Last Updated: 06/05/2025
Explore the mysterious world of feline parasites! Learn how cats get worms symptoms to watch for and essential prevention tips for a healthier happier kitty.
Author: Dr Brittany Ward BVSc
Reading Time: 41 minutes - long read
If you're a cat owner, chances are you've wondered how susceptible your cat or kitten is to worms. Whether your cat loves to roam the great outdoors or prefers the cozy corners of your home, the threat of worm infection is real and can pose a variety of health issues.
The consequences range from mild digestive disturbances to severe complications like anaemia, vomiting, and even sudden death in extreme cases. With various types of worms such as roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms, it's essential to understand the different ways your cat could get infected to effectively safeguard their health.
In this article we demystify the subject by exploring the common ways cats get worms so you'll be better equipped to protect your cat from uncomfortable and potentially dangerous worm infestations.
Contents:
Want a refresher on each of these worms and how they affect cats? Our articles Worms in Cats and Tapeworms in Cats discuss these three types of worms in more detail.
There are three different tapeworms that can affect cats; Flea Tapeworm, the Cat Tapeworm and the Zipper Worm. The method of infection is dependent on the species of tapeworm involved.
Tapeworms use an intermediate host as part of their life cycle. In order to become infected with tapeworms, your cat must consume the intermediate host.
What Intermediate Hosts Could Your Cat Consume?
• Flea Tapeworm - As its name suggests, the Flea Tapeworm uses the flea as its intermediate host. Cats can become infected by eating infected adult fleas. This usually occurs during grooming.
• Cat Tapeworm - Taenia Taeniaeformis relies on rodents and small mammals as the intermediate host, meaning cats can become infected by eating contaminated rats, mice or hares.
• Zipper Worm - Cats can become infected with the Zipper Worm via the two intermediate hosts. They may accidentally eat the first intermediate host, Copepods, while drinking contaminated water and become infected with larval cysts. Or, they could become infected with adult worms after eating raw meat from the second intermediate host, small reptiles, frogs, birds or mammals
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
To ensure your dog is up to date with their parasite prevention, check out our article Guide to Flea, Tick and Worm Prevention for Dogs.
Diarrhoea (Sometimes with Blood)
Worms or Worm segments in stools or around anus
Vomiting
Weight loss
Distended "Pot Belly" abdomen
Weakness
Illthrift
Unkempt, dull coat
Anaemia
No signs at all - many cats will not show signs of infection
The symptoms of intestinal worms and other worms are discussed in more detail in our article Worms in Cats.
Did you know that Nexgard Spectra for Cats covers all of the parasites of concern in Australia? This monthly spot-on provides protection against fleas, ticks, mites, heartworm, lungworm, intestinal worms and tapeworms.
The treatment of worms in cats requires the use of a dewormer. The active ingredients used in our preventative medications are dewormers and predominantly work by killing any worms or larvae that your cat has picked up since their last treatment. For this reason, regular use of a worming treatment is recommended to prevent your cat harbouring a worm infestation.
Tapeworms are the exception to the rule. Tapeworm treatment, particularly the Zipperworm, requires a higher dose of the effective active ingredient (Praziquantel) than is contained in preventatives. Pets with large worm burdens may also require higher worming doses or more frequent doses. Sometimes these may be administered via injection.
If you notice worms in your cat's vomit or faeces, it is recommended to collect the worm and take it to your vet for identification. A sample of the faeces will also be helpful as worm eggs are passed in the faeces and can be identified by a faecal float test.
All cats are at risk of intestinal worms, including indoor-only cats. While their risk is reduced, indoor-only cats can be exposed to contaminated soil that we humans might bring into the house on clothing and shoes. Small prey can access our homes, exposing indoor-only cats to worms and our dogs can also bring in fleas or worm eggs/larvae. If an indoor-only and outdoor cat live in the same house then the outdoor cat becomes a source of infection.
Cats with outdoor access are more likely to be exposed to infected faeces or vectors, particularly contaminated environments as they are exploring. Even if your cat doesn't leave your yard, strays, neighbourhood cats or other animals can access the area and contribute to contamination.
Small prey animals are a potential source of infection for all intestinal worms. This means cats prone to hunting these small types of prey, including rodents, hares, birds, earthworms, cockroaches and reptiles, are at an increased risk of getting worms.
Similarly, cats on a raw food diet have a higher chance of exposure to worm larvae and cysts in the meat.
Younger and older animals have weakened immune systems, which can make them susceptible to pathogens, including to intestinal worms. These cats are more likely to experience severe illness following worm infections. Kittens also have additional routes of exposure through their mothers milk and can quickly outgrow their worming dose, leaving them vulnerable to infection.
Yes. Humans can get worms from cats. Tapeworms in particular can cause severe illness in humans if they form larval cysts in tissues throughout the body, including nervous system tissue, the brain, liver and lungs. Adult tapeworms may also develop if a flea is accidentally ingested or from eating raw meat.
Roundworms can infect people when the eggs are ingested, often from a contaminated environment. Hookworms are more likely to affect people when larvae penetrate the skin and migrate through the tissues under the skin.
Children are at the greatest risk for getting worms from cats as they are more likely to eat contaminated soil or walk around barefoot.
Yes. Mice and rats can potential be a source of roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms if they are consumed by cats. Rodents may consume roundworm eggs in faeces, becoming a source of contamination for cats. Hookworm larvae may migrate through their tissues or get into their tissues following ingestion, and then infect your cat. They can also harbour Tapeworm larvae, which may be then ingested by cats, the definitive host.
Other species of mammals can also harbour worm larvae, including chickens, sheep, cattle, goats and even kangaroos. Tapeworms particularly form cysts inside the tissues of these animals, which can then be consumed by cats to develop into adult worms. Outdoor cats, particularly those in rural areas, may have access to the offal or carcasses of these infected species. The most common source, however, is a raw meat diet. Cats on a raw food diet are at an increased risk of intestinal worms, especially tapeworms. The larvae found in the raw meat can be inactivated by cooking the meat.
The flies themselves will not be affected by worms or carry larvae in their bodies. However, flies often come into contact with faeces. A fly that has come into contact with faeces from a shedding cat may pick up eggs on their body and transport them. If that fly is then consumed while carrying infective eggs, they may become a source of worm infection.
Want to read more? Check out our other articles:
Can Indoor Cats Get Fleas?
What is the Best Flea and Tick Treatment For Cats?
Want to know more? Check out our Discover Page for more tips on keeping your pets happy and healthy.
