Worms In Cats

Important types of worms to be aware are:

• Roundworms in cats
  
  Roundworms are the most common type of intestinal worms in cats. The adult worms are long, spaghetti-like worms that live in the cat’s small intestine. Infestations are particularly common in kittens.

• Hookworms in cats
  
  Hookworms are smaller than roundworms but can still cause severe disease. The adult worms attach to the intestinal wall and feed on blood with their sharp, biting mouthparts. Severe infestations can be fatal.

• Tapeworms in cats
  
  Two important tapeworm species in Australian cats are the flea tapeworm and the cat tapeworm. Flea tapeworm infestations occur when fleas containing flea tapeworm larvae are ingested during grooming. Cat tapeworm infestations occur when cats hunt small animals which act as intermediate hosts.

• Lungworms in cats
  
  Lungworms can cause significant respiratory disease in cats. The adult worms live in the cat’s lungs. Slugs and snails act as the intermediate host of feline lungworm. Cats get lungworm either by ingesting an infected snail or slug, or by ingesting a rodent, lizard or bird that has eaten an infected snail or slug

• Symptoms or signs of worms in cats can vary, depending on the type of worm and the age of the cat.
• Signs of intestinal worms in cats may include vomiting, diarrhoea, a pot-bellied appearance, weight loss and anaemia.
• Signs of lungworms in cats may include lethargy, depression, weight loss, sneezing, nasal discharge and breathing difficulty.
• It is important to know that sometimes there are no obvious symptoms of worms in cats.