Organisms that live on or in other species at the expense of their host are not welcome in our homes, but sometimes they come in without invitation. All these bloodsuckers need are hosts to feed on, and cats are an easy target, no matter what time of year. The war between cats and parasites rages all year round, but parasite infestations are easy to prevent.
Planning ahead
During your cat’s annual wellness exam, we will discuss the best methods to prevent parasites. The good news is that medication to protect against parasites is more affordable than treating the various possible diseases that are transmitted to your cat. Depending on your cat’s age and lifestyle, we will determine the most effective prevention.
The outside
The following external parasites attach themselves to a cat’s hair or skin:
- Fleas – These small jumping parasites suck the blood of all mammals, so if your home is infested, human family members may also be affected. Fleas cause itchy skin, but they can also transmit internal parasites, tapeworms and pathogens into the bloodstream.
- Ticks – Ticks live in wooded or grassy areas and attach themselves to the legs or abdomen of a roaming cat. Even if your cat doesn’t go outside, ticks can get into the house via trouser legs or shoes. Serious infections such as Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain fever are transmitted directly into the bloodstream by blood-sucking ticks.
- Mites – These tiny insects live on the skin and cause severe irritation, pain, hair loss and secondary bacterial infections. Ear mites usually feed on the cat’s ear canal. So if you see your cat shaking its head or scratching its head and ears excessively, it may need help.
The inside
Parasites that invade your cat’s organs can be incredibly dangerous to their health.
- Roundworms – The eggs of these internal parasites are found in water and soil (even in commercial bagged varieties) and migrate through their hosts until they reach the intestines. They can grow up to six centimeters long and cause severe abdominal discomfort and vomiting in cats.
- Tapeworms – Cats that eat prey infected with tapeworms may lose weight or appear lethargic. Look carefully in the litter tray for signs of these intestinal worms.
- Hookworms – These intestinal parasites can enter the body through the paws or when a cat eats larvae. Weight loss, anemia, dull coat and blood in the stool indicate that a cat and parasites are fighting.
- Coccidia – These single-celled organisms are not worms, but they live in the intestinal lining of their host and cause diarrhea. Cats can ingest them by eating birds or mice, or when they come into contact with the stool of infected animals.
- Heartworm – These terrible worms are transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Heartworm disease in cats is untreatable and can be fatal. For this reason, year-round prevention is essential.
