Cats are energetic and hungry predators that will explore the area with great curiosity. Perhaps because of this proud and curious persona, they are largely at risk of parasitic invasion. Another such parasite to be aware of is the worm. Parasitic worms sound like an unpleasant epidemic and experiencing them is as bad as it sounds. There are a number of worms that can infect a cat and this can include tape worms and rounds worms.
Roundworms include a number of different strands such as hookworms, tapeworms and even heartworms. The chance of worm infection within the lifespan of a cat is almost certain and this is particularly an expected case around the kitten stage of life. Unfortunately roundworm is spread rather easily and can become quite the headache for a cat owner to deal with when owning multiple animals in the household. The most common way for a cat to become infected is through digesting host organisms that are carrying the parasite. This could be small animals like mice or birds that have been hosting larvae eggs. The eggs will eventually incubate within the cat and hatch into the parasitic worms. Even cats that are feeding on their mother’s milk will be susceptible to this.
Cats that suffer from ringworm will have the infection hosted in the intestines and owners will struggle to diagnose this condition from observation. As the condition manifests however, cats will begin to show various symptoms that indicate the presence of roundworm. This will include rapid weight loss, swollen abdomen and even episodes of vomiting. Round worms may even be seen in the excrement of vomit of the cat upon inspection. This is an unfortunate situation and steps should be taken to remedy the situation immediately. The bigger risks associated with roundworm infections involve movement towards the lungs via the bloodstream. This will cause other severe symptoms including bronchitis and even pneumonia. This is a massive detriment to a cats immune system and cat owners face an uphill battle if action is not taken early enough.
The best solution is prevention. Keeping the environment as hygienic as possible is essential so that they may not come into contact with roundworm larvae. In addition to this, it may be desirable to keep household cats indoors to avoid risk of eating outdoor animals. Regular preventive treatments from the vet are recommended to keep a cat immune from roundworm.
