SolveYourProblem.com Article Series: Cat Care
Cat Care Tips
Does
Your Cat Have Parasites?
When your family feline has parasites, just remember that
it bears no reflection necessarily on your own hygiene
habits. You can maintain a super clean home. You can
wash and groom your pet regularly. You can treat them
for fleas and ticks. However, chances are that your cat
will still get some type of parasite. Parasites in your
family cat are embodied in both external and internal
forms. Externally, fleas and ticks are the most common
parasites and are usually treated regularly. However,
other external parasites include ear mites and lice.
Internal parasites are primarily in the form of a worm.
And unfortunately for cats, these worms come in a variety
of shapes and sizes as well as bring a number of different
health issues too.
To understand the possible forms of parasites that might inhabit
your cat’s body, let’s get a little more in-depth about the
most common parasites that were previously listed above:
Fleas
These pesky critters are perhaps the most known
parasite of them all. And because adult fleas can reproduce
thousands
upon thousands of young, this makes a flea infestation hard
to control. In cats, fleas can be particularly bothersome.
They bite cats to obtain a meal of blood and the saliva the
flea produces and injects into the cat can cause severe skin
allergies. When the cats scratch, this action irritates and
sometimes breaks the skin causing scabs. Ticks
These blood suckers are also a widely know external
parasite. They live for blood and need it in order to lays
eggs so that even more ticks can hatch. Ticks are mostly commonly
found in heavily wooded areas as well as fields of grass. They
will latch onto the tops of blades of grass or weeds, just
waiting for the next available warm body to latch onto. Ticks
carry several diseases like Lymes disease and Rocky Mountain
spotted fever. More common in cats however are various conditions
like Cytauxzoon and Ehrlichia. The Cytauxzoon is a protozoan
that causes such symptoms as fever, anemia and lack of appetite.
This condition is usually fatal.
Ear
mites and lice Ear
mites are tiny little crab-like creatures that live in the
ear canal and nibble on ear secretions and
other tissue in the ear. This critter is common and easily
treated. The most obvious signs of an ear mite problem include
head shaking, ear scratching and dark grainy discharge from
the ears. Lice cause a similar reaction in cats as they do
in humans. The poor cats scratch a lot and they tend to lose
some fur or have a dull coat. Luckily, lice are easily treated
with topical shampoos.
Worms
These
internal parasites come in a variety of shapes, sizes and
names. The most common internal parasites are the
roundworm and tapeworm. These can be seen in the cat’s feces
without the aid of a microscope if the animal is indeed infected.
Roundworms can be transmitted via a mother’s milk or while
still inside the mother’s womb. These worms look like spaghetti
noodles. The tapeworm can be transmitted via flea larvae,
especially if ingested. This worm looks flat and segmented.
When veterinarians
test your cat’s fecal matter, the tapeworm is the least likely
to be detected. Other worms that can inhabit your cat’s body include the hookworm
and the whipworm. The hookworm is small and skinny with a hook-like
end that can easily latch onto the lining of the intestine.
It loves blood and will latch on for a filling meal. Signs
of poor appetite, weight loss and anemia are often indicators
of the hookworm. The whipworm gets its name from its shape
and their eggs are usually ingested by contaminated food or
water or when your cat nibbles on another animal’s droppings.
It is important that your cat’s feces be tested for worms
by your veterinarian at each check-up. And if your family feline
is exhibiting any abnormal behavior, chances are, an infestation
of worms could be the culprit. Knowing exactly which parasitic
worm is the problem will also help greatly in the treatment
and deworming process because not every worm medication will
treat every parasitic worm. The best way to prevent parasite
invaders is to take precautions. Wash frequently and note any
unusual behaviors in your cat. Treat them regularly for fleas
and ticks. Make deworming a part of your normal routine in
maintaining your cat’s health.
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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