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Worms in cats are a common occurrence, especially in kittens, and your vet will test for them once per year. Testing is done by way of a stool sample.

Worms are intestinal parasites and may or may not cause visible signs of illness. Worms use your cat as a host in order to get nourishment, reproduce, and complete their lifecycle. There are a number of cat parasites, including a few major classes of worms.

Roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms, are the main types of worms found in cats. During annual check ups, your vet should do a fecal exam for diagnosis.

Given enough time, cats that share litter boxes will also share worm infestations. A fecal sample from one of the cats in the house is usually enough to determine if all are infected. All felines unlucky enough to live with an infeced cat will need to be treated.

Let’s have a look at more detail on each of the major types of worms that attack cats.

Roundworms - Roundworms (Toxocara Cati) look kind of like spaghetti, and you usually won’t see them unless your cat vomits them up. Mother cats may show no symptoms, but can still pass roundworm on to their kittens. which lies dormant. Kittens will normally be wormed 2 - 3 times, whether they test positive or not.

Mature cats often develop a natural immunity against roundworm. Adult cats, therefore, do not usually exhibit symptoms due to this parasite.

Hookworms - Hookworms literally “hook” themselves to the inside wall of your cat’s intestines. Since hookworms are tissue feeders, they can cause blood loss, which results in anemia. Other symptoms may include intestinal illness, poor hair coat, and weight loss. The good news concerning hookworms is that most of the roundworm treatments will also kill hookworms. You should note that at least two treatments are needed to rid your cat of this worm.

Tapeworms - Tapeworms consist of a series of segments. The segments contain eggs and as they drop off the worm they are passed in the stool. You’ll sometimes notice them around a cat’s anus or in a high traffic area. They look like grains of rice. They sometimes cause your cat to lick excessively or create anal irritation.

Fleas carry tapeworms into your cat’s life. The fleas ingest tapeworm eggs and the cats ingest the fleas, thereby becoming infected. The tapeworm then lives in the intestinal tract of the cat and the cycle starts again with the eggs.

Usually these worms do not cause any visible symptoms of illness in your cat. You cannot properly address the tapeworm issue without also addressing the flea problem, or you risk the possibility that your cat will get them again.

Your cat may have intestinal worms, but show no signs of illness. Cat parasites, like any illness, put undue stress on your cat. Keeping your cat’s immune system up to speed is therefore vital. That includes not only regular vet visits, but also exercise, high quality cat food, and the room to play.