Cat Raising Precautions: Parasites

It is necessary to take your cat to get vaccinated regularly to reduce the risk of infectious diseases such as feline distemper. Adult cats cannot take a bath one week before and after vaccination because bathing cats can easily lead to stress reactions, which will affect the effectiveness of the vaccine. External and internal parasite prevention in cats must be carried out regularly and on time, and appropriate parasite control drugs should be used according to the cat's weight, which can effectively prevent cats from being infected with parasites.

Symptoms of Parasite Infection

The symptoms vary depending on the type of parasite. Infections by roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal distension, weight loss, anemia, etc. In severe cases, worm eggs or even entire worms may be excreted in the stool, which can cause intestinal obstruction, neuritis, and other serious conditions. Infections by coccidia, trichomonads, and giardia can cause bloody, mucoid, foul-smelling pasty or semi-solid stools accompanied by diarrhea.

Parasite Testing Methods

Cat parasites can be divided into internal and external parasites. External parasites include fleas, ticks, and mites, while internal parasites include roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and coccidia. Some external parasites are visible to the naked eye, but adult mites and egg stages can only be seen under a microscope with skin scrapings. The absence of visible internal parasites does not mean that there are no parasites, and stool samples must be extracted for smear or floatation tests under a microscope. If there are many internal roundworms, ultrasound examination can also be used.

Prevention of Internal Parasites

Internal parasites are generally transmitted through the mouth, so it is best not to feed cats with raw meat, raw eggs, or other raw foods, which can significantly reduce the risk of internal parasite infection. Also, avoid giving cats raw water to drink, as this is another way for cats to contract parasites. Regular internal parasite prevention for cats can effectively prevent parasite infections.