Treat My Cat
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In this guide
Worms are very common in cats, especially kittens, cats that hunt and cats with fleas. Many infected cats look perfectly healthy, so you often can't tell just by looking. The good news is that worms are easy to treat with the right product from your vet, and easy to prevent with regular parasite control. The key is to use a proper cat dewormer, not a home remedy, and to treat the cause (like fleas) so the worms don't come straight back.
The main types of worms in cats
| Worm | How cats catch it | What you might see |
|---|---|---|
| Roundworms | Kittens through their mother's milk; adults by eating infected prey or eggs in soil | Spaghetti-like worms in vomit or stool, potbelly in kittens |
| Tapeworms | Swallowing fleas while grooming, or eating mice and other prey | Rice-like segments around the bottom or in bedding |
| Hookworms | Eggs or larvae in soil or prey, or through the skin | Diarrhea, weight loss, anemia in young kittens |
| Lungworms | Eating prey such as snails, slugs, birds or rodents | Coughing or breathing changes, often no signs |
| Heartworms | Mosquito bites, even in indoor cats | Coughing, breathing trouble, vomiting, sometimes sudden collapse |
Roundworms are the most common worm in cats, and almost all kittens are born with them or catch them soon after.
Signs your cat may have worms
- Worms or worm segments in stool, vomit, around the bottom or on bedding
- A potbelly, especially in kittens
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- Weight loss or poor growth despite a good appetite
- A dull, scruffy coat
- Scooting or licking under the tail more than usual
- Pale gums, weakness or tiredness, which can mean anemia from hookworms
- Coughing or fast breathing
Many cats, especially adults with light infections, show no signs at all. That's why routine deworming and fecal tests matter.
How worms are treated
- See your vet for a diagnosis. Your vet will usually test a fresh stool sample, because different worms need different medicines. Bring a sample in a clean, sealed container if you can, and a photo of anything you've seen.
- Use the dewormer your vet recommends, at the dose on the label or as your vet prescribes. Modern prescription products are safe, easy to give (tablets, spot-ons or liquids) and often cover several types of worm, plus fleas, in one product.
- Repeat the treatment as directed. Most dewormers kill adult worms but not all eggs or immature stages, so a second dose is often needed a few weeks later.
- Treat every pet in the house if your vet advises it.
- Treat the fleas too. Tapeworms come from fleas, so if you don't treat fleas, your cat will be reinfected within weeks (see our guide to treating fleas). A flea comb (see flea combs) is an easy way to check.
- Clean up. Scoop the litter box at least once a day, since many worm eggs only become infectious after a day or more in the environment (see litter scoops). Wash bedding on a hot cycle.
There is no approved treatment for heartworm in cats, so prevention is the only safe approach. Many monthly spot-on products protect against heartworm as well as other parasites.
Preventing worms
- Kittens need deworming from a few weeks old, repeated every couple of weeks until your vet moves them to a regular schedule. Ask your vet or shelter what has already been given.
- Adult cats do best on year-round parasite control, which the Companion Animal Parasite Council recommends for all cats, including indoor cats. Your vet will suggest a schedule based on whether your cat hunts or goes outside.
- Check stool samples once or twice a year at your cat's check-ups.
- Keep up flea prevention all year round.
- Limit hunting where you can, for example by keeping cats in at dawn and dusk.
Never use
- Dog dewormers or dog flea products. Doses and ingredients differ, and some dog flea products contain permethrin, which is highly toxic to cats.
- Home remedies such as garlic, pumpkin seeds, diatomaceous earth or apple cider vinegar. They don't reliably kill worms, and garlic is toxic to cats.
- Leftover or shared medicine from another pet, or an old product without checking the dose for your cat's current weight.
See a vet urgently if
- A kitten has worms along with diarrhea, vomiting, a bloated belly or weakness. Heavy worm burdens can be dangerous for kittens.
- Your cat has pale gums, is weak or collapses
- Your cat is coughing, breathing fast or struggling to breathe
- There's blood in the stool, or vomiting and diarrhea that don't stop
- Your cat seems unwell after a dewormer, such as drooling, wobbliness or twitching. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Can people catch worms from cats?
Yes, some cat worms can infect people, especially children. Roundworm eggs swallowed from soil or a litter box can cause illness, and hookworm larvae can burrow into bare skin. You can greatly reduce the risk by deworming your cat regularly, scooping the litter box daily, washing hands after handling litter or gardening, and covering children's sandboxes. If you're worried about your own health, talk to your doctor.
Common questions
Can indoor cats get worms?
Yes. Indoor cats can catch tapeworms from fleas brought in on people or other pets, roundworms from eggs tracked in on shoes, and heartworm from mosquitoes that get inside. That's why year-round parasite control is recommended for indoor cats too.
How do I know if my cat has worms if I can't see any?
Often you won't. Many cats carry worms without symptoms, and eggs are too small to see. A fecal test at your vet is the most reliable way to check.
Are over-the-counter dewormers safe?
Some are, if they're made for cats and used exactly as the label says. But many only cover one or two types of worm. Your vet can recommend a product that matches what your cat actually has.
What do the white things on my cat's bottom mean?
Small, white, rice-like pieces around the bottom or on bedding are usually tapeworm segments. Your cat needs a dewormer that covers tapeworms, and flea treatment to stop it coming back.
The short version
Worms are common, often invisible, and easy to treat with a vet-recommended dewormer. Treat fleas at the same time, scoop the litter box daily, and keep your cat on year-round parasite control. Kittens, weak or coughing cats, and cats with pale gums need a vet quickly. Diarrhea is a common sign, so see our guide to cat diarrhea too.
Sources
This guide is based on published guidance from:
Written from published veterinary guidance. How we write our guides.
