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Cats And The Dangers Of Intestinal Parasites
By Jean Morgan
Okay, so here is one of the topics of cat care that no one likes to talk about, but still needs to be covered,
internal parasites. There are many different types of internal parasites that could potentially cause medical
problems in your cat, some of the more common being hookworms, roundworms, coccidiosis, toxoplasmosis, and tape
worms.
Even if you have had your cat wormed, she could still get roundworms or hookworms. What is even worse, your cat
can pass these parasites on to her kittens. These nasty little bugs can cause diarrhea or other types of symptoms
in a kitten, but most of the time they leave no trace that a kitten is infested. If you have children in the home,
these little kittens can pass these worms onto them, which is one reason why it is so important to have new kittens
seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Your vet will likely send you home with a prescription worm medication
for the mother cat and the kittens, just in case. Laboratory tests are not one hundred percent accurate in detecting
this type of parasite, particularly in young kittens, so it is better to treat them all, just to be on the safe
side.
Another silent internal parasite that often preys on tiny kittens is coccidian, which like to party in the kittens
intestinal lining, often causing no noticeable symptoms at all, and luckily, no harm to the kitten or anyone else
in the family. In some cases, your kitten may have diarrhea, but usually the vet will not prescribe any medication,
and will let nature handle the problem.
Just about every woman who has even been pregnant before knows or has heard about cats and toxoplasmosis, as it can
be extremely dangerous for anyone who comes into contact with infected litter, particularly a pregnant woman. Your
cat can suffer from this deadly parasite at any age, and since it can also be passed to humans, it is extremely
important that any pregnant woman avoid changing a litter box or coming in contact with cat litter boxes. These
organisms can cause severe birth defects and other problems for an unborn child.
If at all possible, a pregnant woman who owns a house cat should have someone else empty and clean the cat litter
box for her. If this is not possible, then extra care must be taken when the litter box must be changed and cleaned.
Using disposable gloves to avoid skin contact with contaminated particles along with a dust mask to protect against
inhaling airborne contaminants may reduce the risk; however it is well advised that a pregnant woman never change a
litter box. Having your cat stay with a family member until after the baby is born is another way to help protect
the unborn child.
Cats are exposed to toxoplasmosis when they eat any type of raw meat, whether it is from a rodent they have caught
or from raw butcher scraps. These raw scraps could be from any type of meat, so it is best to avoid all table scraps
for your kitty.
Your cat should be seen regularly by a veterinarian for health checkups. It should be noted however that you are the
first line of defense for your beloved cat, and by reporting any changes in your cat's behavior, you may catch an
infestation before it becomes life threatening for your kitty.
About the Author: Visit these web sites for more information about getting rid of intestinal parasites and Best Pet Supply Resource
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/
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