Maggots on and in domestic cats
I want to start this article with a personal experience. Many years ago, when my elderly female cat was dying of kidney disease at the age of 18, she spent a lot of time in the back garden, on the … continue reading…
Tag Archives: parasites
Infographic on roundworm transmission, cure and prevention
“Roundworms (Toxascaris leonina and Toxocara cati) are the most common intestinal parasite of cats, with an estimated prevalence of 25% to 75%, and often higher in kittens” – Cornell. That says it all. Very common disease in young cats particularly … continue reading…
Giardia in domestic cats and smelly poop
There is a lot of discussion on the Internet about domestic cat smelly poop😒. An unpleasant topic but one that needs to be addressed, nonetheless. There are many potential reasons for smelly poop. One reason is that the faeces are … continue reading…
Wily toxoplasma parasite hijacks immune cells to travel around the host
I have had to interpret a very complicated study on the Toxoplasma gondii protozoan parasite published on the Cell Host & Microbe website. But it is an interesting study if you take the time to try and interpreted as a … continue reading…
Picture of cat ear mites (and details of ear mite anatomy and life cycle)
This is a really excellent photograph, taken by a camera attached to a microscope, of a group of ear mites and some earwax. You can see their spider-like bodies. They look disgusting. In terms of the discomfort that they cause … continue reading…
Domestic cats overly criticised for their role as hosts of Toxoplasma gondii
The life-cycle of Toxoplasma gondii is complicated. People tend to oversimplify it. They see the domestic cat infecting humans with this protozoan parasite which is about the extent of general knowledge. It isn’t that simple; far from it. This article … continue reading…
16 tips on cat worms and deworming
Here are 16 tips on cat worms (endoparasites); one of the most unpleasant parasites to bug cats. Although a lot of cats tolerate worms because the most successful worm is the one who does not harm their cat host to … continue reading…
Hookworm life cycle – 2 charts and background information
The hookworm life cycle is set out below in a chart. I also have a page on deworming cat treatments and a page on cat parasites. Several species of hookworm can infect domestic cats. They are blood sucking endoparasites and … continue reading…
Prevalence of internal parasites in North American domestic cats
The prevalence of endoparasites (internal parasites) affecting domestic cat in North America interests me, and it might (just) interest other cat owners too. America is the dominant domestic cat region and therefore they lead the world in terms of information … continue reading…
Cat Parasites – prevalence and species
Cat Parasites – does your cat or kitten have them? Prevalence In China, for instance, a study found that 41.39% of cats had intestinal parasites. 2.78% had toxoplasma-like oocysts. Hookworms were present in 3.06% of the cats (360 cat faeces … continue reading…
Why is flea dirt at the base of the tail while fleas live on the shoulders of a cat?
In my long experience of dealing with fleas (!) I know that they normally live on the shoulders and neck of a domestic cat. And yet, their flea dirt is always situated at the base of the tail, a considerable … continue reading…
How do feral cats deal with fleas?
By and large feral cats put up with fleas; that’s how they deal with them. They accept them as a way of life and tolerate them because they have to. It’s strange because I’ve just written a story about a … continue reading…
Blanket of ticks on kitten’s head removed with tweezers
This is unpleasant: a tabby rescue kitten who acquired a blanket of gorged ticks all over his head. It is horrendous to look at. I hope you find it acceptable to view. There is a video but I am not … continue reading…
How do indoor domestic cats get mange?
Full-time indoor domestic cats should not get mange but they might. Mange is caused by an external parasite called a mite which lives on and in the skin of the host animal. There are a variety of species of mite. … continue reading…
How can indoor cats get ear mites?
Other associated questions are: “Where do ear mites come from? and how do cats get ear mites?” Ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) are about the size of a pinhead. Indoor cats get ear mites from another cat or a dog who … continue reading…