There are many intestinal parasites that kittens can catch from their environment or from their mother. These parasites are very common in kittens and some of them can infect humans. Routine deworming kills roundworms and hookworms. Other common parasites include giardia, coccidia and tapeworms, and can only be treated when diagnosed on a fecal examination.
Roundworms are transmitted to kittens by nursing on their mother, through coming into contact with parasite eggs in the environment or by hunting. Hookworms are transmitted by burrowing into the skin, environmental contamination with eggs, or by hunting. Giardia and coccidia are spread through environmental contamination. Tapeworms are spread through hunting or ingestion of fleas.
If your kitten has worms, you may not be able to identify the parasite by looking at it. Sometimes roundworms will be evident in the stool as long, spaghetti-like strands. Tapeworm segments (small, white, rectangular) may be seen around the rectum.
The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) sets the guidelines that many veternarians use. They recommend that your veterinarian deworm your kitten at three, five, seven and nine weeks of age, and then place her on a monthly heartworm preventative product that also kills roundworms and hookworms. Every kitten should also adhere to a monthly flea preventative (some products do all of this). ONLY use products that are recommended by your veterinarian. Just because it is sold in a reputable store does not mean it is safe!
Fecal samples should be checked for parasites two to four times in your kitten's first year and then one to two times per year thereafter. If your kitten is indoor-only, aim for two negative fecal examinations during kittenhood, and then annual fecal exams as an adult. This is important because fleas can transmit tapeworms to your indoor-only cat. If your kitten becomes an indoor-outdoor cat, err on the side of performing fecal examinations twice per year.
Why would indoor-only cats need to adhere to these deworming and fecal examination guidelines? We bring roundworm and hookworm eggs, as well as fleas, into the house on our shoes. Remember that fleas are a source of tapeworms. Few houses are completely free of rodents or insects, which act as carriers for many parasites. Also, raw food diets and raw meat out of the trash can are possible sources of infection.
Why would a kitten need both routine fecal exams and routine deworming? A fecal examination could result in a false-negative and deworming may not be 100 percent effective, but the combination of both decreases the potential for misdiagnosis.
By John Rhodes
Abdominal pains, vomiting, dehydration and watery stool are all signs that a cat is suffering from feline coccidiosis. Kittens and debilitated cats are prime candidates for its more severe manifestations.
Actually, coccidia is very common among both felines and canines. Recent surveys suggest that about 37% of cats and dogs are infected by coccidia. However, not all of these animals will show symptoms of infection.
Protozoa, which are one celled organisms, are the cause of coccidiosis. These organisms take residence in the intestinal tract of the cat and may cause symptoms that resemble other parasites such as worms.
However, though the symptoms of worms and coccidia are similar, the conditions must be cured using different treatments. You should therefore take your cat to a veterinarian for a diagnosis before proceeding with any treatment, to ensure that you get the correct medicine.
So, how does your cat get it? Coccidia are transferred via fecal matter. All cat stool contain immature protozoa (referred to as oocytes), which are relatively harmless until they mature in an open environment. The longer a cat stool has been to decay, the more the oocytes develop, and the more at risk cats coming into contact with it become. Cats may also acquire coccidiosis from eating mice infected with the protozoan.
To prevent against coccidia infestations, you should...
1. Pay attention to where your pet spends most of its time. You should make sure your catteries and kennels are tidy and well-maintained. Of particular importance is the disposing of stool within a day or two of it appearing.
2. Use disinfectants. Before doing this, you may want to move your pets to a different location for the time being. You don't want your pets to inhale the potentially harmful fumes from disinfectants. As for what disinfectant to use, find one that contains a fair amount of ammonia. Alternatively, just mix a little bleach in with some water.
3. Not forget to tend to crevices, and hard to reach areas. You should pay close attention to them as many forms of parasites ? oocytes notwithstanding, could make their home there.
4. Consider repainting. Repainting the area where your pets live could help destroy coccidian oocytes where they mature.
Actually, coccidia is very common among both felines and canines. Recent surveys suggest that about 37% of cats and dogs are infected by coccidia. However, not all of these animals will show symptoms of infection.
Protozoa, which are one celled organisms, are the cause of coccidiosis. These organisms take residence in the intestinal tract of the cat and may cause symptoms that resemble other parasites such as worms.
However, though the symptoms of worms and coccidia are similar, the conditions must be cured using different treatments. You should therefore take your cat to a veterinarian for a diagnosis before proceeding with any treatment, to ensure that you get the correct medicine.
So, how does your cat get it? Coccidia are transferred via fecal matter. All cat stool contain immature protozoa (referred to as oocytes), which are relatively harmless until they mature in an open environment. The longer a cat stool has been to decay, the more the oocytes develop, and the more at risk cats coming into contact with it become. Cats may also acquire coccidiosis from eating mice infected with the protozoan.
To prevent against coccidia infestations, you should...
1. Pay attention to where your pet spends most of its time. You should make sure your catteries and kennels are tidy and well-maintained. Of particular importance is the disposing of stool within a day or two of it appearing.
2. Use disinfectants. Before doing this, you may want to move your pets to a different location for the time being. You don't want your pets to inhale the potentially harmful fumes from disinfectants. As for what disinfectant to use, find one that contains a fair amount of ammonia. Alternatively, just mix a little bleach in with some water.
3. Not forget to tend to crevices, and hard to reach areas. You should pay close attention to them as many forms of parasites ? oocytes notwithstanding, could make their home there.
4. Consider repainting. Repainting the area where your pets live could help destroy coccidian oocytes where they mature.
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