Worms are rather common in cats, and chances are your cat will have some at one point in her life. There are different types of worm infestations, some bothersome but not dangerous and others that can cause major problems. Identifying the presence of worms is not always easy and requires careful observation of your pet's habits and overall health.
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Inspect the Feces
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Most worms (or at least fragments of them) are excreted in the cat's feces. Proglottids, or tapeworm's eggs, can usually be seen with the naked eye and show up as white fragments, often the size and shape of a grain of rice. Other worms cannot be seen by the naked eye and must be examined by a veterinarian to determine their presence in fecal matter. If you suspect your cat has worms, collect a fecal sample in a covered plastic container and bring it to your vet for analysis. Also, be alert for the sight of eggs in your rug or furniture. Eggs can sometimes get caught in the animal's hair and then shed around the house.
If you find blood in the stool, this can indicate anemia, sometimes caused by a severe infestation of hookworms. This is often accompanied by severe abdominal pain. Frequent vomiting and lethargy that comes without any additional side effects may be caused by stomach worms, commonly seen in cats that live outdoors and feed on rodents or insects.
Other Symptoms
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Roundworms, as well as other types of worms, cause a series of obvious signs, of which the most obvious (especially in kittens) is a distended stomach. Diarrhea, vomiting and weight loss are also common. Cats sometimes lose their appetite when infested with worms and many lick their anus continuously, usually in an attempt to get rid of the itching worms cause.
Tapeworms cause a marked increase in appetite, although the cat may still lose weight despite the amount of food consumed. Abdominal pain is common and many cats have difficulty passing out feces. Coughing and high temperature can also occur with these type of worms.
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