Cats And The Dangers Of Intestinal Parasites

Okay, so here is one of the topics of cat care that no one likes to talk about, but still needs to be covered, internal parasites. There are many different types of internal parasites that could potentially cause medical problems in your cat, some of the more common being hookworms, roundworms, coccidiosis, toxoplasmosis, and tape worms.

Even if you have had your cat wormed, she could still get roundworms or hookworms. What is even worse, your cat can pass these parasites on to her kittens. These nasty little bugs can cause diarrhea or other types of symptoms in a kitten, but most of the time they leave no trace that a kitten is infested. If you have children in the home, these little kittens can pass these worms onto them, which is one reason why it is so important to have new kittens seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Your vet will likely send you home with a prescription worm medication for the mother cat and the kittens, just in case. Laboratory tests are not one hundred percent accurate in detecting this type of parasite, particularly in young kittens, so it is better to treat them all, just to be on the safe side.

Another silent internal parasite that often preys on tiny kittens is coccidian, which like to party in the kittens intestinal lining, often causing no noticeable symptoms at all, and luckily, no harm to the kitten or anyone else in the family. In some cases, your kitten may have diarrhea, but usually the vet will not prescribe any medication, and will let nature handle the problem.

Just about every woman who has even been pregnant before knows or has heard about cats and toxoplasmosis, as it can be extremely dangerous for anyone who comes into contact with infected litter, particularly a pregnant woman. Your cat can suffer from this deadly parasite at any age, and since it can also be passed to humans, it is extremely important that any pregnant woman avoid changing a litter box or coming in contact with cat litter boxes. These organisms can cause severe birth defects and other problems for an unborn child.

If at all possible, a pregnant woman who owns a house cat should have someone else empty and clean the cat litter box for her. If this is not possible, then extra care must be taken when the litter box must be changed and cleaned. Using disposable gloves to avoid skin contact with contaminated particles along with a dust mask to protect against inhaling airborne contaminants may reduce the risk; however it is well advised that a pregnant woman never change a litter box. Having your cat stay with a family member until after the baby is born is another way to help protect the unborn child.

Cats are exposed to toxoplasmosis when they eat any type of raw meat, whether it is from a rodent they have caught or from raw butcher scraps. These raw scraps could be from any type of meat, so it is best to avoid all table scraps for your kitty.

Your cat should be seen regularly by a veterinarian for health checkups. It should be noted however that you are the first line of defense for your beloved cat, and by reporting any changes in your cat's behavior, you may catch an infestation before it becomes life threatening for your kitty.