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Veterinarians estimate that up to 45% of felines in the United States are infected with some type of parasite. Feline parasites may be worms such as roundworms, hookworms, or tapeworms or one-celled protozoan parasites such as coccidia or toxoplasma. Over time, these parasites can leech the life out of a cat, until she becomes too weakened to sustain herself. In addition, there are some feline parasite infections that can transfer from a cat to a human. Obviously, parasites in cats is not something you want your family pet to come down with.

How Do I Know If My Feline Has Parasites?

Cats that are infected with parasites may not exhibit any symptoms at all, or they may present with a variety of disconcerting conditions. Some symptoms that are common in feline parasite infections include dull hair coat, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stool, appetite changes, and a swollen belly. If left untreated, the vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, and dehydration caused by intestinal parasites will weaken a cat’s immune system, making her more susceptible to other infections and diseases.

Most Common Types of Feline Parasites

Parasitic Worms:

Roundworms — Toxascaris leonina and Toxocara cati are the two most common intestinal feline parasites. Adult roundworms can reach a length of three to five inches long as they mature in the cat’s small intestines. A cat can become infected with these parasites from direct contact with contaminated food or feces. Kittens may also become infected from drinking their mother’s milk if she is carrying the worms.

If roundworms are left untreated, they will continue to multiply until their number become life-threatening to the cat. Because these harmful organisms are so large, they can cause intestinal blockage if they are present in great numbers. This type of blockage will lead to a severe case of constipation in cats. Small kittens in particular may be in serious danger if they become infected with roundworms.

A veterinarian will test for roundworm with a fecal examination. He or she will be able to detect parasite eggs in the cat’s stool during a microscopic examination. Deworming medications are usually effective at treating roundworm infections.

Roundworms can be transmitted from felines to humans. This happens most frequently in children and seniors whose immune systems may be weakened. These parasites can cause diseases such as visceral larval migrans and ocular larval migrans.

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Hookworms — Hookworms such as Ancylostoma and Uncinaria are significantly shorter than roundworms, only reaching a length of about one half inch long. Because of their small size, hookworms usually cannot be seen in the cat’s feces with the naked eye. These types of parasites can live for a long time. While it is unusual, there have been cases of hookworms living in a cat for its entire life.

Some felines can become infected by hookworms that penetrate their skin or are ingested with their food. Once inside the body, hookworms will migrate to the cat’s lungs and then on to the intestines. Severe cases of hookworm can cause anemia due to blood loss from the intestines where these parasitic worms attach themselves. Felines can die from a hookworm infection if too much blood is lost. Fortunately, hookworms are easily diagnosed with a microscopic fecal examination and treated with medication.

Like roundworm, hookworms can also be transmitted to humans. Once inside the human body, these types of parasites can cause digestive disorders as well as a type of dermatitis called cutaneous larval migrans.

Tapeworms — Tapeworms, or Cestodes, have long flattened bodies and attach themselves to the small intestine. As the adult tapeworm reaches maturity, segments of its body will break off and pass into the feces. These segments may be visible to the naked eye around the cat’s anus, or in his feces.

Tapeworm segments are white and flat and approximately one-quarter inch long. They may resemble grains of rice or sesame seeds. But even though these feline parasites may be startling to see, they are not usually seriously detrimental to the cat if they are treated quickly.

A cat may become infected with tapeworms by consuming contaminated fleas or rodents. Medications can be used to treat tapeworm infections, but steps must also be taken to reduce rodent and flea populations if re-infection is to be prevented.

Some tapeworm species that infect cats can also infect and cause diseases inside the human body. Good hygiene can reduce the risk of picking up a tapeworm infection from a cat.

Protozoan Parasites

Coccidia — Feline parasites of the coccidia species are tiny, one-celled organisms that are responsible for the disease coccidiosis. Cats can become infected with this parasite by eating or coming in contact with contaminated feces.

These feline parasites do not usually harm adult cats, however they may cause significant disease in kittens. A veterianarian can accurately diagnose this protozoan parasite and treat it with medication. Coccidia cannot be transmitted from cats to humans.

Toxoplasma — The Toxoplasma parasite is the one most commonly associated with cats. Infection with this protozoan feline parasite is fairly common, as cats can become infected by eating any of the three infective stages of the parasites. Toxoplasma may not cause any noticeable symptoms in the infected feline; however these feline parasites can be transmitted to humans. Inside the human body, Toxoplasma are responsible for the disease known as toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis attacks many parts of the body, causing serious illness and death.

It is important to note that some of these organisms found in felines, are also common dog parasites as well. If you have both dogs and cats living inside your home, be sure to have both animals checked out and treated.

article written by Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DABFM

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