![]() ![]() There are medications to treat roundworms that are safe to administer during a cat’s pregnancy and while they are nursing. Administering treatment for roundworms before the kittens are born will reduce the likelihood of transmission while nursing. Submit a fecal sample for testing before a female cat is bred and before she gives birth. Keep recently adopted new cats or kittens separate from other pets in the household until they are examined by a veterinarian. Washing your hands with soap and water after cleaning Washing litter boxes regularly with pet-safe disinfectant Limiting roaming and hunting time outside The primary aim is to decrease exposure to infected feces, which can be done by: Recovery and Management of Roundworms in Catsīecause cats may be reinfected, homecare management is important during treatment for roundworms and after recovery. It is possible to see a reinfection if your cat is again exposed to roundworm eggs or infected rodents. After the infection has cleared, cats can return to a normal life. When roundworms are caught early and treated on a schedule, cats can recover in two to six weeks, depending on the severity of the disease. Medications are given by mouth and are typically one of the following: Treatment continues until your cat has two stool tests where no parasites are seen. To kill all the roundworm's life stages, multiple doses of medication are given on a schedule. There are many oral and topical medications that effectively treat roundworms. If your cat is small, produces little stool, or has severe diarrhea, the sample may be sent to an outside lab that uses a test with increased sensitivity to detect parasites. You may be asked to bring in a sample of your cat’s stool to the vet. Veterinarians diagnose roundworms by looking for eggs in the stool. How Veterinarians Diagnose Roundworms in Cats Very young kittens can become infected through the milk when nursing from an infected mother. There, roundworm larvae mature into adult roundworms. Hatched eggs produce larvae that travel to the lungs, are coughed up, then are often swallowed again to finish their life cycle in the intestines. Other cats become infected by ingesting roundworm eggs or by eating rodents that have ingested the eggs. Early symptoms include:Īn adult female roundworm produces eggs that are passed out of the body in the infected feces of a cat. In adult cats, symptoms are less severe, but a large amount of worms may cause an intestinal blockage. Kittens often have fewer reserves to compensate for loss from the roundworm older cats may have other diseases that decrease their body’s ability to compensate for loss. Symptoms of Roundworms in CatsĪlthough it is usually not life-threatening in adult cats, a roundworm infection can kill kittens and older cats. Those eggs are shed into the stool of affected cats and can then infect other animals. Adult roundworms often swim freely in the intestines, where they produce eggs. They can grow to 3-6 inches long, are cream-colored, and resemble spaghetti noodles when seen in the stool. Roundworms are very common parasites that thrive in the intestines of a cat. ![]()
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