Roundworm infections can potentially become life-threatening if the numbers are so great that intestinal blockage occurs. Cats become infected with Toxascaris leonina in a manner similar to Toxocara cati, but unlike Toxocara, the parasite is not transmitted through the milk. In those cases, it is possible for kittens to become infected soon after birth. Kittens can become infected by larvae that are passed through an infected queen's milk. The eggs require several days to several weeks to develop into the infective larva stage.Ĭats become infected with Toxocara cati by ingesting eggs or by eating rodents (transport hosts) that have larvae in their tissues. The adult female worm produces fertile eggs that are passed in the infected cat's feces. The adult roundworms are 3 to 5 inches long, cream-colored, and live in the cat's intestine. Roundworms (Toxascaris leonina and Toxocara cati) are the most common intestinal parasite of cats, with an estimated prevalence of 25% to 75%, and often higher in kittens. Furthermore, some parasites have the potential of infecting humans. The vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, and dehydration caused by intestinal parasites will weaken a cat, making it more susceptible to viral and bacterial infections and diseases thus robbing your cat of good health. The signs associated with parasite infections are fairly nonspecific, such as a dull haircoat, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, mucoid or bloody feces, loss of appetite, pale mucous membranes, or a pot-bellied appearance. The parasites can be wormlike (e.g., stomach worms, roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms) or one-celled (e.g., Isospora, Giardia, Toxoplasma) organisms. Gastrointestinal parasitism is a common problem in cats, with prevalence rates as high as 45 percent.
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