Parasite Detection in Cats

It is estimated that up to 45 percent of pet cats in the United States carry a parasite. This number is high because many cats exhibit no obvious symptoms when infested. As a cat owner, it is important to know what to look for to identify the presence of a parasite in your pet. Although in some cats the signs of infestation are quite clear, the majority hide their condition, giving only subtle clues. If you suspect that your feline friend is infested, take them to the vet as soon as possible.

  1. Screening Difficulties

    • When a cat is sick or in pain, their natural instinct is to hide their symptoms. In the wild, this behavior would prevent them from becoming easy prey. In domestic cats, it can make it very difficult for owners to know when their cat is in poor health. Although a few common cat parasites are asymptomatic, the majority do cause physical symptoms. However, most cats will go to great lengths to avoid exhibiting these.

    External Parasite Symptoms

    • Ear mites and fleas are common external feline parasites, invading the skin and fur. Ear mites enter a cat's ear canals and lay eggs. They cause intense itching, so you may notice your cat frequently scratching its ears and shaking its head from side to side. If you look inside the ear, you will see black specks, which are the mites' eggs. Fleas bury themselves into a cat's skin, injecting their venom with each bite. Cats infested with fleas itch or chew on themselves constantly, leading to hair loss in some areas. Other signs of fleas include small, raised bumps on the skin and black and white flecks in the fur.

    Internal Parasite Symptoms

    • Cats can become infected with a variety of digestive parasites, most notably roundworm, tapeworm and whipworm. These infestations usually begin after the cat eats of sniffs infected food or feces. Cats infected by these worms may be listless, thin, have a dull coat, appear pot-bellied, and have vomiting or diarrhea. Owners may also notice white grains or strings in their cat's excrement. Because these parasites steal nutrients from the cat's digestive tract, long-term infestation can lead to malnutrition or starvation.

      Heartworm, transmitted by infected misquotes, is a large parasite that attacks the heart and lungs. A cat infected by heartworm may cough, struggle to breath, seem weak and listless or exhibit pale gums. If left untreated, heartworm can do significant damage and cause heart or respiratory failure.

      In addition to worms, cats can be infected by single-celled parasites, including cheyletiella and coccidia. When infected by these common parasites, the symptoms are usually very subtle. Cheyletiella manifests itself as dandruff and itchy or crusty skin. Coccidia causes loose bowels, dehydration and fatigue.

    Veterinary Screening

    • Because it can be difficult to identify an infestation, it is important to take your cat the vet for an annual checkup. At this visit, the vet will conduct a fecal matter test to screen for digestive parasites, a blood test to screen for heartworm and will offer advice regarding external parasite prevention.