Roundworm

Roundworms, mainly Toxocara cati, are the most common intestinal worms in cats. Adults live in the small intestine and look like pale, thin strands of spaghetti up to several inches long. Kittens are often infected through their mother's milk. Cats of any age can also pick up eggs from contaminated soil or by eating a rodent or bird that carries the larvae.

Many cats show no signs. A heavy burden in a kitten causes a pot-bellied look, a dull coat, poor growth, vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes worms in the vomit or stool. Roundworms can cause serious illness in very young or weak kittens. Because adult worms shed microscopic eggs, a vet checks a stool sample.

Roundworm eggs can infect people if swallowed, most often children who play in soil or sandboxes where cats have defecated. The larvae can migrate in the body and, rarely, harm the eye or other organs. Scoop litter daily, wash hands after cleaning it, and keep sandpits covered. Vets treat roundworm with deworming medicine and usually repeat it in kittens, so follow the schedule your vet gives. Do not use dog products or human remedies. Ask your vet when to start deworming a new kitten.