One of the most common health concerns for household pets is intestinal worms in cats and dogs. These internal parasites usually live in your cat’s digestive system and can be detrimental to your cat’s health. If your cat or kitten has worms, it is important to seek the appropriate treatment.
Symptoms of worms in cats
The most noticeable symptom of intestinal worms, such as tapeworms, in cats are visible white segments which appear in your cat’s stool, around their rear, or in their bedding. These segments resemble grains of rice, but are actually broken pieces of your cat’s intestinal worms.
Other symptoms of worms in cats may include:
- Weight loss and a bloated stomach
- A change in coat condition, with coarser or duller fur
- A change in bowel habits, particularly the onset of diarrhea
- Visible white worms in your cat’s stool, around their anus, or in their bedding
- Lethargy and lack of energy or interest that is out of the ordinary
If you suspect an infestation in your pet, consult a veterinarian and consider an effective worm treatment for cats. You can also deworm your kitten from two weeks of age.
When to treat your cat
Kittens are commonly born with worms or become infected early in life, especially with roundworms, which can be transmitted through their mother’s milk. Kittens should be wormed at two, four, six, eight and twelve weeks of age. After this, they can be treated with an all wormer for cats every three months.
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