"Roundworms in Cats: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment"

"Roundworms in Cats: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment"


Cats can be infected by two species of roundworms: Toxocara cati and Toxascaris leonina. These parasitic worms live in the gastrointestinal tracts of cats and can cause irritation. Symptoms are usually only noticeable when the infestation is chronic and severe. In young cats, untreated roundworm infestations may lead to weight loss, a dull coat, a potbelly appearance, and vomiting or diarrhea. Adult cats generally show clinical signs only if the infestation is very severe. Additionally, T. cati can also pose health risks to humans.

What Are Roundworms?

Like hookworms and tapeworms, roundworms are common intestinal parasites in cats and other animals. There are two species of roundworms that affect cats: Toxocara cati and Toxascaris leonina. These worms are slender, round, can grow up to four inches long, and are white to pale brown in color, resembling spaghetti noodles.

When a cat ingests roundworm eggs or larvae from the environment, these parasites migrate through the cat’s tissues. They eventually reach the lungs, causing irritation that prompts the cat to cough them up and then swallow them again.

After the larvae re-enter the cat’s gastrointestinal tract, they mature into adult roundworms in the intestines. These adult worms produce many eggs that are expelled in the cat’s feces. The eggs become infectious only after they have been in the environment for two to four weeks and can remain viable for months or even years.

In some cases, larvae may halt their migration and become dormant in the liver. If a pregnant cat is infected during the later stages of her pregnancy, these dormant larvae can be released into her milk after birth, where they are then ingested by her kittens. Additionally, the larvae can reactivate and cause an adult roundworm infection in the mother, leading to the shedding of eggs that can infect her kittens through the fecal-oral route. Cats can also become infected by eating rodents that carry the roundworms.

Symptoms of Roundworms in Cats:

  • Not gaining weight or experiencing weight loss.
  • Lifeless or lackluster fur.
  • Abdomen appears swollen or distended.
  • Worms present in vomit or feces (commonly seen in kittens).
  • Loose stools.
  • Coughing caused by larvae moving through the lungs.

Roundworm infestations in cats cause symptoms mainly due to the parasites’ impact on nutrient absorption and, occasionally, intestinal bleeding. As a result, affected cats may experience weight loss, a dull coat, and overall failure to thrive, which is due to malnutrition rather than the worms themselves.

In the life cycle of T. cati, the worms migrate through the lungs, causing irritation that leads the cat to cough them up and then re-swallow them. (In contrast, T. leonina remains in the intestines.) In rare cases of severe infection with either species, the roundworms can cause intestinal blockage, resulting in serious symptoms such as vomiting, bloating, and lethargy.

Causes of Roundworms in Cats:

  • Transferred via the mother cat’s milk.
  • Transferred via the mother cat’s milk.
  • Contracted from eating grass or soil that contains infectious eggs.
  • Contracted by grooming their own or other cats’ fur, which may have eggs from fecal or environmental exposure.
  • Ingested by consuming another animal, like a beetle or rodent, that carries roundworm larvae.

Diagnosing Roundworms in Cats:

Roundworms should be diagnosed by a veterinarian unless they are visibly seen in your cat’s vomit or stool. To detect roundworm eggs, a routine fecal flotation test is performed, which uses a microscope to analyze a stool sample. The condition caused by roundworms is known as ascariasis.

How to Treat Roundworms in Cats:

Various medications are available to treat roundworms, and your veterinarian can recommend the most suitable one for your cat. These medications target only adult roundworms, so they need to be administered every two to three weeks to address any remaining larvae as they mature. The frequency and duration of treatment will depend on your cat’s age and specific circumstances, which your vet will evaluate. If your cat is pregnant, consult your veterinarian for guidance on deworming both the mother and her kittens.

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