January 6, 2025, 9:12 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Lungworm infestation in cats is particularly common in outdoor cats. PETBOOK reveals what you need to know about the parasites, what the symptoms of an infection look like, and how infected cats can be treated.
For many of us, cats are not just pets but fully-fledged family members. This makes it all the more important for many of us to look after their health and recognize potential dangers at an early stage. One of these dangers for our cats is lungworms. These are parasites that are often underestimated but can cause serious illnesses.
What are Lungworms?
Lungworms are parasites that colonize the respiratory tract and lungs of cats. The most common species that can occur in cats include Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and, more rarely, Troglostrongylus brevior. The worms lay their eggs in the cat’s lungs, from which larvae then hatch. These larvae can cause considerable damage to the lungs and airways, leading to serious respiratory problems in the cat.1
How Do Cats Become Infected with Lungworms?
Infection with lungworms is usually indirect. Cats become infected by eating intermediate hosts, such as snails, or their carriers, such as birds, rodents, or frogs. Outdoor cats, in particular, are at high risk as they have frequent contact with these hosts.
Symptoms
The symptoms of a lungworm infestation can vary and are often non-specific, which makes diagnosis much more difficult. Typical signs include a persistent and sometimes paroxysmal cough and breathing difficulties such as wheezing and shortness of breath.
These symptoms are often accompanied by increased sneezing and nasal discharge. Infected cats often also appear listless, withdraw, and show significantly reduced appetites. With an advanced infection, the respiratory problems can be so severe that they are life-threatening for the cat.2
How Is an Infection Diagnosed?
Due to the often unspecific symptoms, the vet can carry out various tests to make a diagnosis. Fecal examinations are used to detect possible larvae. Imaging procedures, such as X-rays or ultrasound, can be used to visualize damage to the lungs. Bronchoscopies or special airway examinations can be used to take samples directly from the airways and then examine them in more detail.
Treatment Options
Cats infected with lungworms are usually given specific antiparasitic drugs that kill the larvae and adult worms. In particularly severe cases, additional measures such as oxygen therapy or anti-inflammatory medication may be necessary to relieve the cat’s airways.
It is essential for the therapy to be successful that it is carried out regularly and over a sufficiently long period of time to kill all larvae and worms.
Zoonoses Feline zoonoses: Cats can transmit these diseases to humans
Causes and treatment Does your dog’s bottom slide across the floor? This is what’s behind it
Triggers of diarrhea Giardia in dogs — symptoms, causes, and treatment
Prophylaxis: How to Protect Your Cat from Lungworms
Prevention is usually the best protection. Regular worming is therefore recommended. Outdoor cats, in particular, should be dewormed regularly, as they have the most contact with potential carriers. Deworming is recommended every four weeks or so for outdoor cats that hunt. However, these treatments should not be neglected for indoor cats either. This is because owners can also bring the parasites into the cat’s environment on their shoes.
Spot-on products can provide stress-free treatment. Regular faecal examinations at the vet can also help detect an infestation at an early stage.3 It is best to keep your cat’s environment clean. If you have a garden, it is best to keep it free of snails. If chemical products are used, please always make sure that they are not poisonous to cats.