary host. A secondary host is one that consumes the intermediate host and then is usually consumed by the cat. The cat liver fluke dwells in water such as lakes or ponds. They prefer warmer climates. An infestation in the cat usually affects the liver, the bile apparatus, and the...
Bladder worms (Pearsonema feliscati, Capillaria plica) are relatively rare in cats. They also rarely cause clinical signs so it does prove difficult to detect them. If there is a large worm burden cats may show signs of a classic urinary tract infection. They are passed out during urination. Also Read: Bladder Stones In Cats: Causes, Symptoms & Tre...
Eye worms (Thelazia callipaeda)are a few millimeters to a centimeter long and move across the surface of the eye as a snake would across the ground. There are often hundreds in the conjunctiva and conjunctival sac if an infestation occurs. Flies are usually the intermediate host—they deposit the larvae on the eyeball when they land on the cat. Symp...
If you notice any symptoms in your cat, don’t hesitate to reach out to a veterinarian. Taking action sooner rather than later can lead to a healthier and happier life for your furry companion. Remember that your cat’s health is in your hands, and being proactive is the best approach.
- Fleas. Most people have heard of fleas. In many instances, fleas are easy to spot and diagnose at home. The same fleas that affect dogs affect cats, and they can bite humans, too!
- Ticks. Ticks are insects that are picked up from surrounding plants, which can cause concern if your cat goes outside regularly. Although many types of ticks exist, only a few can infect cats, and they tend to vary by geographic location.
- Tapeworms. Tapeworms, also called flat or ribbon worms, are segmented into small pieces. They live in the intestine of cats, where pieces of them will break off periodically to secrete eggs into the environment, and continue their life cycle.
- Roundworms. Roundworms look more like true worms; they are round and often many centimeters long. They produce eggs that are invisible to the naked eye, unlike tapeworms.
Feb 22, 2018 · Parasites, both external and internal, are one of the main enemies when it comes to our pets' general welfare and health. But if we stop to think about how annoying it must be to have tiny beings proliferating in our ears or skin, we can understand how important it is to know everything about mites on cats, their symptoms, treatment and contagion.
Oct 2, 2024 · A cat with a heavy worm burden (which means that they have a lot of worms), tends to have a potbelly but little fat cover over the spine or pelvis. A typical potbelly looks like a swollen tummy, round and full, and often the swelling is carried down low on the cat's body (the cat may even look pregnant). [1]
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Mar 11, 2022 · Fleas and ticks are pretty annoying external parasites, and can even lead to other diseases — fleas can give him tapeworms, and ticks can carry Lyme disease, for example — so being able to tell if your cat’s dealing with these pests will help you get him treated ASAP. Signs your cat might have fleas include:
