Cats are the type of pet that loves to walk wherever they can but also stay close to us for comfort and to feel loved. Because of their habits and the fact that you need to set up a litter box for them, some cat owners worry about the possibility of getting worms from them. In this article, we will discuss this matter.
Can I Get Worms From My Cat
Yes, actually, it is possible to get worms from your cat. While most of us deworm our cats to keep them comfortable, it’s also critical to minimize the number of eggs excreted by these parasites in soil or dirt.
When eggs show up in the environment, they have the potential to reinfect our pets — and even us. Continue reading to discover more about parasites that you and your pet may contract.
Can Humans Get Tapeworms From Cats
Yes, humans can get tapeworms from cats. This is something rare, but you should watch for hygiene habits to make sure that both you and your cat remain free from it.
Tapeworms are intestine-dwelling segmented worms. Small egg-filled pieces separate and are excreted by your pet. These segments are not living, yet they stay mobile for an extended period of time. If your pet is infected with tapeworms, you may see small white segments the size of rice grains crawling along their back or in their feces.
Tapeworms may be transmitted to cats by the ingestion of infected fleas, during hunting or scavenging, or through the consumption of raw flesh or intestines of a dead animal. An itching rear end, vomiting, and diarrhea are all symptoms of flea tapeworm infection in dogs.
Humans may catch tapeworms very rarely if they eat an infected flea (for example, after petting your flea-infested pet). In dogs and people, a certain kind of tapeworm called Echinococcus multilocularis may induce alveolar echinococcosis.
This is a dangerous and sometimes deadly condition that results in the growth of tumor-like masses in organs, most notably the liver. You and your dog may get infected by inadvertently swallowing parasite eggs transmitted by your dog’s or wild canid’s excrement. Reduce your risk of exposure by worming your pet, stopping your dog from scavenging, and practicing excellent hygiene.
Can I Get Roundworms From My Cat Sleeping In My Bed
Humans may acquire roundworms in a number of ways, including contaminated soil or feces containing roundworm eggs. If roundworm eggs are mistakenly consumed, the larvae hatch and spread throughout the body. This may result in significant organ damage, such as blindness and respiratory failure. That is why it is important to thoroughly wash your hands after working or playing outdoors in dirt or after touching dog or cat feces (particularly from puppies or kittens).
Roundworms may infect people when we consume the minute eggs deposited by sick dogs and cats in their feces. Always collect your dogs’ waste in a bag and clean up the stool in your backyard on a regular basis to help reduce the spread of parasites. Always properly wash your hands after handling dog or cat feces.
Roundworm eggs may live for years in soil and can even withstand severe winters. Adults may come into touch with them when gardening, and small children may contract them if they play in the mud without washing their hands afterward. Roundworm eggs in the dirt may also adhere to your pet’s hair, particularly if your dog or cat is fond of digging, so always wash your hands after handling your pet.
Can I Get Worms From Kissing My Cat?
It is theoretically feasible, although very improbable, to get worms through kissing your cat. The worm eggs are transported out with the feces, and cats often have little, if any, fecal material behind on their anuses after defecation.
The cat cleans itself well down there many times a day if necessary, and if the cat had a muddy bathroom time and cleaned it without swallowing or cleaning its mouth, and you kissed it on the lips right then, tiny worm eggs in the excrement on its lip may have been ingested.
It is considerably more probable that you may get worms from cats if you play in sandboxes or mud that has been pooped in and then eat without washing your hands. Even then, this is relatively uncommon.
Can I Get Worms From My Cat Licking Me
Yes, you can get worms from your cat licking you since worms can be passed to your body by licking. Cats lick us to show their love. Licking is not just a technique for cats to groom themselves; it is also a way for them to express love.
By licking you, other cats, or even other pets, your cat builds a social connection. A portion of this activity may stem from your cat’s mother grooming and affectionately licking them as a kitten.
However, if your cat has worms, they may transfer them to you by licking since cats are recognized for their cleanliness. They are capable of licking their buttocks and then licking you, thereby spreading the worms.
To be safe, always medicate your cat to eliminate any worms that might live inside his stomach or intestines. This way, your cat will live healthier and happier, while you and your family will face fewer risks.
Can My Cat Give Me Worms FAQ
My Cat Has Roundworms Should I Get Treated
If your cat has roundworms, the first thing you should do is treat your cat and then get tested yourself to learn if you got infected too.
Roundworms do not pose a significant hazard to adult cats, but in huge numbers, they may cause life-threatening complications in kittens and elderly debilitated cats. Common clinical indicators in kittens include a pot-bellied look, stomach pain, decreased appetite, dull fur coat, vomiting and diarrhea, and stunted development.
Treatment for your cat
Fortunately, roundworms are treatable in a safe, straightforward, and generally affordable manner. Following administration of the anthelmintic or deworming treatment, the dead and dying roundworms move into the feces. Because none of these treatments can eradicate the worm’s immature stages or migratory larvae, at least two or three treatments are required.
Treatments are normally administered at intervals of two to three weeks. In an ideal world, kittens would be dewormed with each booster vaccine session. If your adult cat spends time outdoors, you may choose to provide a dewormer on a regular basis. Females that are nursing should be treated concurrently with their litter of kittens.
Treatment for you
Your physician will prescribe a medication called albendazole for you. This medication inhibits the larvae from growing in size or reproducing. After that, the worms in your body travel via your feces. You may not even be aware that it is occurring.
You may need to repeat the treatment after a few weeks, depending on the kind of roundworm. This ensures that the parasites are totally eradicated.
Additionally, you may need a prescription for an iron supplement to assist with anemia, and a prescription lotion might assist in alleviating any irritation.
Can Cat Worms Like Tapeworms & Roundworms Live In Bedding?
Yes, cat worms may live in bedding since viable egg sacs are regularly discovered adhering to the hairs surrounding a pet’s anus, in feces, or in spots where the creature sleeps, such as a human bed.
Cats who are infected with worms should not be allowed to lie on your bed since the worms may enter your bedding and create a variety of undesired issues.
How Likely Is It To Get Worms From Your Cat?
It is very unlikely to get worms from your cat.
Also, to make sure you won’t get worms from your cat, you need to check on his poop to see if any worms are present. If there are worms or you notice anything weird about your cat’s tummy health, simply buy him remedies to kill the parasites.
Very few people get worms from cats, meaning that it is a matter of keeping your furball’s health in check.
How Do I Know If I Got Worms From My Cat?
If you catch worms from your cat, it is likely you will present one or more of the few symptoms:
- abdominal pain or tenderness
- diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
- gas/bloating
- fatigue
- unexplained weight loss
Final Words About Can I Get Worms From My Cat Sleeping In My Bed
Worms are the cutest of animals that can live in our house and share our lives with us. They can help us lead more peaceful lives and become important members of our families.
However, since they are animals, we need to care for their hygiene properly to make sure they don’t get worms and don’t transmit worms to us.
Always makes sure your cat or cats are at their peak health so that your whole family can also be healthy.
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