Your cat is tested for worms with a fecal material sample. You'll need to collect some fresh fecal material from the litter box. Having a little litter on the sample is okay, and you usually need about a teaspoon-sized amount. The test will help identify the type of parasite your cat might have.

First, have a fecal sample analyzed at your veterinarian's office to identify if your cat is harboring any intestinal parasites. Intestinal parasites for cats are specific to cats, and dog-specific parasites are specific to dogs. By separating your infected cat from other cats, you can administer medications and dewormers, as well as provide preventatives for your other cats to treat and prevent intestinal parasites in your household.

Yes, there are medications available to prevent intestinal parasites in cats. Most monthly preventatives recommended for fleas and ticks also protect against intestinal parasites. If you have a specific parasite concern, there are targeted preventions available.

Yes, indoor cats can still get parasites. One of the most common ways is through exposure to fleas, which can squeeze through screens and enter your home. Cats may also briefly venture outside without you realizing it, which can expose them to intestinal parasites.

Most cats get intestinal parasites through fecal-oral transmission, meaning they get exposed to fecal material containing eggs that are then ingested by your cat. Another way is through parasite transmission, such as a flea carrying a tapeworm larva. If your cat ingests that flea, the chances of getting an intestinal tapeworm are high.

Some parasites can be passed from a cat to a person, which is known as a zoonotic disease or zoonotic parasite. If your cat has a zoonotic parasite, your veterinarian will discuss the risks to you and your family. If you have any questions specifically about your cat's intestinal parasite risk or deworming your cat, consult your veterinarian or reach out to a local pet hospital for assistance.

Intestinal parasites can be prevented. There are effective preventatives on the market that can be administered to your cat either monthly or every three months to help prevent them from getting intestinal parasites.

Worms can live for a long time inside a cat, depending on the species of the parasite. They can live for months, if not years, in the intestinal tract. It's important to have your cat's fecal material screened annually as an adult cat, and more frequently for kittens, to ensure they are not harboring parasites.

Intestinal parasites are quite common, especially in kittens. Most kittens have some type of parasite when they join your family, so it's important to have them screened for worms and dewormed properly by a veterinarian.