Instructions
Press on your cat's abdomen. If it is sore, swollen or hard, the cat most likely has roundworms. Roundworms may show up in the cat's feces or vomit. They are long and thin like a strand of spaghetti. Your cat may also experience the lack of an appetite or diarrhea if infected with roundworms.
Check the color of your cat's diarrhea. If it is dark in color, your cat may be infected with hookworms. Hookworms will not be seen in the feces, but they reside in the small intestine and feast on your cat's blood. This will leave your cat anemic. They can also cause your cat's skin to become irritated.
Observe the area around your cat's anus. If you see something that looks like small grains of rice, your cat is infected with tapeworms. You may also find the worms in your cat's litter box. Some cats will scoot their bottoms on the ground repeatedly when they are infected with tapeworms.
Keep a record of any abnormal behavior your cat may be exhibiting such as low appetite, diarrhea or vomiting. Collect a stool sample and bring it with you to the veterinarian's office. Strongyloides worms, lung worms and heartworms are not visible in the feces, but a veterinarian can look at the feces under a microscope to search for worm eggs and make a proper diagnosis.
How to Identify Worms in a Cat
There are several different types of worms that a cat can become infected with. These include roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms. A homeowner can use signs and symptoms of each type of worm to identify it. After that, a stool sample should be collected and taken to a veterinarian to confirm the diagnosis. If worms are present, it is important that your cat get on a de-worming medication as soon as possible to prevent any further complications from the worms.