What Are the Names of All Types of Worms Kittens Could Have?

The various types of worms that infect kittens --- roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms and heartworms --- can cause serious health problems. Diarrhea is often the first and most obvious symptom of worms. If you suspect your kitten is infected, take it to a veterinarian right away. In some cases, the only way to get rid of worms is through prescription antibiotics. Prevent your kitten from getting a worm by treating flea, mice, roach and beetle infestations. Also, give it heartworm-prevention products and cook all meat you feed it.

  1. Roundworms

    • Roundworms are found in half of all kittens.

      Roundworms are the most common worms found in kittens. A kitten can get roundworms from drinking its mother's milk, eating a roundworm egg while grooming itself or from licking its paws. A roundworm looks like a spaghetti noodle and can grow to 4 to 5 inches long. If your kitten has a potbelly-looking stomach and spaghetti-looking noodles in its stool or vomit, it most likely has roundworms. If you suspect roundworms, take your kitten to the vet for testing. Oral medication is the only cure for roundworms.

    Hookworms

    • Hookworms are considered blood suckers. These intestinal parasites attach to the walls of a kitten's stomach and feed off blood. Hookworms are very dangerous. They drink a lot of blood, and if untreated, they can drink enough blood to kill your kitten. A kitten can get a hookworm by eating an infected rodent or the stool of something that has hookworms. They can grow up to an inch long. Signs of hookworms are pale gums, dull coat, black or bloody stools and stunted growth. The only way a veterinarian can tell if your kitten has hookworms is by obtaining and analyzing a stool sample. Hookworms are treated with either antibiotics or topical creams.

    Tapeworms

    • Tapeworms rob a kitten of food and nutrients. A kitten can get a tapeworm by swallowing an infected flea, consuming uncooked meat or eating an animal infected with tapeworms. The head of the tapeworm hooks onto the kitten's intestinal wall and sucks its blood. If you see pieces of what look like dried rice or sesame seeds in your kitten's stool, it may have tapeworms. Kittens with tapeworms may experience substantial weight loss, have pain in the abdominal region and be hungry all the time. A vet can diagnose tapeworms in your kitten by examining a stool sample for tapeworm eggs. Over-the-counter medications are available to treat tapeworms, but it's best to have the kitten examined prior to treatment.

    Heartworms

    • Heartworms are more common in dogs than cats. But when a kitten gets infected with heartworms, it's a very serious condition. Heartworms can clog a kitten's blood vessels and result in death if untreated. Heartworms are common in areas that have a moist climate and mosquitoes. A kitten can get heartworms from a mosquito bite. Once infected, heartworms live and grow in a kitten's blood vessels, heart and lungs. Symptoms include trouble breathing, coughing, wheezing, anemia, weight loss and overall lack of energy. Some cats at least initially show no signs at all, allowing the worms to go undetected. A veterinarian usually treats heartworms with antibiotics.