Finding out that your cat has worms isn’t something you’d wish to hear from the vet. Not only are worms gross, but they can also raise serious health concerns for your cats. So, what happens if worms in cats go untreated?
Lucky for you, we’ve got that covered! Continue reading this article to find out more.
Effects of Untreated Worms in Cats
The severity of the effects of untreated worms in cats heavily depends on the size of infestation. As owners, you should pay close attention to your pet’s behavior as worms are prevalent nowadays.
All young, adult, indoor, and outdoor cats can contact worms daily. Knowing where your kitties get these parasitic worms can help you protect them from diseases.
The most common worms your cats may acquire are hookworms, lungworms, tapeworms, and roundworms. Worms in a cat can cause various health issues, including difficulty breathing, constant coughing, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Mind you, there are a lot of treatments for diseases associated with worms, but what happens if worms go untreated in cats? Listed below are the five things that could happen.
1. Pet owners may get infected
Not all types of worms can affect humans. Hookworms and roundworms are the most common types that pet owners can get from their infected cats. However, the methods of transmission between the two are different.
Hookworms affect your cat’s intestines. As for you, hookworms can infect your intestines once they enter your bloodstream. For example, worms can hook onto your skin while you’re cleaning your cat’s vomit without using gloves.
On the other hand, roundworms can enter your system when you ingest them. It usually happens when you’re cleaning your cat’s litter box and didn’t properly wash your hands before eating. It may sound gross, but it can happen!
2. Queens (mother cats) can pass larvae to kittens through milk
Worms are not only dangerous to queens, but also to their babies. Unlike puppies, kittens aren’t born with worm infections. Kittens can only start contacting worms when they drink their mother’s milk with an untreated worm in their bodies.
Kittens are very susceptible to infections, so deworming them can keep them healthy. Knowing that kittens are tiny, they are more vulnerable to diseases such as vomiting, diarrhea, and poor weight gain.
Don’t worry because vets already treat worm infestations on baby cats. Most deworming products are safe to use for eight weeks old kittens and older. A visit to the vet must be in order if you wish to deworm a kitten that’s younger than the recommended age.
3. Worms can breed and spread more
Do you know what happens if worms go untreated in cats? It breeds and spreads like wildfire! That’s something we don’t want our cats to suffer from.
The migration of parasitic worms in their system may result in severe consequences. It causes them massive pain and discomfort. If you’re not treating the disease early, you’re putting your pets at risk by letting the worms feast on their body.
4. Loss of blood and essential nutrients can weaken your cat’s body
Cats need to get all the nutrients they need to be healthy and active. However, worms suck their blood and steal nutrients.
Excessive blood loss in cats with worms can lead to severe anemia. On the other hand, insufficient nutrients can weaken your cat — their bodies will not have enough power to fight the infection and other diseases.
5. Symptoms may worsen and lead to severe illness
Symptoms such as difficulty in breathing and constant coughing can lead to pneumonia or fluid build-up in their lungs. Other symptoms such as eye irritation can lead to blindness.
Note that when you ignore these, not only will they result in severe illnesses, the worst-case scenario is it could lead to death! Below are some easy ways to protect yourself and your cat from worms.
- Wear gloves when cleaning up your cat’s feces
- Wash your hands thoroughly
- Avoid feeding your cats with raw meats that may contain larvae
- Avoid overcrowding your pets
- Don’t let your cats hunt rodents
Conclusion
Worm infestations are common in animals and humans. It means no matter how careful you are in taking care of your pets, instances such as getting infected by worms are something you can’t avoid.
Discovering what happens if worms go untreated in cats may be disturbing. As an owner, you must remember that good hygiene is something you should always practice, but it shouldn’t stop at home. With regular visits to the vet, you can prevent the spread and prepare for the worst.
If you’re still concerned about your felines’ health, don’t hesitate to visit Doobert for other pet health concerns. You may also scroll through their page if you’re interested in becoming a part of their growing community of rescue volunteers and adopters!
