Cats are some of the cleanest animals that you can own as a pet. But just because they are clean does not mean they can’t get worms. Roundworms in outdoor cats are a common thing really. It is easy to treat, and if you can get the worms treated quickly, there should be no ill effects on the cat.
Roundworms are a type of parasite that cats can get in their body. The worms get inside the intestinal tract and show up when the cat ha a bowel movement. Roundworms in outdoor cats are hard to detect since they are not using a litter box inside and you can’t see their waste products. Kittens are more prone to getting roundworms than adult cats are. When you take a kitten into the family, be sure to get them vaccinated for roundworms and other parasites so that they will be healthy.
As cats get bigger, so do the worms that are in their bodies. A full size roundworm can be up to four inches long. Eggs of worms are transferred through the feces of cats that are infected. This means that if an outdoor cat uses the bathroom and another cat is near it, the worms can be easily ingested if the soil around the fecal material in eaten. Not only are roundworms passed from cat to cat, but they are passed to humans as well. Roundworms can be a larger health issue for humans than cats, so it is best to get them treated as quickly as possible.
Roundworms and other parasites are contracted through mice and other rodents that cats eat. They can also be passed to the cat from fleas that have parasites. The easiest way to get rid of worms is by using a medicine prescribed by a veterinarian. One of the signs that a cat has worms is fast weight loss. The worm gets its food from the cat, making the cat lose weight. If roundworms are not treated in kittens, the kitten cold die, their bodies are not able to fight things off like adult cats can. Some over the counter medications will help to treat worms, but the best way to completely get rid of them is by getting a liquid medicine from the veterinarian. It is usually sprinkled on the food and given every two weeks. Once the worms have passed from the cat, continue to give the medicine to the cat so there is not a reoccurrence.