Roundworm Infection in Cats What are roundworms? Roundworms are
one of the most common intestinal parasites of the cat. They can
be an important cause of illness, even death, in kittens. As
their name implies, these are large-bodied round worms,
averaging about 3-6 inches (8-15 cm) in length. They do not
attach to the wall of the intestine, as some intestinal
parasites do. Instead, they are literally "swimming" freely
within the intestine. The scientific name for the feline
roundworm is Toxocara cati. Another less common roundworm,
Toxascaris leonina, can infect both dogs and cats. Roundworms
are sometimes called ascarids and the disease they cause is
called ascariasis. What are the clinical signs of roundworm
infection? "...large numbers may cause life-threatening problems
in kittens and debilitated older cats." Roundworms are not
particularly pathogenic or harmful to adult cats, but large
numbers may cause life-threatening problems in kittens and
debilitated older cats. In kittens, common clinical signs inc