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Below are 7 things you should know about roundworm as it relates to your cat. 1. How cats get it - Roundworm eggs begin infiltrating your cat's body by getting into the intestinal tract orally. This can be from eating infected prey, or by coming in contact with eggs in the soil. This makes outdoor cats more susceptible, especially those that hunt. Kittens may contract the worm from their infected mothers. Dormant worms reactivate during pregnancy and sometimes make their way into the mammary glands. 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 it is - The Cornell Feline Health Center tells us that cat roundworm (Toxascaris leonina and Toxocara cati) are the most common of the feline intestinal parasites. The estimated infection rates are 25% to as high as 75% (higher in kittens). 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. Where they live inside your cat - Unlike some other worms infecting cats, such as hookworms, roundworms do not attach themselves to the intestinal wall and are not tissue feeders. Instead, they swim freely in the gut of the cat. T. cati and T. leonina have different lifecycles. T. leonina take 2 to 3 months to mature, and never leave the intestines. T. cati, on the other hand, migrate through tissue wall making their way to lungs. They then work their way into the throat, and back into the intestinal tract where they reproduce. 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. By and large, most other intestinal parasites cause more severe issues for your cat than roundworm. Adult cats can often have a case of roundworm and still appear healthy. Unfortunately, if the intestines become blocked by a large enough number of worms, roundworm can become life-threatening. Kittens in particular are at risk. In addition, adult cats with compromised immune systems or certain pre-existing conditions will be at risk, as are older cats. You should have a talk about roundworm with your veterinarian if you have an at risk kitten or older cat at home. Article Source: http://www.articlewheel.com
Author Kurt Schmitt, an experienced cat owner, publishes the website for cat lovers keeping you informed about worms in cats and other feline health issues.
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