Introduction
Parasites are organisms that live on or in a host organism and get their food from or at the expense of the host. Parasites can cause disease and discomfort in cats. Some common parasites that affect cats include intestinal worms like roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms as well as external parasites like fleas and ticks. Preventing parasite infections is crucial for cats to maintain good health and prevent transmission of zoonotic diseases that can spread from cats to humans. This article provides an overview of the most common feline parasites and the best prevention methods to keep cats parasite-free.
Heartworm
Overview: Heartworm disease is caused by parasitic worms called Dirofilaria immitis that live in the heart and lungs of infected cats. While less common in cats than dogs, heartworm infection can still cause severe illness and even death in cats if left untreated.
Symptoms: Infected cats may initially show no outward signs of illness. Later symptoms can include coughing, difficulty breathing, vomiting, weight loss, fainting spells and sudden death. However, most cases in cats have an asymptomatic chronic stage that can last for months or years before more acute symptoms appear. This makes early detection and prevention incredibly important.
Treatment: There is no approved medical treatment for heartworm infection in cats. Any adult heartworms present in a cat’s body typically die on their own within 1 to 2 years. During this time, cats may be treated symptomatically to manage complications. In severe cases, surgically removing adult heartworms may be considered as a last resort.
Prevention: Regular use of heartworm prevention medication prescribed by a veterinarian is crucial to protecting cats from heartworm disease. Approved heartworm preventives contain active ingredients that kill heartworm larvae before they mature and damage the heart and lungs. Common options include monthly oral tablets or topical medications. Testing cats first for existing infections is also recommended before starting preventives. According to the Heartworm Society, year-round heartworm prevention is considered best practice for all cats regardless of lifestyle or geographic location.
Sources:
https://www.heartwormsociety.org/heartworms-in-cats
https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/pet-pharmacy/cat-rx/rx-cat-heartworm
Hookworms
Hookworms are intestinal parasites that infect a cat’s small intestine and can lead to digestive issues. The most common hookworm species that infect cats are Ancylostoma tubaeforme and Ancylostoma braziliense (source). Hookworms use their hook-like mouthparts to latch onto the intestinal wall and feed on tissue fluids and blood.
Symptoms of a hookworm infection include diarrhea, weight loss, poor appetite, anemia, and dark, tarry stools. Kittens tend to be more susceptible to hookworms than adult cats. Diagnosis is made through a fecal examination to look for hookworm eggs under a microscope.
Hookworms are treatable with deworming medications like fenbendazole, milbemycin, or moxidectin. Treatment may require multiple doses over several weeks. Prevention involves regular deworming, prompt removal of feces, and keeping cats indoors.
Roundworms
Roundworms are one of the most common intestinal parasites found in cats. These long, cream-colored worms can grow up to 3-6 inches in length and live in a cat’s small intestine (PetMD, n.d.). Almost all kittens are born already infected with roundworms, which are passed from the mother cat before birth or through nursing (Pets and Parasites, n.d.). Roundworms can cause serious illness, especially in young kittens, and can even be fatal if left untreated.
The most noticeable symptom of a roundworm infection is a pot-bellied appearance caused by the worms taking up space in the intestines. Other symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, and failure to gain weight. Roundworms are prolific egg layers and the eggs are passed through the infected cat’s feces. Other cats can then ingest the infected feces and continue the cycle of infection (VCA Hospitals, n.d.).
Roundworm infections are diagnosed through a fecal examination at the veterinarian’s office. They are easily treated with a broad spectrum dewormer medication, often given in 2-3 doses over the course of a few weeks. It is extremely important to follow up with additional deworming to ensure all life stages of the roundworms are eliminated (PetMD, n.d.).
Prevention of roundworms involves keeping the litter box clean, promptly removing feces from the yard, and regular deworming of kittens starting at 2 weeks of age. All cats, including adults, should receive periodic fecal examinations and deworming as determined by the veterinarian (VCA Hospitals, n.d.). With proper prevention and treatment, roundworm infections can be controlled in household cats.
Tapeworms
Tapeworms are intestinal parasites that live in a cat’s digestive tract and grow by absorbing nutrients from the cat’s food. Cats get tapeworms when they ingest tapeworm eggs or infected fleas. There are different types of tapeworms that infect cats, but the most common are Dipylidium caninum and Taenia taeniaeformis. Tapeworm infections are common in cats and kittens.
Tapeworms attach themselves to the lining of a cat’s small intestine using hook-like mouthparts. As tapeworms grow, they form segments filled with eggs that break off and pass in the cat’s feces. This is how tapeworms spread their eggs. Tapeworm segments may sometimes be visible in a cat’s fur or litter box.
Symptoms of tapeworm infection include presence of tapeworm segments around the anus or in the litter box, abdominal discomfort, vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence and swelling or failure to gain weight. However, many cats show no obvious symptoms.1
Tapeworm infections are diagnosed through a fecal examination under a microscope to look for tapeworm segments or eggs. Treatment involves deworming medications like praziquantel or epsiprantel which kill the tapeworms. Flea control is also important to prevent reinfection. Tapeworms can be prevented by controlling fleas and not allowing cats to hunt or eat raw meat or birds.2
1 https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/tapeworm-infection-in-cats
2 https://www.smalldoorvet.com/learning-center/medical/tapeworms-in-cats/
Fleas
Fleas are tiny wingless insects that feed on your cat’s blood. They are extremely common parasites that can infest both indoor and outdoor cats. Fleas multiply rapidly, producing eggs that fall off your cat’s coat into their surroundings. These eggs hatch into larvae which eventually mature into adult fleas. Fleas can cause significant irritation, discomfort and health issues for cats.
Fleas bite and feed on your cat’s blood multiple times a day. This can lead to symptoms like excessive scratching and licking, skin irritation, hair loss and hot spots on the skin. Flea allergy dermatitis is also common in cats, causing severe itching, rashes and skin inflammation. Fleas can also transmit other parasites and diseases. Anemia and tapeworms are common secondary conditions.
Effective flea control involves treating both your cat and their environment. On cats, monthly spot-on treatments are very effective. They contain insecticides that kill fleas and interrupt their life cycle. Some also repel fleas for a month. Oral flea medications are also available. Environmental treatment involves vacuuming thoroughly and washing your cat’s bedding. Insect growth regulators and premise sprays can also be used in your home.
Prevention is key, as flea infestations can rapidly get out of control. Use monthly flea preventatives year-round, even during colder months. Keep your home clean and limit your cat’s access to areas where fleas are likely to be. Regular grooming and brushing also helps control fleas by removing eggs.
According to Chewy, the best flea and tick products contain powerful, fast-acting ingredients that kill fleas and ticks on contact before they can bite your pet. They recommend looking for products that kill fleas at all life stages.
Ticks
Ticks are small arachnids that feed on the blood of cats, dogs, and humans. They latch onto the skin and feed until they become engorged, after which they drop off. Ticks can transmit a number of diseases, so it’s important to check your cat regularly and remove any ticks you find promptly. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, ticks go through four life stages: egg, six-legged larva, eight-legged nymph, and adult [1].
Symptoms of tick bites include skin irritation, redness, swelling, and loss of fur at the attachment site. Ticks may also transmit diseases like Lyme disease and Cytauxzoonosis. Cats with these diseases may develop fever, lethargy, lameness, and loss of appetite [1].
To remove a tick, grasp it close to cat’s skin with tweezers and pull straight up with steady pressure. Try not to crush the tick’s body. Clean the area thoroughly with antiseptic after removal. Talk to your vet about disease testing if Lyme disease is common in your area [2].
Prevent ticks by keeping your lawn mowed, clearing brush, and discouraging rodents. Ask your vet about prescription tick preventives. Check your cat daily during tick season and promptly remove any you find. Ticks can be safely removed by grasping their heads with tweezers and pulling straight up. Keep an eye out for any signs of illness after a bite [1].
[1] https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/ticks-in-cats
[2] https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/cat/health-and-injuries/cats-and-ticks
Ear Mites
Ear mites are tiny parasites that can infect cats’ ears. They are highly contagious and spread easily between cats. Ear mites feed on the wax and oils in the ear canal and can cause severe itching, irritation, inflammation, and damage if left untreated (https://www.smalldoorvet.com/learning-center/medical/ear-mites-in-cats/).
Symptoms of ear mites in cats include scratching or rubbing the ears, head shaking, dark discharge from the ears, odor and redness/swelling of the ear canal. You may see coffee-ground like debris in the ears which is a combination of dried blood and ear mite excrement (https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/ear-mites-tiny-critters-can-pose-major-threat).
To treat ear mites, a vet will thoroughly clean out the cat’s ears to remove debris. Medicated ear drops or injections containing products like selamectin, ivermectin, or moxidectin are prescribed to kill the mites (https://www.lakecross.com/site/blog-huntersville-vet/2022/05/30/cat-ear-mites).
To prevent ear mites, regularly check your cat’s ears and clean them as needed. Treat any infected cats immediately and isolate them to prevent spreading mites to other pets. Keep cats indoors and practice good flea control as ear mites can be transferred by fleas.
Lice
Lice are tiny, wingless, parasitic insects that live on cats’ skin and feed on blood. There are two main species that affect cats: Felicola subrostratus (sucking lice) and Trichodectes mange (chewing lice). Lice can cause skin irritation, itchiness, hair loss, and anemia in severe infestations. Both lice species are host-specific and cannot live for very long off of their hosts. Cats typically get lice through close contact with other infested cats and kittens. Lice spread rapidly between cats in multi-cat households. Signs of lice infestation include scratching, skin irritation, and the presence of nits (lice eggs) clinging to hairs.
Lice are treated by using flea shampoos, dips, sprays, or spot-on insecticides like selamectin. Treatment should be repeated in 7-10 days. All in-contact cats should be treated at the same time to prevent reinfestation. The environment should also be thoroughly vacuumed and bedding washed or replaced. Regular flea control helps prevent lice infestations. Kittens and cats new to a household should be inspected closely and isolated until proven lice-free.
For more details see:
Lice of Cats – Merck Veterinary Manual
Cat Lice Overview – PetMD
Conclusion
In summary, parasite prevention is extremely important for cats to maintain good health and wellbeing. Both internal parasites like roundworms and heartworms, as well as external parasites like fleas and ticks can cause major problems if left untreated. There are many safe and effective monthly preventatives available to protect cats against the most common parasites. While indoor cats are at lower risk, routine prevention is still recommended to prevent any parasite exposure. Key points: Parasites can lead to serious disease and even be fatal if untreated; Kittens and outdoor cats most at risk but all cats benefit from prevention; Monthly oral/topical products like Revolution are safe and protect against multiple parasites; Avoid gaps in prevention year round for best protection; Check with your vet and follow label instructions for proper product use and dosing.