Conference misery::feline_v1

    Thanks for the info....especially since I am dealing with a Roundworm
    problem.   I believe my two latest strays were totally infested with
    them.
    
    One question:  How long can the larvae survive in the Feces?   I'm
    specifically talking about roundworms.
    
    Also...I'm not clear as to what Hookworm is?  I know Tapeworm and
    Roundworm...but not the hookworm.  From your note it sounds like
    this is even worse.  Can you share some specifics?  Do they look
    like roundworms?  Can you tell them apart..without a feces test?
    Is there already a specific note that I can read up on about 
    Hookworms?
    
    Thanks...Sandy
    

    Sandy,
    
    I don't think that we have covered much about Hookworm in this file,
    but there is extensive information about it in the Canine file if you
    would like to check there.  Dian can enter more info about it when she
    gets time.  I am not very knowledgeable about hookworm.
    
    Jo

the bad news is:  the encysted form of the parasite can remain viable while
in the ground and/or feces for a very long time.  However, the encysted form 
does go dormant when the environmental conditions are not right.  The good
news is: unless you have dirt floors, the problem is probably not so much
IN your house as it is being brought into your house by the cats that go
in and out.  

Your assumption that heavily infested cats brought the problem into your
area is undoubtably correct.  The fix, once the encysted form of the parasite
gets into the ground, however, is to keep your animals OFF the infested
ground....or continue to treat on a regular basis to control levels of
infestation.  Once ground is infested, there really isn't much you can do
to get rid of the parasites....and your cats aren't likely to go for wearing 
boots and never sniffing any scat (animal poop) they come across, are they?

Hookworms are a very nasty parasite.  They are not real easy to detect until
the host is pretty heavily infested....at which time, you have a very sick
mammal on your hands.  These worms afflict carnivores, omnivores, and
herbivores - even horses may become afflicted by grazing in pasture in which
an infested host has dropped scat.  These worms are not as common as round
and tape worms, and not as bad a whip worms, but they are ugly.  My
first doberman, Venus, came to me with a very advanced infestation and it
took me a year to get her back to full health after she was treated for
them.  I adopted Venus in Mass., so I know that New England is vulnerable.
The hook worm problem first came to my notice back when I lived in the
southern U.S., however, as that was where the problem is worst.  When I was
in high school, the teachers reminded us all the time to NOT GO BAREFOOT
because of the hookworms.  Your vet is always your best bet in diagnosing
the type of parasite you are dealing with and what you need to do to
get all the family back to health.  

What vets often DON'T stress (IMO, because they fear the cat or dog owner will 
freak and discard the afflicted animal), is the potential for transmission 
to humans who are in continuous contact with infested animals.  Take 
REASONABLE precautions.  Wash hands thoroughly after handling the infested 
animals.  Control the infested animals' access to your bedroom, bathroom, 
and kitchen.  Wear shoes or slippers while in the house until you are sure 
all infestation has been cleared.  Once you have the animals cleared of 
parasites, treat all floors (probably a good steam cleaning is in order 
for carpets).  Treat your cats as if they have a communicable disease (they
do).

IMO, if your animals are continuously getting re-infested, you have a
problem with the grounds around your home.  As far as I know, there isn't
a fix for that, but perhaps a good vet (perhaps a university vet med
school) can refer you to ground treatments I don't know about.

    This is the first year I've ever had to deal with worms.  Figaro had
    them about 6 weeks ago, was treated with a pill prescribed by her vet. 
    I discovered worms again this weekend and she has again been treated. 
    The vet never mentioned that my other cat should be treated as he
    probably had worms too, nor did I ever hear of this being transmitted
    to humans.    What symptoms would humans have if they, too, were
    infested?  How long does it take after a cat has been infested to begin
    to provide suspicious stools?
    
    Lots of questions, but I have a three-year old daughter and I never
    considered that she (or any of us) could be infested!
    
     ^_^
    (>.<)
     ) ( Jeanne

>    Lots of questions, but I have a three-year old daughter and I never
>    considered that she (or any of us) could be infested!
    
first, don't panic.  If you keep your child away from the cat litter (and/or
away from the areas  that your cats use to do their business if you let the
go outside)...and I mean totally away from the area...make sure that your
daughter does not touch the feces or soil/litter in which the feces is
deposited, she won't get worms.  She has to get the spore into a cut
in her body (barefoot is a no-no) or into her mouth (touching/handling the
soil and then touch the mouth before washing hands).  Therefore, a few
simple rules will keep you and your family safe.....always wash hands 
thoroughly after cleaning up after the cat; no "kissing the kitty" games for
your daughter - teach her to pet and entertain the kitty, not kiss; no bare
feet outside where your cats roam or other cat roam; frequent patrols to
remove any feces that the cats may drop.  That means, clean the cat box twice
a day (only 3 minutes each time - anyone can find that time).  If you treat
the cats as if they have a slightly contagious disease, you'll all be fine.
(As you have a young child, you might consider keeping the cats inside all the
time - that way, you can get rid of the parasites and they won't come back.)

symptoms of infestation in the human are pretty obvious - long-term diarrhea,
fevers, upset stomach, distended stomach (after awhile), failure to gain/retain
weight although eating voraciously....believe me, you'll know if anyone is
infested.

    Just curious...what type of worms does the kitty have?  I only ask
    because I believe (hope) that I have finally conquered the
    Round worm problem I had.   During that whole time of fighting
    round worms...no humans ever got it.
    
    Sandy
    

    Sandy,
    
    I was thinking of you when I was at my vet the other day picking up
    Lyscentia from her spaying.  The vet had just performed emergency
    surgery on an 8 week old kitten with a severe case of roundworms.  The
    worms had perforated the kitten's intestines and he had nearly died
    from them.  His name is Bustertabs and he is the cutest thing I have
    ever seen.  Anyway, thank goodness you were able to get your cats
    cleaned up before anything like that happened.
    
    Jo

    re: .6
    
    Figaro has (had) tape worm.  I guess I don't have to worry too much, as
    Figaro won't get within 20 feet of Kate - there's no kissin going on
    there!  And the litter box is in the cellar, which Kate never goes
    near...
    
    .5 thanks for the update.
    
     ^_^
    (>.<)
     ) ( Jeanne

    Jo...that's terrible about the little kitten.
    
    Thank god none of my guys got that bad and needed surgery because
    of Roundworms.  Like I say...it appears they are gone for now...
    but since they are indoor/outdoor (especially in the summer)...I'm
    sure I haven't seen the last of them.   But per the vets instructions
    we have been deworming them every other month through the summer.  
    
    Sandy

    If Figaro had a tape worm then you have fleas.  That's where they
    get them.  Check your other cat's back end.  If you see what looks
    like rice segments then that cat has a tapeworm too.  
    
    in the meantime treat your house and the cats for fleas.
      Nancy
    

    I spoke to my vet about the tape worm & the rice looking things near the
    anus. According to him the rice looking segments are not always present
    while the cat is carrying worms. I noticed them ONCE on Tabitha, and
    got her to the vet for a pill. (I hope he's right in telling me that
    it's a one time pill & that's it) I check both of them all the time & 
    have never spotted these on either of my girls again. The vet says
    that most often it's the cat companion that notices the worms & not the
    vet. This is because they're not always detectable. If you suspect
    your cat may have worms, don't just rely on a periodical check of the 
    anus. Check often, like once or twice daily.
    
    BTW--->We rescued Tab from a flea infested pet shop, she ate many of
    them & that's how she got the worms.
    
    Bonnie