Screw Worms in Cats
Though the most common type of worms that affect cats are intestinal in nature, cats who roam the great outdoors or spend time around live stock might be susceptible to contracting flesh-eating screw worms, a nasty creature that burrows in both animal and human skin and proceeds to feed. Learn how screw worms find their way into a cat and what action needs to be taken to keep the animal healthy.
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Infestation
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Male screw worm flies are only interested in mating, while the female fly only requires mating once in her lifetime and only for reproductive reasons. That is because she is capable of laying up to 300 eggs at once time. Unfortunately, she lays these eggs in an open wound on a cat, other animals and even humans. The hatching maggots are toothy and voracious eaters, according to Animal Planet. When these maggots settle into the cat's skin, a cyst will form. The cyst feels like a lump in the animal's skin and has a hole on top of it.
Symptoms
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A cat suffering from screw worms might display lethargic behavior, dizziness and labored breathing, but the cyst that forms is a tell-all sign that something unhealthy is going on. Because of the hole on top of the cyst, it might be possible to see the screw worm inside its host.
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Identification
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Screw worms are typically about 1/2 inch long and primarily tan in color. They do have one distinguishing mark: a brown spot on one end of their body.
Treatment
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Applying a warm compress to the cyst and gently squeezing it can draw a screw worm out. Once it is visible, the worm can often be plucked out of the cyst with a pair of household tweezers. It is important to treat the wound site for several days with antibacterial cleaners to prevent infection. Redness and heat around the cyst area are signs that an infection has set in and needs prompt medical attention. It is always wise to take the cat to the veterinarian to confirm diagnosis, make sure all screw worms are removed and to ensure that no other cysts are forming.
Prevention
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The best prevention is to keep cats indoors. Any cat that goes outside always runs the risk of contracting a screw worm, but it is much more likely to occur in those cats that are around livestock. Checking an outdoor cat's skin frequently for lumps and cysts can also quickly alert an owner to the possibility that a screw worm infestation has occurred.
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