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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.

Cats in the same household are also nice enough to share worm infestations with each other. Normally, if a fecal sample from one of the cats tests positive, your vet will want to treat the whole crowd.

Below is a description on each of the major types of worms found in 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 hook themselves to the inside wall of your cat’s intestines and hang on. Since they’re tissue feeders, hookworms can cause blood loss, resulting in anemia. In addition, you may observe weight loss, intestinal illness, and poor hair coat. Most of the roundworm treatments used today will kill hookworms as well. Two or more treatments are required to eradicate 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.

Since these worms are transmitted by fleas, flea control is essential. Your cat eats the flea after the flea eats the tapeworm egg. The tapeworm then lives in the intestinal tract of your cat, and is able to start the process over.

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.