Cat Roundworm -- 7 Facts for Cat Owners

An infestation of cat roundworm is certainly cause for concern, but is usually less severe than other feline worms. They are quite common, though, and your cat will need to be treated. Your vet should be testing your kitten at the initial check ups and vaccination visits. Typically, vets treat kittens even when they test negative. After that, testing will be done once per year at your cat's annual check up.

Here are 7 things to know about cat roundworm.

1. How your cat gets it -- Felines can become infected with roundworm by contact with contaminated soil or eating infected prey, including insects. Contracting roundworm, therefore, is easier for outdoor cats that indoor. Kittens may get it from an infected mother, who may not show any signs of the disease.

2. Cat roundworm infestation is common -- The infection rate in kittens is so high that some sources claim that almost all kittens have roundworm. An untreated case of roundworms in a kitten may result in death, although most cases are not severe.

3. What is roundworm -- Cat roundworm (Toxascaris leonina and Toxocara cati) according to Cornell Feline Health Center, are the most common of the intestinal parasites that affect cats. T. leonina may also infect dogs, so your cat may not be the only one with a problem. Infection rates are an estimated 25 to 75% (higher in kittens than adults).

4. What they look like -- Adult roundworms are 3 to 5 inches long, and cream in color. Their tubelike bodies resemble strands of spaghetti.

5. What they do inside your cat -- The lifecycle is somewhat different for T. cati and T. leonina. T. leonina take 2 to 3 months to mature and remain in the intestines the whole time. T. cati, on the other hand, migrate through tissue wall making their way to the throat via the lungs. They are then coughed up and swallowed. Unlike hookworms, roundworms are not tissue feeders. Instead of attaching themselves to the inside of the intestines, they swim freely in the intestines of the cat.

6. What happens next -- While inside your cat, female roundworms produce fertile eggs. Those eggs pass through the cat's intestines and out into the world in the feces. It takes up to several weeks for them to develop into the infective larva stage. It is interesting to note that they can remain infective for years.

7. How to prevent infection -- Deworming queens prior to pregnancy may keep kittens from getting them that way. This is not always the case, though, since encysted forms of the worm are not killed by medications. The best recommendations for general prevention are restricting cats from roaming and hunting, and control of rodent and insect populations.

Although common, roundworm infections are usually not nearly as serious for your cat as compared to other intestinal parasites. In fact, your cat can have a case of roundworm and still appear quite healthy.

You should be aware, however, that there can be life-threatening cases of this worm. This can happen if the worm population becomes large enough to cause blockage of the intestinal tract. Kittens are particularly at risk, with their small size and developing immune systems, and may be in serious danger if left untreated. Similarly, older cats, and adult cats with compromised immune systems or other debilitating diseases will be at risk as well.

If you have an at risk kitten or older cat at home, you should have a discussion with your veterinarian about cat roundworm infection and treatment. If you see any indication that your cat has parasites of any kind, contact your veterinarian immediately. Copyright 2008 by Kurt Schmitt.