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How To

How to Tell What Kind of Worms a Cat Has

Contributor
By Alicia Bodine
eHow Contributing Writer
(4 Ratings)
Cat
Cat
Leroy Skalstad

If your cat has worms, you cannot ignore the problem. It will only get worse and can also be harmful for anyone living in the house. It may help your vet if you can tell him what what kind of worms your cat has. This is especially helpful if you can't collect a fecal sample from your cat before your visit.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Visual of the worm
  • Fecal sample
  • Vet appointment
  • Medication
  1. Step 1

    Identify roundworms. Your cat has roundworms if you see large worms that are up to 5 inches long. These worms are some of the easiest to spot. Because of their size, they can block your cat's intestines. Get your cat to the vet as soon as possible.

  2. Step 2

    Identify hookworms. Your cat has hookworms if you see tiny worms that don't measure larger than half an inch. These worms can cause your cat to become anemic over time. You should have your cat treated right away so it doesn't lose any more blood.

  3. Step 3

    Identify tapeworms. Tapeworms look like cooked white rice that is moving around. You can see them hanging out of the cat's anus as well as in the feces. Tapeworms are not as harmful as the other worms, but they can cause your cat to itch and still require a visit to the vet.

  4. Step 4

    Collect a fecal sample. Put on plastic gloves and collect a sample from your cat's litter box. Place the sample in a plastic bag and observe through the bag.

  5. Step 5

    Call your vet and describe what you see. He may want you to bring in the sample.

Tips & Warnings
  • Your vet will prescribe a pill that will get rid of the worms. Tilt your cat's head back and place the pill as far in as you can. Hold the cat's mouth closed and rub the neck until it swallows the pill.
  • Sometimes only the worm eggs will be present in the feces. In this case you will definitely need to have the vet test the feces.
Resources
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Comments  

jull14 said

Flag This Comment

on 7/19/2009 Excellent article many of us should write article as inspiring as yours. I always love to read article that can help me live better and this is one of this article, thanks so much for sharing. This article is very clear and provided easy steps to follow. Thanks

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