Health

The most common worms in cats are roundworms and tapeworms. Neither of them are good for your cat – they can cause everything from lethargy to a change in bowl habits, as well as weight loss and other symptoms. Luckily, it’s easy to keep an eye out for the symptoms of worms in cats. If you know the most common signs, you can take your cat to the vet for treatment in good time. What are cat worms and how can my cat catch them? Roundworms (Toxocara cati and Toxascaris leonina) are the most common intestinal parasites in kittens and cats. They are long, white and look like spaghetti. Eggs from these cat worms are passed in the faeces and can live for months or years in the soil. Cats can become infected in three main ways: • Ingestion of eggs directly from contaminated soil e.g. by licking them off their feet • Consumption of a rodent who has previously eaten worm eggs from the environment • Ingestion by kittens of worm larvae in their mother’s milk (Toxocara cati only). The vast majority of new-born kittens are infected with roundworms by this route. Another type of cat worms your cat could be infected by are Tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum and Taenia taeniaeformis). Tapeworms are long, flat and composed of many segments which contain eggs. The segments are regularly shed in faeces and resemble grains of rice which can sometimes be seen crawling around a cat’s anus or on their bed. To complete their lifecycle, tapeworms require an intermediate host to eat their eggs from the environment. Cats then become infected by consuming the intermediate host. Intermediate hosts include fleas and rodents. For this reason, if your cat is diagnosed with fleas, they will probably need treatment for tapeworms and vice versa. In addition, if they hunt and eats rodents, they will also require tapeworm treatment. You can find out more about tapeworms in cats with our easy guide. What are the most common symptoms of worms in cats? Weight loss and a distended stomach Cats who have worms often still have a good appetite, but you may notice that despite eating a normal amount, they are losing weight. If your cat is losing weight for any reason it’s time for a trip to the vet, but if it is accompanied by a ‘distended’ stomach – i.e. a stomach that looks bloated – it may be a symptom of worms. Coarse fur Another symptom of worms in cats is a change in their fur condition. Their fur may become coarse and rough, and lack its usual lustre. This is particularly a symptom of worms if it is accompanied by a distended stomach.

Before trying a home remedy for cats, always speak to your vet first! Cats are known for being very secretive creatures. They love to hide away in a secluded quiet spot where they feel safe – especially if they are feeling out of sorts but these secretive habits can make it a bit tricky for owners to know when they’re not feeling well. Even if your feline feels very unwell, many cats will just become a bit quieter and hide away - something that isn’t always very obvious to even the most doting of cat owners. Because of this, it’s really important that cat owners contact their vet before starting any home treatments, even if their pet’s symptoms seem quite mild. Your vet will know how to interpret the signs they’re showing, and be able to advise you on whether or not your cat needs to be checked over and suggest treatment options. And remember, even if you need to contact your vet in the middle of the night, all veterinary practices are required to provide an out of hours service who are on hand to help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year so you can always get help for emergencies.

You’ve trained your cat to use the litter box and you may have cleaned up after the occasional one-off accident, but that’s not the end of a cat owner’s dealings with their pet’s toilet habits. In this article we’re looking at all things cat poo, so you can have a better understanding of what should your cat’s poo look like and what to do if what you find in the litter box doesn’t match that description. Although this is not the most glamorous part of your life together, keeping an eye on your cat’s poo is another important task you should add to the list of cat-related responsibilities. Your pet’s bowel movements offer valuable clues that could help you identify unusual symptoms and possible health issues. It’s an early warning system for all sorts of cat conditions such as liver problems, food allergies and anxiety, but unfortunately, it’s quite easy to ignore or misunderstand.

You’ve probably noticed that your cat’s mouth is full of sharp teeth – especially if they’ve nipped you before! You probably even wondered ‘how many teeth do cats have?’ Well, we’ve got the answer and other information on all things cat teeth below. Take a look!