How Do Cats Get Worms?

You may be wondering, how can cats get worms if they don't eat faeces? This is where vectors come into play. A vector is anything that can transmit a pathogen, including parasites. A vector most commonly refers to an organism, such as ticks or mosquitoes. Inanimate objects that may assist in transmission can be called passive vectors or fomites. The most common source of parasite infection for cats is vectors.

So what are the common vectors and how do you avoid them?

Via Faeces

Worm eggs are shed in faeces, and faeces are the primary source of the worm larvae that can infect our pets, however, your cat doesn't need to be eating faeces directly to become infected. Faeces can contaminate many common sources of infection.

The most common method of faecal based infection is by drinking contaminated water or grooming their coat which could contain faeces or contaminated soil. Eating grass that has been contaminated with faecal matter, could also be another potential source of infection.

Provide fresh water, such as from a water fountain, that is separated from toileting areas and you can offer clean, potted cat grass as a safer alternative.

Via Soil

Soil is easily contaminated by faeces and can spread worms to your cat. Contaminated soil can cling to your cat's fur where it is picked up during grooming and may be consumed while eating off the ground or chewing on grass. Hookworm larvae in the soil can also penetrate through your cats skin, commonly on the feet, and migrate through their tissues. These eggs and larvae can survive in the soil for weeks and sometimes even years.

Via Fleas

Fleas are an essential vector for the Flea Tapeworm. Cats become infected after eating fleas containing larval cysts. The most common method of flea ingestion in cats is during grooming. A flea infection can amplify this risk by making your cat itchy and more likely to groom or bite at themselves. Fleas can also persist in the environment or survive on other animals, meaning ongoing prevention is a key method of controlling the Flea Tapeworm.

Controlling a flea infestation can seem impossible! It's important to use regular prevention and decontaminate the environment. Our article How to Treat a Cat with Fleas details the management tips to eradicate all the fleas in your home.

Via Hunting and Diet

A common vector for parasites, particularly those affecting cats, is prey animals, such as rodents, hares, birds and reptiles. Not only do some species of tapeworm rely on these species for their life cycle, but larval roundworms or hookworms may also be present in these species. This means cats that like to hunt these small prey, most commonly outdoor cats, are at an increased risk of intestinal worm infection. However, if your indoor-only cat finds and hunts mice or lizards inside the home, they are also at an increased risk.

Via Mother's Milk

Kitten worming should be started from 2 weeks of age. The reason for this is because their mother's milk is a potential source of roundworm and hookworm infection. Larval stages of roundworms and hookworms may migrate through the body and form cysts in the tissues. They become reactivated during pregnancy and migrate to the mammary tissue, infecting kittens as they drink. Maintaining regular worming prevention during pregnancy is important for protecting kittens.

Via Cross-Species Transmission

Multi-cat households have an increased risk of worm infections, especially if one of the cats has outdoor access as they can spread the worms to other cats. What about multi-pet households though?

Other animals in the house can be a source of intestinal worms for your cat. Dogs particularly, share many common intestinal worms with cats and can also be a source of fleas. Dogs, who often have access to the outdoors, can pick up fleas, bring contaminated soil into the house, carry infected faeces on their coat/paws or may be harbouring a silent worm infection. To ensure complete control of worms, all pets in the household should be on regular prevention.