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There are 3 main intestinal worms that can affect cats. These are roundworm, hookworm, and tapeworm. It is estimated that 3 out of 4 cats carry intestinal worms. This can be very important in a family setting as some worms may be transmitted to humans especially children (see zoonosis section).
Roundworms are long (10cm) white worms that resemble spaghetti. Cats become infected when they ingest an egg. This can occur if a cat comes into contact with another cats faeces! It can also occur through cat-cat contact. The egg hatches in the cats small intestine and matures into an adult worm. This cycle takes 3 weeks.
Kittens can also become infected. If pregnant queens become infected, larvae can migrate into her mammary glands and infect kittens during suckling. Kittens can also become infected by coming into contact with an infected queens faeces.
Kittens with worms have large pot bellies. Roundworms can cause diarrhoea and vomiting. They can also create an obstruction in the intestine resulting in severe vomiting, dehydration and death if not treated.
Hookworms are usually 7-12mm long. Cats become infected when they ingest an egg. This can occur if a cat comes into contact with another cat's faeces. It can also occur through cat-cat contact. Hookworms can also penetrate the skin of cats and migrate to the small intestine via the blood stream!! The cycle of maturation takes 3 weeks regardless of the route of infection.
Kittens can become infected too. As for roundworms, the larvae can migrate to the mammary glands and kittens can become infected during suckling.
Hookworm causes weight loss, poor appetite, bloody diarrhoea, anaemia and dehydration.
Tapeworm. There are a number of different types of tapeworm.
1. The most common dog and cat tapeworm is called Dipylidium Caninum. This worm can reach 50cm in length! It remains in the animals intestine and sheds segments full of eggs in the animal's faeces. These segments look like rice grains (or cucumber seeds!). Segments are mobile and as they move around they squirt out the eggs!
Cats become infected when they ingest an egg. This can occur if a cat comes into contact with another cat's faeces! More commonly it occurs when a cat swallows a flea containing a tapeworm egg!
When eggs are shed they are often ingested by flea larvae, cat's then swallow/eat these fleas and become infected.
Eggs (or fleas and eggs) that are ingested develop into mature worms in the small intestine. This cycle takes 3 weeks.
Dipylidium tapeworms don't cause too much trouble however the segments can be irritating and cats will often scoot to itch their bottoms. The biggest problem with Dipylidium is that it can be transmitted to humans!!(see zoonosis section).
2. The second most common tapeworm in cats is called Taenia taeniaeformis. This worm can reach 65cm in length! As with Dipylidium, Taenia remains in the cats small intestine and sheds segments full of eggs in the cat's faeces.
The life cycle of Taenia involves an intermediate host. In cats, this intermediate host if often a rodent (mouse or rat). Infected cats shed segments and these segments squirt out eggs into the environment. The eggs are then ingested by a mouse. Unable to fully develop in this host, the larvae encyst in the mouse's muscle. This mouse is then killed and eaten by another cat who then becomes infected. This cycle takes 2-3 months.
As for Dipylidium, Taenia tapeworms don't cause too much trouble however the segments can be irritating and cats will often scoot to itch their bottoms.
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At the Rowville Veterinary Clinic we recommend routine worming of your cat. Combination products that cover for intestinal worms and fleas are strongly recommended for ease and better compliance. For those who wish to cover their cats for intestinal worms only, we carry a range of products to suit your needs.
Young kittens should be wormed first at 4 weeks of age and then every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age. After this they should be wormed monthly until 6 months of age and then 3 monthly is adequate. If you are using a combination product, your cat will be wormed monthly.
If you are breeding your cat, ensure that you worm her before mating, then after queening and then again 4 weeks post queening.
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At the Rowville Veterinary Clinic we also recommend that good hygiene is practised by all to prevent transmission to humans.
Ensure that any outdoor sandpits are covered when not in use, ensure that adults and children wash their hands thoroughly after playing with the cat, do not encourage kissing the cat on the mouth/face, ensure that any outdoor toys that become soiled are washed thoroughly with warm water and a disinfectant, ensure that gloves are always worn when gardening and ensure that the cat has adequate flea control.
If you are unsure if your cat is protected against gastrointestinal worms and fleas, please contact the clinic.
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