Can worms kill kittens?

Yes, worms can kill kittens. A heavy infestation of ascarids (roundworms) can result in severe illness and possibly death. A hookworm infestation can be fatal in very young kittens.

Feline round and tapeworms
Two useful tags. Click either to see the articles: Toxic to cats | Dangers to cats

Feline round and tapeworms

In all, although some are rare, there are ten different types of parasitic worm which can infect a cat: roundworm, hookworm, tapeworm, roundworm (trichinosis), strongyloides, whipworms, flukes, stomach worms, heartworms, eye worms.

Roundworms are the most common worm parasite in cats. A large percentage of kittens are infected. Twenty-five to seventy-five percent of adult cats are infected with roundworms. They grow to 5 inches in length. Cats acquire roundworms by ingesting roundworm eggs perhaps by licking them off their paws when walking over contaminated soil or by eating a host creature such as a beetle of a rodent. Infected kittens are thin and pot bellied. They may cough, vomit, be anaemic and get pneumonia. The roundworm looks like alive spaghetti.

Hookworms are small and thin at .25 to .5 inches in length. They draw blood from the wall of the intestine. They are more common in dogs than cats. They are more prevalent in southern US states where it is hotter and more humid. Cats get hookworms by eating infected larvae in soil of feces or by direct penetration of the pads of the paws. Newborn kittens might get hookworms from their mother’s milk. Cats who recover can become carriers with cysts in the tissue. A new outbreak can occur.




Useful tag. Click to see the articles: Cat behavior

Note: sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified.
Useful links
Anxiety - reduce it
FULL Maine Coon guide - lots of pages
Children and cats - important

Michael Broad

Hi, I'm a 74-year-old retired solicitor (attorney in the US). Before qualifying I worked in many jobs including professional photography. I love nature, cats and all animals. I am concerned about their welfare. If you want to read more click here.

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