Symptoms & Treatment for Roundworm in Cats

Two types of roundworms, Toxocara cati and Toxascaris leonina, are a common parasite infecting the digestive tract of cats and kittens. The good news is they are relatively easy to treat and the same deworming medicine works to eliminate both species.

  1. Contracting Roundworms

    • Many kittens get roundworms while nursing from a mother cat who is infected. Cats also contract worms from eating rodents and small animals, which are often carriers of the parasite. Even grooming outdoors carries risks, as worm eggs can be inadvertently ingested from the environment while cats are grooming.

    Symptoms

    • If mildly infected, cats and kittens may not show any symptoms. As the infestation worsens, they may develop a pot-belly and dull coat. Infected cats also are prone to developing a cough and vomiting roundworms. The roundworms are easily identifiable, as they look like long, white spaghetti.

    Diagnosis

    • A veterinarian may conduct fecal testing for cats and kittens to determine if they are infested with worms. The test detects the presence of worm eggs in the feces.

    Treatment

    • You may treat your cat's roundworms yourself at home. There are a variety of over-the-counter remedies readily available at pet stores and in the pet sections of grocery and big box stores. Typically, follow-up deworming is required a few weeks after the initial dose. Your veterinarian may also prescribe and/or administer deworming medication for your cat.

    Elimination

    • Roundworms are eliminated through the cat or kitten's stool. Be aware that often the roundworms will be alive and moving, since the medicine only paralyzes rather than kills them. Once roundworms are out of the host animal, they typically die.

    Warnings

    • Follow dosing instructions on the deworming medicine bottle label. Also, pay attention to weight and age dosing requirements, especially for kittens, and follow up with repeat deworming as required.