The signs associated with parasitic infections are quite nonspecific, such as dull hair, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, mucoid or bloody stools, loss of appetite, pale mucous membranes, or a tummy appearance. Physalopteran infections are even rarer than Ollanulus infections. Adult female worms attached to the stomach lining expel eggs that are eaten by an intermediate host, usually a cockroach or cricket. After developing in the intermediate host, the parasite causes infection when a cat ingests the insect or a transporting host, such as a mouse, that has eaten an infected insect.
Phytalopteran-infected cats may experience vomiting and loss of appetite. Diagnosis requires microscopic detection of parasite eggs in feces or observation of the parasite in vomit. Effective treatment exists and infection can be prevented by limiting exposure to intermediate and transporting hosts. There are numerous types of internal and external parasites that infect cats.
Internal parasites enter the feline's body and select one of its internal organs. An internal parasite can live in the heart, lungs, liver, intestine, or stomach, while an external parasite retreats to a feline's skin and hair. A parasitic infection can cause cats to lose weight, develop skin conditions, lose hair, become resistant to physical activity, cough, lose blood, and even die suddenly because parasites take over the body. Some cats show no signs of a parasitic infection, so veterinary evaluation is necessary.
Cats acquire toxoplasma by ingesting the cystic form of parasites found in raw meat, for example, by eating prey. Symptoms of Toxoplasma infection include loss of appetite, lethargy, and fever. If inflammation occurs, your veterinarian can treat it with steroids, in addition to antibiotics to combat the infection itself. Cats become infected by ingesting Giardia cysts in the feces of another infected animal, usually a littermate or chronic carrier cat.
It is not certain whether the species of Giardia that infect cats are contagious to humans or vice versa, although recent studies suggest the possibility of them being transmitted from cat to human. While the discovery of tapeworm segments may alarm cat owners, tapeworm infections rarely cause major illnesses in cats. As a preventive measure, your doctor may also recommend treating your cat with an antiparasitic on a regular basis, especially if the cat is outdoors frequently. The symptoms of a parasitic infection in a cat may be numerous or non-existent, depending on the severity of the infestation and the type of parasite infecting the cat.
These symptoms usually occur in kittens and adult cats with immune deficiencies, while other cats may not have any symptoms. Routine deworming may be necessary for cats that frequent the outdoors or that often socialize with other cats.
