A cat owner needs to be aware of some factors before getting a cat. Are cats contagious if they have any diseases? Knowing if you could get sick is highly important so you don’t miss that big work meeting. Here are the factors that you need to know about your cat having worms. Take note and make sure that you and your cat are safe.
The Short Answer
Yes, humans can contract worms from cats or dogs. If they have worms you should not let your cat sleep with you in bed. Other than worms, humans can contract roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms. As for the long answer, we’ll give you all the information that you need to do to protect yourself and your beloved feline.
The Most Common Tapeworm Cats Can Get
The most common tapeworm that cats contract is called Dipylidium caninum. All sorts of infections are found throughout the world. The most efficient way to block infections in cats and humans is through flea control.
Symptoms of Worms
Symptoms of flea tapeworm infection in dogs include an itchy bottom, vomiting, and diarrhea. Although cats rarely show ill signs of symptoms of Dipylidium tapeworm infection, the diagnosis is that sometimes it be seen crawling near the cat’s behind.
Hookworm can also affect people. If we walk across a contaminated area on bare feet, the larvae can burrow into our skin and cause irritation and itching. Wear shoes outside wherever possible to reduce the risk of hookworm infection. Ingestion of larvae is also possible.
How is a Worm Infection Diagnosed in Cats?
Once you have noted the symptoms of your pet, it’s time to take them to the vet for a clearer diagnostic. A Tapeworm infection is normally diagnosed when the moving segments are seen crawling around your cat’s behind.
How Do I Know I Contracted Worms?
Humans can accumulate roundworms from a variety of places. It’s important to know where they are most widespread so you can practice good hygiene. Soon after you have ingested roundworm eggs, the larvae hatch and move around the body causing organ damage. Blindness and respiratory failure could occur from contracting worms.
It’s also possible that humans can also get infected with the flea tapeworm by swallowing an infected flew by accident.
How is a Worm Infection Contracted in Humans?
See your healthcare provider right away if you think that you have contracted worms. The treatment for humans with worms is the same for animals. It is very effective. A well-tolerated prescription drug is prescribed to you which you can take orally or by injection.
What Happens With the Medication?
The medication induces the tapeworm to diffuse within the intestine. Since the worm is usually digested before it passes, it may not be evident in your cat’s stool.
Can Pet Owners Get a Tapeworm Infection?
While pet owners can get tapeworm infections, the risk is actually very low. For cat owners to get a tapeworm, they’d have to ingest an infected flea. Reportedly, children are affected more than adults.
The Different Types of Worms
Let’s explain the different types of worms.
- Tapeworms
Tapeworms are segmented worms that live in the intestines. They appear as small egg-filled segments that break off. They are then passed on from your pet’s feces. These segments are not alive but remain portable for some time. If your pet has tapeworms, you may see a tiny white section that resembles grains of rice crawling around their rear end or in their feces.
Cats get infected with tapeworms by swallowing infected fleas while hunting or scavenging. Aside from hunting, they may get tapeworms from eating uncooked meat or offal.
What Happens After That?
Certain species of tapeworm can also cause something called hydatid disease. That’s in people. What happens is that cysts grow in the organs and generate serious diseases that can potentially be fatal to the system.
- Hookworms
Pets pick up hookworms after eating the larvae from the soil. Or if they avoid eating it, the larvae penetrate the skin. Never let your cat eat an infected rodent or bird. Symptoms of hookworms aren’t shared in adult pets, but can be much more serious in young dogs and can include diarrhea, lethargy and anemia, and even death.
Where Could I Contract Worms?
There are various environments in which humans can contract worms, but here are the specific answers.
- From Your Cat
A single roundworm produces up to 250,000 eggs per day. Kittens can get infected through their mother’s milk when suckling. So you don’t get infected, all pet owners should wash their hands well after handling kittens. To help eliminate parasites you should worm them for the product.
- From Their Waste
Roundworms generate disease in humans if we ingest the microscopic eggs from a cat’s feces on accident. Whenever you are collecting your pet’s waste, in the house or on a walk, always use a bag to clean it up.
Another idea to consider is to regularly pick up the poop in the backyards. Limiting the potential spread of the disease in the household is for the best. After that always wash your hands when handling cat poo from when you clean their litter box.
- Germs Radiate from the Soil
Roundworm eggs can persist in the soil for years. During outdoor activities like gardening, people can come into contact with roundworm eggs. If anybody, young children are most at risk of disease if they play outside in the dirt and don’t wash their hands afterward.
Roundworm eggs in the dirt can also pole to your pet’s fur, especially if your cat loves to dig. The moral here is that you should always wash your hands after patting your pet. As much as you like to give them a good pat you don’t know what sort of bacteria will get on your hands.
How to Prevent Worms
There are various ways in which you can prevent worms.
- Flea control. Clean environments better and make sure outside environments are okay for your cat to play around in.
- Immediately seek help from the veterinarian as soon as you see the signs
- Always clean up after your pet. Don’t leave those messes lying around in the house. Not only in the house but also clean up when they have been outside.
- Don’t allow the children to play near the cat’s litter box. That is your cat’s business and not for the children.
- Always tell your children to wash their hands every time they handle the cat.
Dealing With Worms the Right Way
The better advice on how to deal with worms is how to prevent worms, to begin with. After touching your cat, feeding them, or even playing with them always wash your hands. Make it a rule with your children that they should wash their hands, too. That is an enforced rule for the entire world.
Pet owners can choose from a range of worming products, including spot-on treatments. Certain treatments kill intestinal worms in dogs and cats. For fuss-free worming in cats, Profender is available.
Profender kills intestinal worms that are commonly found in cats and come in an easy-to-apply spot-on formulation. Worm your adult pets at least every three months to check for intestinal worms, and better prevent human infections.
Should I Let My Cat Sleep in Bed?
Segwaying into a different topic for a moment, pet owners have argued over the issue if cats should sleep in the bed or not. Other than carrying diseases that may be toxic to you and your children, think about these reasons.
- Disrupted Sleep: Everyone needs a good sleep at night. Cats don’t acquire the same sleep schedule as you. They could jump off the bed during the night or start ‘meowing; in your ear if they want something. While cats are known to be big sleepers, they are night owls.
- Exposure to Germs in the Kitty Litter: A cat’s litter box is a very dirty place. It’s very important to give it a clean every once in a while. Waste from the litter box could end up in your bad which passes on worms. Instead of eliminating the cat from your bed entirely, put a rubber mat down so they won’t trail as much litter.
- Worsen Allergies and Asthma: For those who have allergies or asthma, letting your cat sleep in the bed with you could ultimately worsen any lingering allergies. If you don’t want to eliminate your cat, try ordering HEPA, a medication for your allergies.
- A threat to Young Children: Keeping your cat in the room with small children is not a good idea. Babies especially. Cats could accidentally smother a baby by mistake. Close the door at night so your cat will not enter the room
- Transferal of Fungal and Parasite Infections: Cats harbor several parasites. Fleas, mites, and other creatures are not suitable to be near when sleeping at night. Parasites and hookworms cause health problems not just among cats, but humans, too. B acterial infections are also commonly spread if you let your cat sleep with you at night. Those with low immune systems are at a greater risk of infections.