Human infection by this parasite is especially serious (see below). Heavy infections can lead to pneumonia as the worms migrate and, if there are enough worms, the intestine can actually become obstructed. The worms consume the host’s food and can lead to unthriftiness and a classical pot-bellied appearance. Sometimes the worms themselves are vomited up, which can be alarming as they can be quite large with females reaching lengths of up to seven inches.

It is a common cause of diarrhea in young animals and can cause vomiting as well. Roundworm infection can have numerous negative effects. They have their own roundworm called Toxocara canis. Note: dogs cannot be infected with Toxocara cati. Consuming a prey animal – usually a rodent – that is carrying developing worms.Nursing from a mother cat that was herself infected in late pregnancy most kittens are infected this way.Consuming infective worm eggs from soil in the environment, generally through normal grooming.In cats, there are three ways by which infection with Toxocara cati occurs: How Infection Occurs This long worm can be 4-7cm in length You will most likely never know they are there unless you test for them. There is overlap in treatment protocols with some dewormers but not with others.Įven though roundworms are occasionally passed or vomited up, most of the time these worms are unseen in the cat’s intestinal tract do not expect to see any sign of them in the litter box or in fecal material. It is helpful to distinguish their eggs under the microscope so as to know which medications to use and which additional pets are at risk. Toxocara cati is generally felt to be more harmful to cats but Toxascaris leonina is able to infect both dogs and cats. There are two species of roundworms affecting cats and kittens: Toxocara cati and Toxascaris leonina.

Cat threw up long flat white worm