Roundworm and Tapeworm

The two types of worm your cat will need treatment for are Roundworm and Tapeworm.

Adult cats should be wormed every three months, whether they have worms or not. Kittens should be treated against worms as early as two weeks. Your vet will advise you and supply you with worm treatment.


Roundworm
Most kittens are born with Roundworm. They are pinkie-white, thin, coiled and string-liked. They are passed whole in the animal's faeces or vomit and may be eaten by a rodent, bird or insect.

If a cat eats this intermediate host, for example an insect, the eggs develop into adult worms in the cat's intestine and so the cycle begins again.

Symptoms of roundworm include a dull coat, diarrheoa, vomiting, coughing and a pot-bellied appearance.


Tapeworm
Tapeworms are found mostly in adult cats. The head of the worm fastens on to the intestinal wall of the cat. The tapeworm has a long body, which is made up of flat segments that look like rice grains. These segments break off and pass out in the faeces. Eggs are then released from these segments.

Tapeworms may be spread by an intermediate host. The intermediate host is determined by the species of tapeworm. The host may be a cat flea, small rodent or bird. If a cat eats the infected prey, for example a flea, the worm larvae hatches out in the cat's gut and develops into an adult tapeworm. The cycle begins again.

Symptoms of tapeworm may be weight loss, digestive upsets and anal irritation. Segments are sometimes found in the hair around the anus.