Page 55 - Complete Cat Care: How To Keep Your Cat Healthy and Happy

Internal parasites

Some parasites live in a cat’s internal body tissues, usually in the
intestines but sometimes in other areas such as the lungs. The three
most common types are roundworms, tapeworms, and Toxoplasma.

Signs of a problem
■ Constant hunger but loss
of weight
■ Bloated belly
■ Diarrhea
■ Coughing
■ General ill-health
■ Rough or dull coat
■ Adult worms seen in vomit 53
or feces
■ Tapeworm segments seen
on or under the tail, or in feces

Roundworm Tapeworm △ Worms and weight loss
The most common internal Cats usually pick up tapeworms Worm infestation can cause a cat to Internal parasites
parasites are roundworms, which by swallowing fleas (which lose weight because the worms take
nutrients from the cat’s food as it
look like strands of spaghetti. They can carry tapeworm eggs) while passes through the intestine.
live in the gut, and their eggs are grooming themselves, or by eating
passed in feces. Cats may swallow worm-infested prey. The worms organisms) in their feces.
eggs from infested prey or after grow in the cat’s gut, absorbing It is sensible for a pregnant
contact with feces. Nursing nutrients from food. Tapeworm woman to wear gloves when
mothers may pass larvae to their infestation can be a cause of handling cat litter to prevent
kittens through their milk. There is vomiting and weight loss. the risk of passing toxoplasmosis
also a risk of Toxocara roundworms Adult worms shed flat body to her unborn baby.
being passed to humans. segments containing eggs, Few cats show signs of
Roundworms absorb nutrients which the cat passes in its toxoplasmosis, but some develop
from the cat’s food and can damage feces. These look like wriggly fever, inflammation in the eye,
the gut lining. Signs include loss rice grains around the anus, on nervous system problems, vomiting,
of condition, vomiting, diarrhea, the tail, or in feces. Your vet and diarrhea. Toxoplasmosis is
and a pot belly. Kittens may be will prescribe an anti-tapeworm usually treated with the antibiotic
more severely affected than drug. Strict flea control can help called clindamycin.
adults. Heavy worm infestations prevent reinfestation.
may block the intestines. Larvae
can cause coughing when they Toxoplasmosis ▷ Roundworm
migrate through the lung. Infection with the single- Roundworms can
If your cat has roundworms, your celled organism Toxoplasma grow up to 4 inches
(10 cm) long, and
vet may examine a stool sample. gondii is called toxoplasmosis. range in color from
Your pet will be prescribed a Cats may pick up the organism white to pale brown.
Roundworm eggs can
deworming drug. You will also be from infected prey; they also remain infective for
advised on preventative medication. pass oocysts (immature months or even years.

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