Some of the most common symptoms of worms in cats include a bloated belly, vomiting, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. These symptoms are usually gastrointestinal. In severe cases, especially in young cats, they can even die from intestinal parasites.

Worms can be visible in your cat's stool. However, oftentimes they're not seen, so not seeing them does not mean that your cat does not have parasites. The most common parasite to be visible is the tapeworm, which appears as little rice-like segments on the outside of the stool.

Worms can be painful for cats. If a cat has a lot of intestinal parasites, it can cause intestinal wall thickening, bloating, and inflammation that can be uncomfortable.

Worms can be passed in several different ways. In kittens, the most common way is to be passed through the mother's uterus, meaning parasites are obtained in kittens before they're even born. Parasites can also migrate through milk and milk glands and be obtained while the kitten is nursing. Another common way is fecal-oral transmission, where eggs of parasites are passed through the fecal material of a cat and then ingested by the cat into the intestinal tract.

Intestinal parasites are organisms that live within the intestinal tract of cats. Some of the more common ones include roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms.

Bonding with your kitten is easy. Spend quality time together, find treats they enjoy eating, and provide a safe and healthy environment. Cats can be a great enrichment to our lives, so if you have any questions about your kitten's behavior, reach out to your veterinarian or a local pet hospital for help.

Ideally, yes. Cats naturally have claws and a preference for scratching on horizontal or vertical surfaces. Providing an appropriate scratching post or pad can help them express their normal behaviors without damaging your furniture or carpets.

No, never punish your kitten. Punishment is not necessarily associated with the action they just did, and can create scared, timid, and anxious cats instead of correcting their behavior.

Kittens are naturally energetic, so they need lots of outlets for their energy. Providing environmental enrichment, toys, laser pointers, fishing rod toys, and vibrating toys can help wear them out and give them stimulation. Hiding their food in different areas, using treat balls, and puzzle toys can also help redirect their energy appropriately.

Aggressive cats are often just more playful and prey-driven, using you or your furniture to redirect their behavior. Many aggressive behaviors just need to be redirected, so talking to your veterinarian about the specific issues can help with early intervention and redirection of problem behaviors.