You may have noticed them when cleaning up your cat's litter box; small "baby" white worms intermixed with the feces. Though common, these white worms are neither natural nor helpful to your cat's health. In fact, knowing more about what these "baby" white worms can be and what they mean to your cat's health may save your cat's life. As with any medical condition affecting your cat, it is important to seek the help of a veterinarian as soon as you discover these white worms in your cat.
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Identification
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White worms, whether living or dead, in your cat's feces (or protruding from your cat's anus) are most likely roundworms, a common parasite. Roundworms are often passed from mother to kitten through the mother's milk, though adult cats can also be exposed to these pests, especially in the litter box. Roundworms live in the intestines, where they breed and lay eggs. The eggs mature and hatch, sending larvae into the blood stream where they nest in the lungs and mature. When they get large enough, they may make your cat retch or cough, which allows the cat to accidentally ingest the new generation, introducing them to the digestive tract and starting the cycle all over again.
Alternate Identification
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Flat white worms that break apart easily, sometimes hanging from the anus or lodged in small, dried segments in the fur where they might resemble rice grains, are tapeworms. Tapeworms are introduced in one of two ways through an intermediary source--fleas and rodents.
The eggs of one variety of tapeworm (Dipylidium canium) are eaten by fleas, where they hatch into larvae. When your cat grooms, it ingests the fleas, thus releasing the tapeworm to lodge in the intestines.
The larvae of the Taenia taeniaeformis tapeworm resides in the blood of most rodents and is only activated by the digestive enzymes of a cat. After that, they lodge in the intestines and act like other tapeworms.
Symptoms
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Roundworm symptoms are perhaps the easiest to notice, as roundworms are usually present in the stool or vomit of a cat. Also, cats with roundworm infestations tend to have loose feces or diarrhea; defecate in unusual spots (especially if litter trained already); and have the appearance of a full belly but may still be hungry.
Tapeworms are most easily spotted when segments protrude or are present in the feces or fur of the cat. Still, if a cat is eating more than normal but either maintaining or losing weight, it may have tapeworms.
Prevention/Solution
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There is no way to prevent a cat (especially a kitten) from having roundworms. Tapeworms, however, can be prevented by applying flea repellent (such as a topical ointment or flea collar) as well as preventing your cat from ingesting any rodent meat.
Treatment for roundworms can be purchased over-the-counter while the only effective treatment for tapeworm is a prescription from your veterinarian.
Warning
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In the case of any worm infestation, it is important to follow the dosing guidelines as well as to finish the dosing as directed to ensure a full treatment of the parasite. Like any living organism, if a tapeworm or roundworm survives the first dose, it may come back stronger and with an immunity to that medication. Failure to follow the dosing and regimen guidelines may result in an incomplete eradication and may require stronger and more expensive medication on the second time around.
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