Nowadays, many people keep cats, not only because they are cute, but also because they are easier to raise than dogs. People who love and raise cats usually have too much close contact with cats. For example, sleeping with cats is a very common phenomenon. However, some people are also worried about whether they will be infected with parasites if they sleep or touch cats for a long time. On this topic today, let’s first learn a little bit about cat parasites!

01. Types of parasites in cats

There are two main types of parasites in cats: worms and protozoa.

Worms can be simply understood as worms that can be seen with the naked eye, such as the roundworms that the poop shoveler is worried about above.

Protozoa are single-celled eukaryotic animals that are invisible to the naked eye. For example, many pregnant women are afraid of Toxoplasma gondii.

(Method of transmission of Toxoplasma gondii)

1. Many cat internal parasites are worms.The following are some common types of cat intestinal worms:

Roundworm: The most common cat worm, the adult worm can grow to resemble a noodle. Roundworms can be acquired through breast milk, ingestion of roundworm eggs in feces or soil, and from feeding on small animals (such as mice) that have roundworms in their bodies.

Tapeworms: Parasites that live in the intestines. There are many ways of tapeworm infection. The most common is that cats have fleas (with tapeworm eggs in their bodies) and eat fleas when licking their hair. Those who feed their cats raw meat should also be aware that there may be tapeworms in the raw meat.

Hookworms: Hookworms are the smallest of all common cat worms. They live mainly in the small intestine. They usually grow to about 2 centimeters long and maintain life by absorbing the host's blood. They can cause fatal anemia in cats of all ages, especially kittens. Hookworms are spread in feces and can also infect other animals and people.

Heartworms: Cat heartworms live in the heart and pulmonary arteries. They are spread by infected mosquitoes and enter the cat's body through bites. Heartworms are only spread by infected mosquitoes and are not spread directly from cat to cat or cat to human. They are preventable and treatable, but if the infestation is not caught in its late stages, it can be fatal.

　2. The more common protozoal parasite - Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasma gondii is known to cause fetal malformations and stillbirths. But as far as cat transmission is concerned, it is also through feces.

And to popularize science, people are not necessarily infected with Toxoplasma gondii because of cats and dogs, but may also be caused by eating undercooked pigs and sheep.

Don’t blindly put the blame on the cat.

02. Cats’ internal parasites are not directly transmitted to humans

The above parasites all live in the cat’s body and will not crawl out of the cat’s body.

Humans who want to be infected with roundworms, whipworms, tapeworms, hookworms and Toxoplasma gondii generally need to pass through the esophagus, while heartworms are spread through mosquito bites.

You will not be infected by these internal parasites simply by touching or sleeping with a cat. After all, they will not crawl out of the cat's body and then crawl into your mouth.

You won’t touch their poop and get food from them.

Even if you eat their poop, you may not be infected with parasites.

If you feel uncomfortable in your stomach and intestines, you should see a doctor to find out the cause.

Unreasonable eating time, bad eating habits and excessive life pressure will all cause gastrointestinal discomfort in humans, but it is really not because of cats.

We really can’t let the cat take the blame for everything.

03. Symptoms of parasite infection in cats

Although internal parasites in cats do not directly infect humans, they are detrimental to the cat’s health.

However, many cats with internal parasites show no signs at all, so it cannot be said that cats without symptoms do not have internal parasites.

So what do some cats with symptoms look like? The following are some symptoms of cats infected with worms:

1. Symptoms of worm infection in cats

Bloody stools in cats is one of the most common symptoms.

Often, this is when cat owners first notice something is wrong. Although blood in your stool can mean many things, it's best to see your veterinarian before using over-the-counter deworming medications.

2. Abdominal distension is a typical symptom of roundworms in cats.

Don’t think your cat is just fat, understand the difference between being fat and having tummy worms, because in the case of worms, only the abdomen will be swollen and the rest of the cat’s body may look normal or even skinny.

Increased appetite but decreased weight. Since the worms eat some of your cat's food, your cat's appetite will increase. In this case, the cat may consume a lot of food without gaining weight. Even worse, it may still be losing weight.

When the condition is severe, appetite decreases. Although worms in a cat's belly can cause an increase in appetite, a decrease in appetite can also be a sign that the cat has worms. If a large worm infestation occurs, the cat may become nauseous and unable to eat. The cat also needs to be taken to the veterinarian at this time, because the cat has been hungry for a day and may have an impact on the liver.

Diarrhea.

This is the cat’s natural body response to getting rid of internal parasites. If your cat has diarrhea for more than a day, see your veterinarian as soon as possible.

But diarrhea is a common symptom of many diseases, and worm infection is just one of them.

Vomiting.

It is also another way for cats to purify their bodies. Sometimes adult worms may be found in a cat's vomit, indicating that the infection is already severe.

A sample of the cat's vomiting must be taken to the veterinarian and the cause of the cat's vomiting must be understood.

Cough.

Roundworms may cause coughing, difficulty breathing, and similar symptoms in cats because the larvae migrate through the cat's lungs.

Of course, cats may also suffer from similar symptoms due to other causes.

Reduced activity.

With abdominal pain and physical discomfort, the cat will not be as active as before, and it will become less active. Sometimes owners think that the cat is not interested in many things because it is old, but it may be because the cat is not feeling well, but it does not know how to tell.

The cat’s overall health is poor.

Because cats must share food, minerals, vitamins and other nutrients with worms in their bodies, their immunity may also be reduced, cats will be more susceptible to illness, and their coats will lose their luster.

If you suspect your little one has internal parasites, take your cat, its feces or vomit with you (put them in a sealed bag) when you go to the vet. If the cat has already developed serious symptoms, using anthelmintic drugs may cause the cat to become even more uncomfortable. Therefore, when the situation is serious, it is best not to use drugs indiscriminately without permission.

　04. In fact, you should pay more attention to external parasites when touching cats and sleeping with them every day

Instead of worrying about cats causing gastrointestinal discomfort, owners should actually pay more attention to their cats’ hair hygiene.

Because cats’ external parasites such as mites, fleas and lice can be directly transmitted to humans.

No matter how clean the cat is and licks its fur for several hours every day, as long as there is dirt on the ground, the cat's hair and hands and feet may still get it.

Petting cats and sleeping with cats will indeed increase the chance of people coming into contact with dirty things in the house, so you should wash your hands in time after coming into contact with cats before touching food or skin.

But most importantly, guaranteeKeeping your home clean will keep your cat healthy and your life comfortable.

In summary, even if a cat is accidentally infected with parasites such as roundworms, it will not be directly infected by humans just by touching the cat.

On the contrary, if we have frequent contact with cats, we should pay attention to whether there are external parasites in the cat.

At the same time, owners should not forget to deworm their cats regularly. This is the best preventive measure to ensure the health of both cats and people.

Regarding regular deworming, here are some suggestions:

1. About once every 3 months, please refer to the cat’s healthy diet and physical health.

2. For external deworming, you can check the cat's hair and if you find any bugs, you can deworm them.

3. Deworming medicine can be purchased at the pet hospital or online.