Worms in cats
Overview
Symptoms
Risk
Is my family at risk?
Diagnosis
What to do if you think your cat has worms?
Vet treatment
Home treatment
Prevention
When to worry
Worms in cats
Worms are parasites that live inside a cat’s body. 25-75% of UK cats have worms. Most cats will pick up worms at some point in their lives, but untreated cats, kittens and cats who hunt are most at risk.
Different types of worms live in different parts of the body. They cause health problems which range from mild to life-threatening and the illnesses they cause depend on their location. You can protect your cat against the risk of worms with regular preventive treatment using an effective wormer. Different wormers may be required for different types of worms.
How do I know if my cat has worms? >How do I know if my cat has worms? [OverviewSymptoms of worms in cats >Symptoms of worms in cats [SymptomsHow do cats get worms? >How do cats get worms? [RiskIs my family at risk?
Intestinal worms
How do cats get worms? >How do cats get worms? [RiskIs my family at risk?
Intestinal worms
Humans can get infected with roundworms from cats and dogs. Around 5% of adults in the UK have antibodies to the dog roundworm, Toxocara canis. This means that they have been exposed to the infection at some time in their lives. It's not so clear how many people are exposed to the cat roundworm, but children playing in sand boxes are at significantly greater risk.
Symptoms of illness are very rare, but are caused by migrating larvae:
Vague symptoms include tummy pains, high temperature, itchy rash and coughs or wheezes
Specific eye symptoms can develop, including redness, pain and even blindness in one eye.
There are around 50-100 eye cases each year due to Toxocara roundworms in the UK
The most common lungworm in cats, Aelurostrongylus, does not affect dogs or humans.
Diagnosis of worms in cats >Diagnosis of worms in cats [DiagnosisWhat to do if you think your cat has worms?
Vet treatment for worms in cats >Vet treatment for worms in cats [Vet treatmentHome treatment for worms in cats >Home treatment for worms in cats [Home treatmentHow to prevent worms in cats >How to prevent worms in cats [PreventionWhen to worry about worms in cats >When to worry about worms in cats [When to worry
Home treatment for worms in cats >Home treatment for worms in cats [Home treatmentHow to prevent worms in cats >How to prevent worms in cats [PreventionWhen to worry about worms in cats >When to worry about worms in cats [When to worry
When to worry about worms in cats >When to worry about worms in cats [When to worry
