Hook Worms in Cats
Hookworms, according to the Iowa State University Center for Food Security and Public Health, are intestinal parasites commonly found in meat-eating animals (see Reference 1). Estimates from Cornell University are that up to six of every 10 North American cats carry hookworms (see Reference 2).
As intestinal parasites, hookworms in large numbers can rob cats of necessary nutrients. In young kittens, they can cause fatal anemia. Several effective once-monthly treatments are available for hookworm control.
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How Cats Get Hookworms
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Cats, according to Cornell University's Feline Health Center, get hookworms by ingesting soil contaminated with larva from other cats. The feces contain eggs that hatch in the soil (Reference 2).
Some cats can get infected if the larvae penetrate their skin. They need to be in contact with contaminated soil for at least five minutes for that to happen (Reference 1).
Cats also can be infected by eating rodents that have hookworms. Whether kittens can get hookworms through their mother's milk is not clear (Reference 2).
Hookworms in Your Cat
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Hookworm larvae your cat ingests will develop into adults inside his gastrointestinal walls before moving out into the intestines. Hookworm larvae that penetrate his skin move through the veins and lymph system to his lungs and eventually his windpipe. They mature in his intestines after he swallows them.
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Symptoms of Hookworms
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The severity of your cat's hookworm symptoms, says Iowa State University, will dictate her symptoms. She might lose weight and have bloody diarrhea. If her gums are pale, she might be anemic. Kittens are especially susceptible to anemia because they don't have a blood supply large enough to cope with feeding hookworms.
If your cat's hookworms entered his system through his skin, he'll have red lines along their migration paths (Reference 1).
Treating Hookworms
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Treat infested kittens as young as 3 weeks old for hook-worms biweekly until they are 9 weeks old, the Companion Animal Parasite Council says. After that, they can tolerate one of the once-monthly spot treatments. Have your vet perform stool exams off your kitten every 3 to 6 months until she's a year old, and every 6 months to a year after that (Reference 3).
One widely prescribed hookworm treatment for cats is ivermectin in the form of Merial's once-a-month prescription chewable tablet Heartgard. Crumble the Heartgard into your cat's food, or break it in pieces and administer it by hand. Make sure your cat eats plenty of food on the day you administer it because it won't absorb as well if her stomach is empty (Resource 1).
Other cat hookworm treatments are Interceptor (milbemycine oxime) chewable tablets given monthly in the same way as Heartgard (Resource 2), and Revolution and Advantage Multi topical treatments, also applied monthly. Apply the topical medicine by spreading the fur at the back of your cat's head between his shoulders and emptying a vial onto the exposed skin (Resource 3).
Considerations
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Prevent future hookworm infestations by keeping your cat's surroundings free of fecal material. Cornell recommends daily litter box cleaning (Reference 2).
Follow the manufacturer's dosing instructions when administering hookworm medication to your cat or kitten.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Wiki Commons
