Internal and External Cat Parasites
Indoor and outdoor cats alike are all open targets to a wide array of internal and external parasites. Some of these pests can cause the cat to be very uncomfortable, and others can cause problems that could easily lead to a cat’s death. It helps to know that there are some very strong steps that can reduce the possibility for an infestation with parasites, and that close attention to any health problems associated with them is extremely important.
Among the most common of the external parasites are fleas, ticks, ear mites, lice, and mosquitoes. Most of these parasites are “caught” or picked up from an area outside of the home, and if left untreated can often lead to serious consequences. For example, if a cat is a host to an infestation of fleas it is going to be extremely uncomfortable and experience a tremendous amount of itching and emotional turmoil. It will also, usually end up with a case of tapeworms (an internal parasite that leads to a lot of heaving and vomiting as well as malnutrition) .
Fleas are actually a very common problem and can be brought into the home by invaders such as mice. The helpful cat that catches and dispatches a mouse, however, is instantly exposed to the fleas that may have lived on the mouse, or the tapeworms that lived inside of the mouse. Should you have mice on a regular basis you will have to monitor the cat’s coat for signs of fleas and also ensure that any incidences of heaving are not associated with worms.
Ticks are another horrible parasite that feed off of the cat’s blood and leave it with a condition known as Lyme Disease. This is something that can seriously threaten the life of the cat, dog, human or other animal that catches it and will present with everything from neurological conditions to organ failure.
Both fleas and ticks can be prevented through the use of topical treatments that are applied to the back of a cat’s neck. This will prevent the parasites from adhering to the animal’s flesh and this stops the transmission of disease and parasites. These drops can also reduce and eliminate incidences of heartworm as well. This is something introduced to the cat through a mosquito bite and while cats are not good hosts for heart worms they can suffer many health problems when the larvae are in the blood and lungs. This is the main reason to seek out a combination treatment that eliminates the threats of such parasites.
Cats that are regularly monitored and who have an annual checkup at their veterinarian’s office will not usually suffer from a prolonged infestation of parasites, but an owner should always be aware that they are a common and somewhat serious occurrence that requires immediate care.
