Help! I think my cat has roundworms!

Question

Husband and I just adopted a cat from a shelter a few weeks ago. As I was cleaning out her litter box, I noticed a little spaghetti looking something in her stool. I check online and it sounds like roundworm.

Husband is going to take her to the vet tomorrow to get this treated. Her shelter records show that she's been dewormed twice in March (two weeks apart). Also, we have another 9 year old cat at home, will she need to be dewormed as well?

They have two different litter boxes and there are 2 dish bowls. I'm not sure, though, if they eat from the same one. They, sometimes, drink from the same water bowl.

Answer 1

I think you're right - it does sound like roundworm!  Take a stool sample to the vet, and they'll tell you for sure.  It will be safest to deworm both cats, as it's transmitted through the f***s, and if they've used each other's litter boxes, the other cat could get them also.  Worming meds are inexpensive and safe, so it would be better to take the precaution and treat them both.  If your other cat has been to the vet in the past year, and they have a current weight in their records, they can probably just send the medication home for her and she won't need to go in to the vet.  Also dump the litter from both boxes, and rinse them with bleach, to get rid of any worm eggs that may be in the box.  

Usually two wormings are enough to kill the worms, but not always.  They can sort of lie dormant until some sort of stress (like getting a new home) causes them to multiply again.  

Answer 2

I'm glad you're taking her to the vet, since that's the person who's most likely to give you the answers you need.  If you can, when you go to the vet's office, take a fecal sample with you.  The doctor will need to see what it is that you're referring to, so that he/she can prescribe the appropriate treatment.  As for whether or not your other cat can get the worms, I'm not 100 percent sure.  I think you should make sure to ask your vet about that, too, since you want both kitties to be healthy.

Answer 3

It's very unusual for an adult cat to have roundworms in this particular life stage.  Additionally, roundworms are not usually passed in stool unless they are dead from a deworming medication.  Tape worms are usually what's seen in fecal matter in the litter box, but tape worm segments look like little moving rice grains, and I don't think you'd mix them up.  It sounds quite strange to me, so I am also glad you are taking her to the vet.  I hope you'll add the details later and let us know what it turns out to be.

Roundworms aren't really contagious from one cat to another.  The eggs must mature in the soil for a couple of months before they reach the stage at which they are infectious, so you can relax about your other cat catching them if, in fact, they turn out to be roundworms.  I suspect they are something else though, so ask the vet about cross-contamination.

Bravo for saving a shelter cat!  And I hope all turns out okay.  :)