Fighting parasites
Every cat will encounter parasites at some point in her life. How do you recognize them and what can you do about them?
What are parasites?
A parasite is a creature that lives at your cat's expense. It feeds on her blood or on the food she ingests. Parasites cause unpleasant complaints in your cat and some are even dangerous for her. Your animal gets them through infection via other animals, ingesting eggs or because the parasites are brought in unnoticed from outside.
With good hygiene, some protective measures and regular checking of your cat you can prevent health problems.
What parasites can my cat have?
There are various parasites that occur in cats. The most common are:
- toxoplasma T. gondii
- worms
- fleas
- ticks
- mites
There are both internal and external parasites. Internal parasites nest inside your cat's body, while external parasites live in her coat or on her skin.
Toxoplasma T. gondii
The parasite Toxoplasma T. gondii causes the infectious disease toxoplasmosis. Your cat is its definitive host. This means that the Toxoplasma reproduces through her. It lays its eggs in your cat's intestines, which are spread via her faeces.
Healthy cats usually do not get symptoms from this parasite, but for weaker and older cats it is problematic. They suffer from one or more of the following symptoms:
- fever
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- lethargy
- breathing difficulties
- eye problems
Prevent infection by only giving your cat cooked food and never raw food, and keeping your living environment clean.
Worms
There are various types of worms found in cats, but tapeworms and roundworms are the most common.
Tapeworms live in the small intestine of your pet and cause diarrhoea. If your cat has tapeworms, you will often find the little worms that look like grains of rice around her anus and in her faeces. Most infections occur because a cat swallows fleas while grooming. Therefore treat your animal against both worms and fleas if she has tapeworms.
Roundworms are most common in kittens, who are often born with them. This parasite causes diarrhoea and a swollen belly. Sometimes the roundworm slows the growth of a kitten. The mother cat can also become infected through her kittens. Prevent this simply by regularly deworming both the mother and the kittens.
Fleas
Fleas are parasites that live in your cat's coat. They feed on her blood and cause itching. They also sometimes jump onto humans and other pets.
Because of the itching, your cat will scratch and bite herself and may get wounds. Via the wounds, bacteria more easily enter her bloodstream. By eating fleas, your cat also risks a tapeworm infection. Fleas are the "intermediate hosts" for tapeworms.
Treat your cat regularly with an anti-flea product, that is the best way to prevent fleas. If you suspect your cat has fleas, treat her with anti-flea product and also treat your living environment immediately. This prevents the flea eggs from hatching. Get advice at a shop about the options.
Ticks
Your cat can pick up a tick in forests, parks and even in the garden. The parasite attaches itself to your pet's skin and then sucks her blood. During this process the tick grows. It only lets go when it has fully fed. A tick bite causes skin irritation but no other complaints. It is the diseases the tick transmits that are dangerous for both humans and animals. The best known of these is Lyme disease. Protect your cat against ticks by regularly treating her with an anti-tick product. Get advice at your shop about which product is most suitable. Also regularly check your cat's coat. If she has a tick, remove it with tick tweezers.
Mites
Mites cause skin or coat problems and itching. Types of mites found in cats:
- Ear mites: they crawl into the ears and cause itching.
- Mange mites: burrow into the skin and cause intense itching.
- Coat mites: cause a poor coat, sometimes with hair loss and itching as symptoms.
The best weapon against mites is a strong immune system. In case of infestation, the vet prescribes a remedy.
What should I do if my cat has parasites?
Help your cat if you suspect she has parasites. Although they all require a different approach, there are two things you must always do: treat the cat and her environment and thoroughly clean the places where she spends a lot of time. Especially don't forget carpets, rugs, sofas, cushions and dark corners.