Hookworms in Cats

About

Hookworms are small, thin nematodes that are approximately 10 to 20 mm in length. They are a common intestinal parasitic worm of dogs, but can also infect cats.

Hookworms live in the small intestine of the cat, attaching themselves to the intestinal wall using teeth like hooks (hence the name) where they feed on the blood and tissue. Blood loss can lead to anaemia, intestinal bleeding, intestinal inflammation, diarrhea and even death.

Types of hookworms:

There are several types of hookworms to infect cats:

• Ancylostoma braziliense 
• Ancylostoma ceylanicum
• Ancylostoma tubaeforme
• Uncinaria stenocephala

Transmission

There are a number of ways cats can become infected with hookworms and it is important to understand the life cycle of hookworms, which will be explained below.

Life cycle

Hookworm eggs are passed into the environment via the cat’s stool. Depending on conditions, within 2 – 5 days these eggs hatch into infective larvae (immature worms) at which time they can infect a passing cat.

Once the cat comes into contact with infective larvae, they travel to the small intestine where they hook onto the wall and mature. When they have reached maturity, they lay hundreds of eggs, which are passed out in the feces. Hookworm eggs can survive for a long period of time in the environment.

Symptoms

Symptoms of hookworms vary depending on the severity of the infection and the type of hookworm involved. In some cats, no symptoms are apparent. When symptoms do appear, they typically include:

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will be able to diagnose hookworm via fecal flotation. A stool sample from your cat is mixed with a liquid solution, any eggs present in the feces float to the top. These are collected and viewed under a microscope to determine the type (hookworm, roundworm etc) and a number of eggs present.

Are hookworms dangerous to cats?

Hookworms are more prevalent in dogs than they are in cats, and when cats do have them, they are more likely to be in smaller numbers. Any worm infestation should be treated immediately. As hookworms feed on the cat’s blood, cats can become anaemic. Adult cats are more resistant to hookworms than kittens.

Treatment

There are many effective medications to treat hookworms. Your veterinarian will be able to recommend an effective product. Most worming medications come in two forms, either topical which is applied to the skin on the back of the neck or tablet form.

Severely infected kittens may require hospitalisation and blood transfusions to treat anemia.

See end of article for a guide to worming products.

Do I need to worm my indoor-only cat?

This is a debatable topic and veterinarians seem to vary in their opinion. Generally speaking, it is recommended that you worm your cat from time to time (once or twice a year) as it is possible to transport worm eggs into the house via our shoes. Speak to your own veterinarian if you are unsure if you should worm your indoor-only cat.

Can I catch hookworms from my cat?

You can, although they can’t develop into the adult form as they do in cats. The infective larvae are found in the soil or sandy areas such as beaches or children’s sandpits and are able to penetrate the skin. From there they migrate beneath the skin, causing a red, itchy skin eruption. Commonly affected areas are hands, feet, between the toes and buttocks however they can migrate to the eyes, causing blindness. This condition is known as Cutaneous Larva Migrans (also called creeping eruption or ground itch). Hookworm larvae cannot complete their life cycle and die in the epidermis.

Prevention