Worms in Kittens – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Kittens and cats are at risk of several types of worms, some of which can cause serious or even fatal disease. Let’s explore the most important types:

Roundworms are the most common worms in kittens. They are long, light-coloured worms that live in the small intestine. They are sometimes described as looking like strands of spaghetti. Cats can become infected by ingesting eggs from a contaminated environment or by consuming infected birds and rodents. Kittens can also become infected from their mother’s milk. If roundworm eggs are accidentally ingested by a human, the parasite can migrate to internal organs, affecting muscles, eyes and the brain. Young children are considered most at risk as they are more likely to play in contaminated areas and place things in their mouths. 

Hookworms are small worms that attach to the lining of the small intestine and feed on blood with their sharp mouthparts. Cats become infected via ingestion of larvae from a contaminated environment, by larvae penetrating the skin, or via milk when suckling as kittens. Hookworm eggs are passed in the faeces of infected cats. The eggs hatch and the larvae can infect people by penetrating the skin (e.g., if walking barefoot on contaminated sand or soil). The larvae can then migrate through the skin resulting in itchy and inflamed skin lesions and other more serious diseases. 

Two important species of tapeworms in kittens and cats in Australia are the flea tapeworm and the cat tapeworm. The lifecycle of tapeworms involves an intermediate host. Kittens are infected with flea tapeworm by ingesting fleas which contain the tapeworm larvae. Kittens are infected with the cat tapeworm when they hunt and eat infected small mammals. 

Dogs are the natural host of heartworm but cats can also become infected from the bite of an infected mosquito. While cats typically mount a strong immune response which means that most heartworms do not survive to the adult stage, the immature worms and associated inflammation can still cause significant health issues.

Feline lungworms (Aelurostrongylus abstrusus) live in the lungs of infected kittens and cats. Infection occurs when a kitten or cat ingests an infected intermediate host (a slug or snail), or when they ingest another small animal (e.g., a rodent, lizard or bird) that has eaten an infected slug or snail.

You may be wondering, “Can worms cause diarrhoea in kittens?” or “Can worms cause vomiting?”. The signs of kitten worms will vary depending on the type of worm involved, but it’s also important to understand that sometimes there are no obvious signs or symptoms of worms in kittens. Here are some of the symptoms that can be seen with different types of worms in kittens:

•    Diarrhoea (which may be bloody)
•    Weakness and lethargy
•    Weight loss
•    Skin lesions
•    Respiratory signs
•    Pale gums
Severe infestations, especially in young kittens, can be fatal if not treated promptly.

•    Vomiting 
•    Diarrhoea
•    A pot-bellied appearance
•    Stunted growth
•    Coughing due to larvae migrating through the lungs

Often there are no obvious symptoms of tapeworms in kittens, but occasionally they can cause signs such as: 
•    Abdominal pain
•    Diarrhoea
•    Vomiting
•    Itchiness around the anus
Sometimes it’s possible to see segments of tapeworms in a kitten’s stool or around the anus that look like small, moving grains of rice.