Depending on the type of worm infestation that your cat has, a number of different symptoms can present themselves. Look for worms in your cat's stool or stuck in the fur around its anus for a sure sign of infestation. Other signs include sudden weight loss, mucus-covered bowel movements, changes in attitude and general health, and sudden increases or decreases in the consistency or frequency of bowel movements. Should you notice any of these symptoms, it's time to visit your vet in order to seek treatment. If you have more than one cat, it can be assumed that they will all be infested with parasites due to a common bathroom and food area, meaning that they should all be treated.
Visit Your Vet
When you go to see your vet, you should bring a stool sample in addition to your cat, especially if the sample contains visible worms. This will help the vet to determine whether your cat has a tapeworm, hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, or other types of internal parasites. Each type of parasite has specific treatments that are more effective than others, so being able to positively identify the type of worm that is causing the infestation will enable the vet to give you the best treatment option for your cat.
Treating Your Cat
Once your cat has been specifically diagnosed and you've been given the treatment for the infestation it's time to administer the treatment. Some cases may require your vet to keep your cat for one or more days, during which time they will administer needed treatments. Eventually, you will have to administer at least some of the treatment yourself. In most cases, the treatment will be in the form of a liquid, paste, or pill that will need to be given to your cat a specific number of times each day. In the case of medicinal pastes, this can be done by adding it to your cat's food or placing it on the cat's paw so that it will lick it off. Pills and liquids generally require you to restrain your cat. Wrapping it in a towel tightly to keep it from scratching or fighting back works well. Then, you can place the medicine in the back of the cat's mouth. Regardless of the method used, make sure that you have cool and clean water available afterward as the treatments can make your cat's mouth very dry. Continue the treatments until you run out of medicine or until the date specified by your vet.
