Any cat, even one that has never been on the street, can become infected with internal or external parasites. In order to rid the pet of these organisms, it is important to detect symptoms in time.
What parasites can live in a cat's body: classification
All feline parasites are divided into three groups: internal, subcutaneous and external (skin). A pet can infect them even without leaving home, for example, from a dog who walks outside, or through street shoes on which helminth eggs remain.
Internal types of parasites include all types of protozoa and helminths:
• Roundworms (nematodes). This group includes toxocaras, toxascarides, uncinaria, hookworms, krenozomes, spirocerca, dirofilaria, trichocephalus (whipworm), trichinella.
• Flatworms (tapeworms and flukes). These include trematode, lentets, cucumber tapeworm (another name - dipilidium), mesocestoids, strobilocercus, echinococcus.
• Protozoa (unicellular parasites). These include toxoplasma, giardia, Trichomonas, amoeba, cryptosporidia.
Subcutaneous parasites of cats include:
• sarcoptes (lead to the development of sarcoptosis or scabies);
• iron mites or demodexes (cause the development of demodicosis).
External or skin parasites include:
• ixodid ticks;
• fleas and lice;
• ear and scabies mites (cause the development of otodectosis).
Signs of a cat becoming infected with internal parasites
Most often, cats become infected with round helminths. They feed on blood, parasitize in the small intestine, and can move to internal organs. With active reproduction, the small intestine and bile ducts are blocked by worms, which leads to severe intoxication, the development of allergies.
Animals, in the body of which helminths are parasitic, quickly lose weight even with good appetite, often lick the anus (itching in the anus). A cat can be sick with worms, and with a large number of parasites, stool is disturbed.
Protozoa infection can be recognized by other symptoms:
1. With toxoplasmosis in cats, the temperature rises (up to 41 degrees), appetite disappears, conjunctivitis develops. The abdomen is painful, vomiting and diarrhea are observed, the mucous membranes turn pale. Sometimes cramps occur.
2. Giardiasis can be recognized by fetid fluid diarrhea.
3. Trichomoniasis in cats is manifested by periodically occurring diarrhea. In feces, inclusions of mucus and blood are noticeable. The animal does not lose its appetite, does not lose weight.
4. In cats with amoebiasis, the lymph nodes increase, the hair partially falls out, and eczema appears on the skin. The animal itches, suffers from bloody diarrhea.
5. With cryptosporidiosis, a fluffy pet has diarrhea and watery feces. The animal is losing weight, the lymph nodes become inflamed and enlarge.
How do external and subcutaneous parasites in cats manifest themselves?
External or external parasites are the easiest to detect. A cat infected with fleas or lice constantly scratches and worries, bites something out of the wool. Scratches, red spots and dots appear on the skin, and with flea dermatitis, the coat sometimes drops out.
Fleas can be easily detected, just examine the more delicate areas of the skin: head, ears, stomach, inner side of the paws. These parasites move quickly, have a dark body color, and jump well. Lice, unlike fleas, are light, almost white, and cannot jump.
Ixodid ticks are attached to the delicate areas of the cat's skin and fall off on their own after they are saturated with blood. These parasites are flat, dark in color, but the fed representatives are inflated to the size of a pea and change color to grayish-green.
With sarcoptosis, sarcoptic ticks bite into the cat's skin. Parasites multiply, and bubbles appear on the face of the animal, which burst, and scabs form in their place. Over time, foci of inflammation spread throughout the body, the hair falls out, and deep, non-healing ulcers appear. Such a disease is very contagious.
Demodecosis in manifestation is similar to sarcoptosis, but sick cats do not infect other animals.
Ear mite causes the development of otodectosis. In this case, a foul-smelling dark coating appears in the ears of the cat, forming a crust. The skin becomes inflamed, covered with wounds. The pet experiences severe itching, combs the auricle and is very worried.
What methods can save a cat from parasites?
You can rid your pet of helminths in one way - by deworming. For therapeutic purposes, the drug is given twice with an interval of 10 days, for preventive purposes - once every 3-5 months.
There are drops that relieve cats immediately of helminths and external parasites:
• Stronghold;
• Bars forte;
• Lawyer;
• Inspector.
If it is necessary to destroy helminths, you can use Kaniquantel, Milbemax, Drontal tablets, Prazitel suspension and other antiparasitic drugs. A cat infected with protozoa is treated with metronidazole, tinidazole and other antiprotozoal in combination with probiotics.
Subcutaneous parasites are destroyed by drugs: Neostomozan, Acaromectin, Ivermek, Milbemycin, Butox. To maintain immunity, Gamavit, Immunol are used. Also, the animal is regularly bathed with therapeutic shampoos.
Ear tick in cats is successfully treated with Acaromectin. It is applied to the inside of the ear according to the instructions. The crusts are gently soaked and removed with a cotton pad.
Regular preventive measures will help protect your furry pet from both external and internal parasites. The cat should be periodically anthelminthic, and ticks, lice and fleas should be applied to the skin.
