What to Do About Cat Worms

A concerned parent wonders what to do about cat worms.

Visitor Wonders What to Do About Cat Worms

Little White Worms

We have recently rescued a kitten, and we think it might be possible that she has worms. Just this morning we found a small white "maggot like" thing hanging out of her "you know where". It was moving, and we wondered if this could possibly be a worm? If it is, we would like to get her treated as soon as possible before it gets too bad, so we appreciate any help for this little kitten!

Thank you~~ Geniva

Expert Reply

Hi, Geniva,

If the worm is small, white and looks a bit like rice when it dies, it is more than likelya tapeworm. Actually, the white wiggling part is just a segment that breaks to form a new worm, rather than the original worm itself, but that's probably more than you ever wanted to know. If you want to be certain what type of worm it is (and this can help you know how to treat the worms), wipe the worm off your cat's behind with a piece of tissue, and put it into a Ziploc bag with a small piece of damp paper towel. Take the worm to your vet and ask for an analysis and medication.

Tapeworm is caused when a cat ingests a flea. This doesn't mean your new kitty is flea infested, although it's smart to treat her anyway because the cat only has to ingest one flea to get tapeworm. The good news is that tapeworm is easily treatable.

I would follow up with a visit to your vet. You say she was rescued. Was she a stray? If so, she may need some vaccinations and tests anyway so you might as well test and treat the worms at the same time. Good luck with your new family member. Worms are very common, but they are fairly easy to treat.

Thanks for your question!

~~Lori

Kittens with Tiny Worms

I recently noticed my nine-month-old kittens have tiny worms. I wasn't happy, so I bought liquid worming medicine, and gave it to them in their food as the directions said. The directions also say to repeat the dose in ten days, and again at thirty days.

I have scoured their litter box and removed it temporarily. I've replaced it with disposable boxes and fresh litter. I do not want to take any chances of these kittens continuing to have worms.

We have a spotless home, and the kittens have been spayed/neutered. They have received their shots, had their ears cleaned and have shown no sign of any other illness so far. They don't even have fleas, since we use a monthly spot on flea product to protect them, and they don't go outside anymore. How could this have happened?

These kittens were born outside, but we have had them since they were six weeks old. I am hoping my kids will not have a problem from these worms because they love these kittens. I need any tips you can give me.

Thanks~~ Nancy

Expert Reply

Hi Nancy,

Your cats didn't contract worms because of anything you failed to do. Worm ova can be transferred from mom to the kittens while they're still in the womb. Then they continue their life cycle through the kittens. The kittens could have also picked up fleas during their brief life outdoors before you took them in. The worms just needed time to build up a sufficient population for you to notice them.

Bottom line, these things happen. Now, I don't know what medicine you gave them, but typically you need to take a stool sample to your vet so he/she can diagnose which type of worms your kittens have, and give them the right medicine to kill that particular species. I recommend that you go ahead and take in a sample from each kitten, and let your vet know exactly what product you gave them. Go ahead and take the bottle with you.

You did well to thoroughly clean the litter box, and the disposables aren't a bad idea either. You should also wash any bedding the kittens sleep in, and thoroughly vacuum the entire house and your furniture. This should rid the house of any ova they may have shed.

Now, not to alarm you, but as a precaution, I'd make an appointment with your pediatrician to discuss the children's possible exposure to the worms. There's a chance they could have been exposed to the ova and even ingested some if the kittens were sleeping with them, or if the children didn't wash their hands after playing with them. Your pediatrician will advise you on anything that may need to be done.

Once you are finished with this go round, you may never have to deal with any of this again. Keeping the kittens on flea preventative is an excellent way to prevent a reinfestation, and you certainly have a handle on the cleanliness issue. This all probably comes from their time living outside.

I realize you feel a little unnerved right now, but many of us have gone through the same thing, and it's going to be alright.

Thanks for your question~~ Kelly

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