Cat Hookworm: Risks, Symptoms, And Treatment

by Kurt Schmitt

Most cats will battle a parasite of some sort at some point in their lives. There are four types of hookworm that may possibly infect your cat. Ancylostoma tubaeforme is known as the feline hookworm, and Ancylostoma braziliense is known as the canine and feline hookworm. Uncinaria stenocephala is known as the northern canine hookworm. Ancylostoma caninum, or the canine hookworm, is said by some authoritative sources not to infect cats, but rather only foxes, dogs, and perhaps humans.

Risks of cat hookworm — Critical risk factors include limitation of exposure, and vary by environmental and hygiene factors. As with other parasites, outdoor cats are at higher risk of exposure to the worm. Cats that are regularly allowed to hunt or roam are at highest risk for infection. Poor sanitation and overcrowding in shelters may contribute to the spread of the worm as well. Other than U. stenocephala, which is more common in colder climates, hookworm infections tend to be higher in warm, moist environments.

What happens inside your cat — Roundworms swim freely in the cat’s intestines, but the cat hookworm will literally hook itself to the wall of the intestine and draw blood. They inject an anti-coagulant at the feeding site to keep the blood from clotting. If the worm changes feeding locations, the old location may continue to bleed into the intestines. The resulting blood loss causes anemia in the cat.

Signs and symptoms of cat hookworms — In kittens or cats in ill health, the anemia caused by the blood loss is usually more serious than in otherwise healthy adults. In rare, but severe cases, a blood transfusion may be required, and there may be a risk of death. Hookworms in your cat may cause any of the following symptoms: anemia, weakness, pale gums, poor coat, black tarry stools, bloody diarrhea, and weight loss. Infected kittens may also exhibit stunted growth.

Life cycle and transmission — Infection may occur through ingestion of larvae. This can happen when your cat eats an infected transport host such as a mouse, or by eating contaminated water or soil. Skin penetration is also another means of infection (often through the feet). In addition, infected mothers may pass the disease on in their milk.

In contrast to some other parasites, hookworms have a direct life cycle. In other words, they don’t necessarily need a host for transmission.

In the intestine. adult hookworms attach themselves to the wall of the intestine and begin feeding. Microscopic worm eggs are passed in the feces of the cat. The eggs hatch and develop into larvae, or immature worms. The eggs may develop into the infective larvae stage in as few as five days or as long as three weeks. The larvae can exist in the soil and remain infective for many months.

When infection starts via skin penetration, the larvae will migrate via the circulatory system to the lungs. They will then make their way up to the throat, where they are swallowed. Once in the intestine, they may mature and begin producing eggs, and the cycle begins again.

It’s known that in dogs, prenatal infection via transplacental blood flow occurs, but this has not been established in cats. According to some reference sources, kittens can become infected via the milk of an infected queen (transmammary infection), but this has not been definitively established.

Diagnosis and treatment of cat hookworm — Hookworm eggs cannot be seen withouth the aid of a microscope, and otherwise healthy cats may not show any signs of infection. For these reasons, your vet will test your cat yearly by examining your cats’s stool. At least two treatments of deworming medication are needed in order to completely rid your cat of hookworm. Treatments are usually given at 2 - 3 week intervals. Kittens, regardless of test results, are typically treated for hookworm during their kitten vaccination series.

About the Author:

Kurt Schmitt, an experienced cat owner, keeps cat lovers informed about cat hookworm and other cat health problems.