Hookworms in Cats - How To Diagnose & TreatHookworms are also very common intestinal parasites, especially in kittens. They can cause serious diarrhea and even anemia. Hookworms are very small, thin worms that fasten to the wall of the small intestine and suck blood. A severe infestation can kill a kitten. Can they be seen by the human eye? No, they can only be seen microscopically – which is one reason why they tend to go undetected for so long. How are they transmitted? They are transmitted by hunting and eating birds, rodents or other wildlife that are infested with hookworms. They can also be transmitted through the skin. Hookworms are often found in moist areas. Kittens can be born with hookworms if the mother is infected with them. Even if the kittens aren't born with them, they can be transmitted to the kittens through nursing. That's why it's so important to have your kitten dewormed before you bring them home and expose them to your other pets, even if you haven't noticed any symptoms. Symptoms Can they be transmitted to people? Hookworm larvae can penetrate the surface of a person's skin (usually through bare feet) and migrate through it. This causes a disease called 'cutaneous larva migrans', otherwise known as 'creeping eruption.' The lesions appear as red lines under the skin and sometimes break open at the skin's surface – causing severe itching. The larvae usually dies in several weeks and the condition disappears.
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