Feline parasite protection should be an integral part of your pet’s health care routine. If left unchecked, they could pose a threat to humans and animals.
Ticks and fleas might be your main concerns. Sometimes it’s the unseen menace that poses the most danger. While your cat may look healthy and content, it could be a different story internally.
As we all know, prevention is better than cure. Thankfully, there are a variety of products on the market like Revolution Plus for Cats that provide broad spectrum protection. Before talking about preventive measures, let us explain the risks to create a comprehensive plan.
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Commonly-known Parasites
Parasites such as roundworms, tapeworms and hookworms are more common than you think. According to Cornell Feline Health Center, gastrointestinal (GI) parasitism is found in 45% of feline populations.
They make themselves a cozy home inside your cat’s intestine, where they do the most damage. The symptoms range from mild to worrisome. A dull coat, coughing or vomiting could be signs that your fur baby has intestinal parasites.
Heartworms
Heartworm disease becomes more prevalent when the temperature rises, fueling the onset of mosquito season. These parasitic roundworms are spread by mosquitoes and enter an animal’s bloodstream.
The microscopic larvae can grow up to 12 inches and infect the lungs and heart. PetCareRx recommends a monthly topical solution to prevent Heartworm disease.
Hookworms
Similar to roundworms, hookworms attach themselves to the lining of the intestine and feed on your cat’s blood. The eggs are then passed through the digestive tract and exit via the animal’s feces. Able to live in the soil, the larvae enter the body via a cat’s skin or feet.
Hookworms are life-threatening because they cause internal bleeding. Severe infections can result in death in kittens. Adult cats could exhibit signs of weight loss and diarrhea. Treatment ranges from medication to a blood transfusion in extreme cases.
Ticks and Fleas
The struggle is real when it comes to keeping your pets free of ticks or fleas.
Unlike ticks, Boston veterinarian John de Jong warns fleas are more likely to make your cat anemic. “They’re just wiped out weak and tired from having their blood literally sucked out of them by little vampires,” he told Good Housekeeping.
To check if your cat has fleas or ticks, use a flea comb. Preventative medication includes topical creams or chewable tablets.
Lesser-Known Parasites and Their Impact
Zoonotic parasites can be transmitted from cats to humans which makes them more dangerous.
Toxoplasma Gondii
Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that causes a human infection called Toxoplasmosis. The disease could be more common than we think as it displays little to no symptoms.
The main culprit is most certainly cat feces, spread through contaminated soil, water or even food. Unless the immune system is compromised, the infection can lay dormant indefinitely.
Pregnant women are the most at risk because the infection can pass to an unborn baby. Toxoplasmosis is known to cause miscarriage or birth defects.
Botfly
Cats often end up being accidental hosts for the Cutebebra botfly when exploring their outdoor surroundings.
Adult flies lay their eggs on vegetation and when hatched, the larvae attach themselves to animal fur. Once inside the body, the larvae burrow themselves just under the skin, forming a lump called a warble.
There have been documented cases of botflies attaching themselves to human hosts. During a trip to Botswana, the Gee family shared a stomach-churning video of dad Garrett removing botfly larvae from their son’s head.
Using tweezers, Garrett painstakingly extracted the larvae. At first, it looked like a whitehead pimple then transformed into a “maggot-like” worm.
Ear Mites
Ear mites are parasites that live in a cat’s ear canal. They cause a condition known as otodectic mange. Easily contagious, ear mites spread from one animal to another. Although not life-threatening, the symptoms can be annoying.
Inflammation and intense itching are the common tell-tale signs. You might even notice their ears drooping. Thankfully, medication can resolve the symptoms and eliminate the mites.
Giardia
Giardiasis is an intestinal infection caused by a one-celled parasitic species, Giardia. Humans and animals can both be affected. Hikers and campers may have been infected by drinking contaminated water and developed Traveler’s Diarrhea.
Many cats can be infected without showing any physical signs, but Giardiasis is rare in adult felines. It can however cause significant pain for kittens with an acute, sudden onset of stinky diarrhea. The stool may contain blood and an excess of mucus.
Human-to-human infections are common as well. Usually, contaminated water supplies are responsible for outbreaks.
Now that you know what you’re up against, regular check-ups, preventive measures, and prompt treatment are necessary to safeguard your cat against these hidden threats.