Parasitic worms might not be something you want to think about, but they are incredibly common in most animals, and cats are no exception. Worms can be so common in kittens that many people wonder if kittens are just born with worms already, like puppies. So, are kittens born with worms?
Most kittens are not born with worms. If a kitten’s mother had worms while giving birth, your kitten might have gotten infected during or soon after birth. Some kittens will likely get worms at some point in the first few months of their life, especially if they live with other cats.
There is always some risk of your cat getting worms, and it may be a good idea to have them checked if you suspect they might have an infection. Many cat breeders and responsible owners treat kittens for worms even if they aren’t showing signs of an infection.
Treatment can help ensure your kitten is getting all the nutrients they need, so it’s understandable to be a little proactive. Here’s what you need to know about parasitic worms in Kittens.
Common Worms In Kittens
The most common type of parasitic worms in kittens are ringworms. In some cases, your cat may also get a tapeworm or hookworm infection, which can be a bit more serious. All of these worm infections are treatable, though.
It’s best to try and catch worm infections early, no matter what kind of worms your kitten has. That’s one reason treatment is often proactive; testing to determine worm type can slow things down and usually isn’t necessary to help your kitten return to health.
There are other parasitic worms out there, but infections tend to be a bit less common.
Of course, if your kitten is still showing any signs of a parasitic infection after being treated with a dewormer, it’s best to consult with your vet for the next steps. It’s essential to get your kitten seen and treated as soon as possible since some infections can cause permanent damage, and some other severe conditions can mimic a worm infection.
What Types Of Worms Are Kittens Born With
Not all kittens are born with any worms, though some are. It can be hard to tell whether your kitten was born with worms or not, which is one of the reasons many people treat with dewormer even when there aren’t signs of an infection.
If your kitten is born with worms, it’s most likely that they’ll have a ringworm or hookworm infection. But, the truth is your kitten can have any infection their mother has. If your kitten was born in a cat den with other cats, they could also pick up infections from those cats.
So, kittens can be born with any worm that’s in the environment around them, though ringworm and hookworm infections are usually the most common.
The type of worm infections you need to deal with can also vary depending on where you live. There are a lot of different kinds of parasitic worms, and every area has a slightly different distribution among the animals and pets living there.
Below is a chart showing some of the more dangerous worm types your kitten might become infected with:
How Do You Know If A Kitten Has Worms
Knowing if your kittens have worms is one of the biggest challenges if you don’t want to give them unnecessary dewormers.
One of the clearest signs of worms is if you spot the parasites while your kitten is going to the bathroom or in their poop. Unfortunately, it can be hard to spot worms once your kitten’s feces have dried, which makes them harder to find if your kitten is using a litterbox properly.
There are some other signs that your kitten has worms, but it’s important not to assume worms every time you see these symptoms. That’s because these symptoms can all happen if your kitten isn’t getting the nutrition they need, if they’re having a mild allergic reaction to something in the environment, or even just from stress or growth spurts.
Only by paying very close attention to your kitten and noticing patterns in their needs and behavior can you rule out other reasons for your cat’s symptoms.
Signs Of Worms In Cats:
Here are some of the most common symptoms of worms in cats.
- Bloating
- Low energy or sudden fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss (or gain)
- Eating more than usual
In addition to looking for visible worms in your kitten’s feces or while they’re going to the bathroom, you should also check their bed. In some cases, you may find worms in their favorite bedding or anywhere they go to relax for several hours at a time.
Do All Kittens Have Worms
Not all kittens have worms, but enough of them have worms that it’s worth taking a few basic precautions to help keep your kitten healthy. Ensuring your kitten has plenty of food and water and giving your kitten dewormer treatments can help ensure they don’t have adverse health effects from parasitic worms.
While not all kittens have worms, most kittens will get worms at some point in their life. They can even get worms more than once, which is why it’s so important to give them regular treatments to support their health.
How Do You Deworm A Kitten
The easiest way to deworm a kitten is with a medication that you give them orally. There are over-the-counter cat dewormers suitable for kittens, or you can get one from your vet. You can even take your kitten to the vet and have them dewormed there instead of doing it at home if you want to.
Most oral medications for kittens are flavored, so your kitten might take the medication willingly. Otherwise, you can use a small plastic syringe to push medication directly into their mouth.
It’s essential to measure dewormed exactly. Too much medication can make your cat sick and cause a range of medical problems. Too little dewormer, and it might not work, and can even make it harder to treat your kitten’s worm infection in the future.
The exact amount of dewormer you need depends on the brand of the medication and how much your kitten weighs. If you aren’t taking your kitten to the vet to get them dewormed, the easiest way to measure your kitten’s weight is usually with a kitchen scale.
Once you know your kitten’s weight, you’ll need to do a little simple math to get the right dosage.
Some medications are effective in a single dose. However, some medications may need you to give your kitten several doses to be effective.
Can Kittens Pass Worms To Humans
Yes. If your kitten is infected with worms, there is a chance that they will give you the infection.
No, don’t panic. For one thing, it’s not a guarantee that kittens will give you worms just because they have them. Most worms have to have some transmission mode to move between organisms, like contact with your food or face, which isn’t likely in most situations.
One of the most common ways people get worms from cats is when children play in outdoor sandboxes where kittens have gone to the bathroom. Worms, or more likely, eggs, can make their way into the child’s digestive tract and establish themselves.
Even possible infection isn’t a guarantee that you’ll be infected, though. That’s because your immune system has a reasonable chance to catch the infection and stop it before the worms can get established. That means that you shouldn’t worry too much about worms, even if you’re treating your kitten for them.
However, if you notice that you’re losing weight unexpectedly, or start having digestive trouble or pain in your abdomen after noticing your kitten has worms, then you might want to get checked.
Thankfully most parasitic worm infections are treatable in humans just like they are in kittens.
Things To Consider
Most of the time, worms aren’t a life-threatening issue, but they can be in severe cases. It’s a lot better to intervene in a case of worms early than to let it get worse, especially since not all parasitic worms stay in the digestive tract of their host animals.
The younger your kitten is when they get worms, the more dangerous it can be. That’s because young kittens often can’t be treated with dewormer safely, and severe infections can cause malnutrition. Fortunately, most infections don’t get that severe before your kitten can be treated, but it’s worth keeping an eye on to make sure you get your kitten to a vet if their case gets worse.
If you have small children in the house with worms, you may want to keep your kitten and your children separated until you can treat your kitten. That’s because you never know when a toddler might decide to get into the litterbox and get infected.
My name is James, and welcome to FAQCats!
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