Kittens are particularly susceptible to worms and other parasites. Get the facts about the worms that kittens can contract, and when you can start giving your kitten a worming treatment .
Kittens are particularly susceptible to worms and other parasites. Get the facts about the worms that kittens can contract, and when you can start giving your kitten a worming treatment.
Kittens can easily contract worms, and when they do they can be more severely impacted by infections than their adult cat counterparts.
Many kittens won’t show any sign of having worms, which is why it’s so important to treat them – whether or not you suspect their presence.
If left untreated, worms can cause weight loss, vomiting, diarrhoea, irritation and a range of other health issues that can negatively impact a kitten’s growth – and even survival.
It is recommended to start worming your kitten early i.e. from 2-8 weeks of age. Familiarising yourself early on with the signs and symptoms of worms, as well as the types of treatments available, can help with preparation and prevention.
Types of worms commonly found in kittens
There are three main types of intestinal worm that can infect your kitten: roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms.
Roundworms
Roundworms are the most common and can be passed on through:
• The faeces of an infected cat
• Infected soil
• Their mother’s milk
• Hunting and eating infected animals e.g. birds, rodents, lizards
Because of their age and obvious close contact with their mother, kittens are particularly susceptible to roundworm.
If your kitten is infected with roundworms, it can lead to vomiting, diarrhoea, coughing, a bloated stomach, and stunted growth. Additionally, roundworms are considered a zoonotic risk.
Tapeworms
Tapeworms are long, flat and segmented. Kittens are most likely to contract a tapeworm by accidentally eating infected fleas while grooming. As the kitten grooms, they ingest infected fleas and the larvae of the tapeworm attaches itself to the kitten’s small intestine, where it develops into an adult worm.
You might notice small, dried, white segments resembling tiny grains of rice in your kitten's faeces. These are parts of the tapeworm that have broken off . If the tapeworm has traveled into your kittens stomach it may vomit up a large segment of the tapeworm.
Another sign or behaviour your kitten or cat may exhibit is biting, licking or dragging of their itchy bottom.
Feline Lungworm
Lungworm infection in kittens and cats can occur when they ingest infected snails, slugs, or their slime containing lungworm larvae. It can also happen if they consume prey that has eaten infected snails or slugs, such as birds, rodents, or lizards.
Once ingested, the lungworm larvae are released in the intestines and then migrate to the lungs, where they reproduce. Kittens and cats that roam outdoors or hunt are particularly vulnerable.
Lungworm infection can affect the cat in various ways, ranging from no visible symptoms to coughing, difficulty breathing, and weight loss. In severe cases, it can be fatal for cats.
Other worms
Kittens can also be infected by hookworms, which are blood suckers that can live in the intestines of your kitten or cat. However, they are more commonly found in kennelled dogs like Greyhounds. Despite the lower relative frequency of hookworm infection in cats, hookworms can still cause health consequencesfor your kitten and pose a zoonotic risk, so prevention is key.
When to begin worming treatments in kittens
In contrast to dogs, kittens are not born with worm larvae already present in their gut, but they can contract them from their mother’s milk. Because of this risk, worm treatments should be started from a young age.
Kittens can be treated with an allwormer like Drontal™ Allwormer for Cats 4kg from 4 weeks of age or Milbemax™ Tablets for Small Cats from 6 weeks of age. Once your kitten is 9 weeks of age they can start on monthly Advocate™ which will then continue to control intestinal nematode worms, and in addition: fleas and lungworms.
Regular worming treatments will ensure your kitty stays happy, healthy and safe from worms throughout its nine lives as a cat.
