How To Spot When Your Cat Has Worms And How To Treat This

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As a cat-lover, you want your pet to be happy and healthy at all times. It might shock you to learn, though, that sometimes your cat can be unhealthy even though he or she appears to be healthy.

Many cat-owners do not notice when their beloved pet has worms. The signs are there, but are not easy to spot. Neglecting to realise when your cat has worms is dangerous for your pet. Worms in cats can lead to severe health issues, many of which can result in the death of your cat.

Of course, you want to avoid this at all costs. They key to doing this is checking your cat for the most common signs of worms on a regular basis. Checking that your cat does not have worms is vital and could save your pet's life. By reminding yourself to check your cat for signs, you can make a significant change to the quality of life your cat has.

Many owners assume that because their cat still appears happy on the outside that they are healthy on the inside. Just because you think your cat is doing well, you should not take this for granted. Your cat needs the love and attention from you to know when something is wrong. Here are the signs you need to look out for if you suspect your cat has worms and how to worm them if they do.

What To Look Out For

If you fear that your cat has worms here are some of the things, you should look out for in your cat. These are the most common symptoms of worms in cats:

Dry fur - If your cat's fur has become dry and damaged this might be a sign of worms. Providing that you clean your pet on a regular basis and feed him or her well, your cat should have a healthy looking coat. If you are feeding your cat well and washing him or her as well, yet your cat still has dry fur, this is a bad sign. The dryness of fur might be due to worms if other symptoms are also present.

Weight loss - Again, as long as you are feeding your cat well, your cat should not be losing weight. Weight loss is one of the easiest to spot signs if your cat has worms. If  your cat has lost a significant amount of weight at a quick pace, he or she might have worms.

Bloating - Whilst your cat may have lost weight in general, a common sign of worms is bloating around the stomach. Bloating will be noticeable if your cat has lost weight, yet still has a large round tummy. The stomach will protrude a great deal when compared to the rest of the cat's body.  

Diarrhea - If your cat is suffering from regular bouts of diarrhea then, there is a good chance that they have worms. It is not nice to have to check your cat's excrement, but you will need to to check that they are healthy. Check how often your cat is suffering from diarrhea. If it appears he or she often has a problem, worms could be to blame.

Sickness - Sometimes cat vomit because they have eaten food, which was bad for their stomach. Other times cats vomit, because they are ill. If your cat is sick on a regular basis, this is not a good sign. First you should look into what you are feeding him or her. Changing his or her diet could be your solution. If changing your cat's diet makes no difference to their sickness then one possibility is that they have worms.

Coughing - If your cat is coughing a lot and this is abnormal to them, then they may have worms. Coughing and spluttering are both common symptoms of worms and so you should look into this immediately.   

Blood - Blood in your cat's excrement is a sign of worms. Again, it is not nice to have to check, but it could be vital in saving your cat's life. If there is often blood inside your cat's excrement then, they may have worms, and you should look into this.

Worms - In some extreme cases, you will be able to see that your cat has worms. Visible worms will appear around your cat's anus and will be quite easy to notice. If you see this then, there is no question about whether your cat has worms.

How To Worm Your Cat

If you are sure that your cat has worms then, it is time to do something about it. The absolute worst thing you can do once you are aware of your cat's problem is ignore it. Many pet owners find it hard to know where to start and so put the issue to the back of their mind. Not treating a cat when it has worms, though, is neglectful and can cause your cat to die. Make sure you sort out proper treatment for your cat as soon as you become aware of the fact that they have worms.

The easiest way to worm your cat and get rid of the problem is through worming tablets. You do not need to make an expensive trip to the vets to be able to do this. It is important to complete a full course of medication when worming your cat. Giving your cat just some of the medication and forgetting to continue the course will only mean that the worms comeback. Follow the full instructions given to you on the worming tablet packaging.

Once you have wormed your cat it is vital that you keep him or her worm free. The best way to do this is by keeping on top of fleas and bugs from outside. Outside bugs can be worm hosts, meaning when they come into contact with your pet they pass on the worms. By keeping your cat clean and checking for the signs of worms, you can keep your cat happy and healthy.

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