Cat Worms

There are many kinds of worms that can affect your cat. Each type of parasite (another name for worms) has its' own characteristics. Worms vary in size and how they affect your cat.  Not every cat will show symptoms after contracting worms.

Younger, intact and mix breed cats have a higher prevalence rate for both roundworms and hookworms. Roundworm infection are more common in summer, fall and winter, while hookworms are more common in the summer as compared to the spring.

Note that ringworm is not due to worms and is caused by a fungal infection.  It  gets its' name based on an appearance that looks like a worm.  Infected cats can spread worms to humans through the feces.  Worm eggs are resilient and can be found outdoors such as in parks and indoors if an infected cat lives in the home.

Worms that cats can become infested with:

Roundworms in Cats   (toxascaris leonina and toxocara cati, ascarid) : This is a common intestinal parasite of cats. Adult roundworms are white or brown in color and are several inches long. You may notice them in your cat’s stool or vomit. Symptoms of roundworms include weight loss and a “potbellied” appearance.

Cat Worm Picture - Roundworm

Cat Hookworms (ancylostoma tubaeforme and ancylostoma braziliense) : These worms get their name from the hook-like mouth parts they use to attach to the wall of the small intestine. If a kitten is infected, they will look healthy initially, and then get severe anemia, which could possibly result in death.   Infections can occur as early as 3 weeks of age. They are considered “tissue feeders,” but also suck blood from the intestinal wall. They can cause disease in cats and humans, especially children.  

These worms exist in all parts of the United States and are passed from mother (queen) to kitten through the milk, by ingesting through the mouth, or even through skin penetration.  Cats will shed this worm and infect the surrounding environment.

Cat Worm Picture - Hookworm

Tapeworms (also called dipylidium caninum ) : Tape worms in cats include a head and many segments and are often caused by eating or swallowing flea larvae or small rodents. They cause vomiting and diarrhea.  The worm is comprised of small segments (hence the name), which can break off as it grows inside a cat's intestines and then pass through the body in the feces.  A tapeworm can be from 4 to 24 inches in size.  Tapeworm infections are not considered dangerous.  It is often diagnosed by seeing the worms moving around a cat's anus or in the feces itself.

Cat Worm Picture - Tapeworm

Heartworms : These cat heartworms live in the heart or in the arteries going to the lungs. They can cause heart or respiratory failure with the worms being a big problem for cats because of their small heart. While there is medication to treat heartworms in dogs, they are very difficult tothe point that there is no feline heartworm treatment .  The treatment approach is to support the cat as best as possible while the worms complete their life cycle over a 2 to 4 year period.  There is a very high 50% rate of mortality (death).

Symptoms of heartworm feline include salivation, tachycardia (rapid heart rate), shock, dyspnea (labored breathing), hemoptysis (spitting up blood), vomiting and diarrhea, syncope (loss of consciousness), dementia, ataxia (unsteady movements), circling, head tilt, blindness and seizures.

Almost one-third of cats diagnosed with heartworm were housed solely indoors. There are now three drugs with FDA approval for use in cats. Ivermectin is provided in a chewable formulation, milbemycin as a flavored tablet and selamectin comes in a topical formulation.

Picture Cat Worms - Heartworm

Whipworm : This type of worm is not commonly seen in cats. A cat will contract whipworms from drinking water or food that contains worm eggs. Unfortunately there aren't any approved treatment approaches for this type of infection.

Can You See Cat Worms in Their Stool?

While you can see some worms in cat stool, it is more common that you can’t.

• Roundworms: Long white or brown worms that can be seen in the stool.
• Hookworms: Microscopic eggs that cannot be seen without a microscope.
• Tapeworms: You can see worm pieces in the hair near your cat’s anus. They look like grains of rice. Can also see eggs under a microscope.

Worms Medicine

Many of the common feline worms can be effectively managed by placing cats on a year-round preventive medicine program (medications are called anthelmintics). There are several worm medicines for the many types of cat worms.

• Revolution : Spot-on heartworm, roundworm, and hookworm
• Drontal-Tablets : for roundworm, hookworm, and tapeworm
• Felex Plus-Paste : for roundworm, hookworm, and tapeworm

Dewormers can be effective.  The following table lists common ingredients and the method of administration.  Check with your veterinarian for the best approach for your cat.

How Your Cat Gets Worm Types

Kittens with worms probably inherited them from their mother. Adult cats tend to catch worms either from an insect bite or because they came in contact with the feces of an infected cat. Even if the feces were removed, eggs might remain that cause infection. 

Worm Types That Can Pass From Your Cat to Adults and Children

It is possible for humans to get intestinal worms from your cat. This is common in children where they touch cat feces. Children that crawl on the ground or play in sandboxes can ingest the eggs that result in worms.  The transmission is often through the ingestion (through the mouth) of eggs shed by an infected pet or if they penetrate the skin.

Humans can get roundworms from cats, and less frequently, tapeworms and hookworms.

Other worms such as heartworms do not infect humans.

Signs and symptoms of human worm infection that can pass from cats to adults include problems with the eyes, brain, liver, and lungs.  These in turn cuase issues with the nervous system, eyesite and possible tissue damage.  Cats spread disease less often than dogs.  Another symptoms is skin lesions and inflammation of the intestinal tract (enteritis) which in turn can cause symptoms such as diarrhea.

Hookworms in humans move throughout the skin causing inflammation.(called cutaneous (skin) larva migran. One form of hookworm can penetrate into the tissues and intestines causing damage to those parts of the body.

Worms are often transmitted through outdoor play areas such as sand boxes.  

Preventing worms the pass from cat to adults and children is as simple as making sure your cat is dewormed and uses a prevetative such as a topical.

How to Keep from Getting Worms from Your Cat

• Wash hands after handing your cat, particularly children
• Immediately dispose of cat poop
• Wash your hands after handling cat feces
• If your cat has signs of worm, have her examined by a vet

Natural Remedies and Cat Worms

• Artemisia absinthinium (Wormwood) : thought to cleanse the blood and digestive tract. (Baumann, I. C., Glatzel, H., and Muth, H. W. “Studies on the effects of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) on bile and pancreatic juice secretion in man”. Z.Allgemeinmed. 6-20-1975;51(17):784-791.) 
• Eugenia caryophyllata (Cloves): contain strong detoxifying agents. Studies have even investigated this herb for its ability to discourage pests. (Barnard, D. R. “Repellency of essential oils to mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae).” J Med Entomol. 1999;36(5):625-629.) 
• Azadirachta indica (Neem) : Studies have investigated the properties of this to act as a natural repellant. (Sharma, S. K., Dua, V. K., and Sharma, V. P. “Field studies on the mosquito repellent action of neem oil.” Southeast Asian J.Trop.Med.Public Health 1995;26(1):180-182.) 
• Ruta graveolens (Herb of Grace) : Studies have shown this herb to have a supportive action on cardiac health. (Chiu, K. W. and Fung, A. Y. The cardiovascular effects of green beans (Phaseolus aureus), common rue (Ruta graveolens), and kelp (Laminaria japonica) in rats. Gen.Pharmacol. 1997;29(5):859-862.) 

References:

Feline Heartworm Disease 2003
Clarke E. Atkins, DVM, DACVIM
Professor of Medicine and Cardiology
North Carolina State University

Total Parasite Control - Piecing the Puzzle Together
M.W. Dryden
College of Veterinary Medicine

Feline Preventive Care Review
K.K. Faunt
Banfield, The Pet Hospital

Center for Disease Control

Have a Cat Worms Question?

Do you have a question about feline worms for our veterinarian? Enter it here and we'll do our best to provide a helpful response.

Please include information such as age, breed, medications, symptoms, diet, changes in behavior and anything that you believe could be of help.

We will try and respond as quickly as possible. If you have an urgent question we suggest using this online veterinary cat answer service that is staffed by vets and available 24 hours a day. You only pay a small fee for answers you accept.

Enter Your Title

Tell Us Your Story or Question! [ ? ]

Close Help

Entering your story is easy to do. Just type!...

Upload 1-4 Pictures or Graphics (optional) [ ? ]

Close Help

Do you have a picture to add? Great! Click the button and find it on your computer. Then select it.

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional)

Click here to upload more images (optional)

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional)

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional)

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional)

Author Information (optional)

To receive credit as the author, enter your information below.

Your Name

(first or full name)

Your Location

(e.g., City, State, Country)

Submit Your Contribution

• Check box to agree to these submission guidelines .
• I am at least 16 years of age.
• I understand and accept the privacy policy .
• I understand that you will display my submission on your website.

(You can preview and edit on the next page)

Questions from Our Readers and Vet Suggestions

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Removing Worms, Urine Smell and Cat Feces from Sand
My family has a summer home on beachfront property. Almost 8 months ago we have been invaded by a colony of feral cats. We currently have approximately …

Decontaminating Furniture/Carpet Exposed To Cats With Worms
Reader Question: How do I decontaminate furniture and carpet exposed to cats with worms Are there products or processes to clean/rid carpet and fabric …

Thin Black Worms from Cat
Just a little while ago, I saw something have never seen before in all the 40 years I have had cats in my life, a skinny, small black worm! My cat was …

Cat Tapeworm Symptoms
I have a cat weighing 12 pounds that has something that looks like sesame seeds by his anus. What is it? They are light brown. Editor Suggestion: …

Tapeworms in my Cat
Tapeworms in My Cat Reader Question: I'm finding tapeworms in my cat's feces but I don't have enough money to pay for the vet bill considering the economy …

Treating White Worms in Cat Stool  Not rated yet
Reader Question: Are white worms in my cat's stool maggots or something else? Good afternoon! Our cat is a 15 year-old neutered male with IBS and …

Cat With Worms Treatment  Not rated yet
Reader Question: How Long Do I Have To Treat A Cat With Roundworms? Hi we are an English couple living in Turkey who has recently taken in a stray …

Treating A Kitten With Worms  Not rated yet
Reader Question: What Are Some Over-The-Counter Alternatives To Treating Brown & White Worms, In Cats? What can I buy over the counter, to get rid …

Cat’s Unusual Behavior Following Tapeworm Medication  Not rated yet
Why Did My Cat React Negatively To Ringworm Medication One of my cats had worms. Vet suggested medication for both cats. Now, the cat that did …

Cat Worms Could Be Flea Larvae or Tape Worms  Not rated yet
For these past two weeks I took my cat a bath last friday and when I let the bath drain, I always leave a strainer to catch the lose hair from her coat …

Cat Scooting  Not rated yet
My cat is about 8 years old and has never had worms. Recently I saw her scoot her bottom on the carpet, and knew that was a sign I had heard of. I looked …

Deworming Kittens at Home  Not rated yet
Hello I am getting a 7 week old kitten on Friday and it has not been dewormed. Can I purchase deworming medicine at my local pet shop and do the job myself? …

Cat Feces Covered in Webs  Not rated yet
I have a garden area that I cleared last autumn, intending to get a fence around it this spring. I went out yesterday and noted that my cat has pooped …

Cat Tapeworm and My sweet pea  Not rated yet
I just wanted to say that my kitty had a tapeworm and a few other ailments. If you find you kitty vomitting, not eating......then get to the vet quickly!!!! …

Click here to write your own.