Worms in cats – signs and what to do

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Contact a vet today

Contact your vet today if you think your cat has this – it can become serious. Worms are intestinal worms that live inside a cat’s intestines.

What to do now

What you can do now

  1. Contact your vet.
  2. Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
  3. Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
  4. Keep fresh water available.
  5. Let your cat rest somewhere calm.

Don't

  • Do not give any human medicine.
  • Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

Worms live in the intestines, where they can damage the gut lining and take food the cat should be digesting.[1] Worms are a common problem for cats, and most catch them at some point in their life without regular treatment.[1]

Signs

  • Weight loss
  • Increased appetite
  • Diarrhoea
  • An itchy bottom
  • A pot-belly and bloating, common in kittens with large numbers of worms

Causes and risk factors

  • Hunting and eating rats, mice and birds
  • Eating soil or other animals’ poo
  • Fleas, which can carry tapeworm

How vets treat it

  • A vet may use antiparasitic treatment.

What the experts say

“Overview. Worms are a common problem for cats and, without regular treatment, most catch them at some point throughout their life. They live in the intestines, cause damage to the gut lining and steal food that the cat should be digesting.”

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

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Common questions

What signs can worms cause in cats?

Signs can include weight loss, increased appetite, diarrhoea, an itchy bottom, and a pot-belly and bloating in kittens with large numbers of worms.[1]

Where do worms live in cats?

Worms live in the intestines, where they can damage the gut lining and take food the cat should be digesting.[1]

How might a cat pick up worms?

Cats might pick up worms by hunting and eating rats, mice and birds, eating soil or other animals’ poo, or through fleas that carry tapeworm.[1]

Sources

  1. PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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