Thinking your pet may have feline parasites? Don't worry, most cats do.
It does not matter whether cats live outdoors or indoors.
They are bound to get parasites at some point.
Know what symptoms to look for before your pet's health declines.
Here are some of the most common parasites.
Roundworms.
These are anywhere from two to four inches long.
They have tapered ends and are tan or milky white in color.
They look a lot like spaghetti when passed through stool or vomit.
You will know your kitten has roundworms if it has a pot-bellied look and is always hungry.
Adult cats, on the other hand, may suffer chronic diarrhea and fatigue.
Hookworms.
These feline parasites feed off the blood, causing anemia.
They can prove fatal to kittens.
In contrast, adult cats may not show symptoms at all because they typically have immunity to hookworms.
Symptoms to watch for are abdominal pain, diarrhea, and blood in the stool.
Be very careful, though.
Hookworms may be transmitted to people through the feet.
Tapeworms.
Where there are fleas, there are tapeworms.
Tapeworms are small and white, and they stick to the intestinal linings of animals.
It's easy to spot them, too.
Check your pet's stool or the fur around and under your cat's tail.
Do you see anything that resembles rice-like balls? Those are segments of tapeworms.
These tapeworms cause your pet to lose weight even if it eats constantly.
Heartworms.
Generally, it's dogs and not cats that get heartworms.
Unfortunately, if your cat has a weak immune system, it may get heartworm too and it's usually from the bite of a mosquito.
Sadly, there are very few symptoms and infected animals typically die from lung or heart damage.
If you suspect your pet has feline parasites, be proactive.
Find out what it is you're dealing with exactly before de-worming.