Site Accessibility Features: Skip to page menus
Site Menus Section Skip to page content
Hookworms are intestinal parasites found in cats and dogs. They get their name from the hook-like mouthparts they use to anchor themselves to the lining of the intestinal wall. They are only about ¼" to ¾" (1-1.9 cm) long and so small that it is very difficult to see them with the naked eye.
The most common hookworms found in cats are Ancylostoma tubaeforme and Ancylostoma braziliense. Occasionally, cats will also become infected with the dog hookworm, Ancylostoma caninum. Cats can become infected by another dog hookworm, called Uncinaria stenocephala, but it is a rare occurrence.
Despite their small size, hookworms ingest large amounts of blood from the tiny vessels in the intestinal wall, although feline hookworms tend to be less aggressive bloodsuckers than the canine species. In general, cats tend to harbor relatively few hookworms compared to dogs. Hookworms are more common in warm, moist environments. Conditions of overcrowding and poor sanitation contribute to infection.
Cats may become infected with hookworms via one or all the following routes:
A cat may become infected when it inadvertently swallows hookworm larvae, often by grooming its feet or sniffing contaminated soil. Cats can also become infected if they eat other larval hosts, such as cockroaches. The larvae may also burrow into the cat’s skin if it walks or lies on contaminated ground.
Most hookworm larvae that a cat swallows move to the intestines, where they mature into adult worms. The larvae that enter through the skin migrate through the body to the lungs. From there, they are coughed up and swallowed, gradually moving to the intestinal tract, where they mature into adults.
In the intestines, female hookworms lay hundreds of microscopic eggs that leave the dog with their feces and contaminate the environment. Larvae hatch from the eggs and can remain infective in the soil for weeks to months. Fortunately for kittens, they cannot be infected through the mother’s milk like puppies can.
Evidence of hookworm infection includes anemia (low numbers of circulating red blood cells), the presence of digested blood in the stool (a black "tarry" appearance to the stool), a poor hair coat, and weight loss.
> "Pale gums and weakness are common signs of anemia."Feline hookworms tend to “graze” along the lining of the small intestine and are considered tissue feeders. When they do suck blood, they inject an anti-coagulant substance that prevents the blood from clotting. Therefore, the cat can suffer blood loss from the hookworms feeding, as well as continued bleeding into the bowel from the attachment sites. Pale gums and weakness are common signs of anemia. Anemia due to blood loss is a more significant problem in kittens than in adult cats. In a heavily infested environment, cats may have skin irritation and itching, especially of the paws, caused by larvae burrowing into and along the skin.
Hookworm infection is diagnosed using a technique called fecal flotation. The stool is mixed with a solution that causes the parasite eggs to float to the top and adhere to a glass slide placed on the surface. Hookworm infections are easily detected because they produce many eggs daily and the eggs have a unique appearance. The number of eggs does not necessarily correlate with the number of worms present; light infections can have a larger number of eggs. Adult hookworms are rarely spotted in the stool, due to their small size.
Fortunately, treatment is safe, simple, and relatively inexpensive. A deworming medication called an anthelmintic will be administered to kill the adult hookworms. However, most anthelmintics do not kill the larval stages, it is necessary to treat an infected cat again in two to three weeks to kill any new adult worms that were larvae at the time of the first treatment. Ideally, kittens are treated for worms during their kitten vaccination series.
With appropriate diagnosis and treatment, the prognosis is good for full recovery from hookworm infection. In rare cases, kittens or debilitated cats might require a blood transfusion because of severe anemia. These patients have a poorer prognosis and extensive treatments are usually necessary.
Adult hookworms do not infect humans internally; however, the larvae can burrow into human skin (usually through bare feet). This causes itching, commonly called “ground itch”, but the worms do not mature into adults and will die within several weeks.
More dangerous is the condition in which hookworm larvae migrate throughout the human body, damaging the eyes and internal organs. This is called visceral larval migrans. To contract this condition, human skin must have contact with moist, larvae-infected soil, so infection is extremely rare if normal hygiene practices are observed.
Prevention of hookworm infection should include the following measures:
© Copyright 2025 LifeLearn Inc. Used and/or modified with permission under license. This content written by LifeLearn Animal Health (LifeLearn Inc.) is licensed to this practice for the personal use of our clients. Any copying, printing or further distribution is prohibited without the express written consent of LifeLearn. This content does not contain all available information for any referenced medications and has not been reviewed by the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, or Health Canada Veterinary Drugs Directorate. This content may help answer commonly asked questions, but is not a substitute for medical advice, or a proper consultation and/or clinical examination of your pet by a veterinarian. Please contact your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s health. Last updated on Jun 2, 2025.
Site Sidebar: Skip to end of sidebar
Search Articles
Filter By Language
View All
452 West Central Road Coldwater, Michigan, 49036
Book an AppointmentGet directionsCall: (517) 369-2161 Email: info@bvsvet.com
Mon, Wed, Fri: 8:00am – 5:00pm Tues, Thurs: 8:00am – 6:30pm Sat: 8:00am – 12:00pm
© 2025 Bronson Vet Services. Powered by LifeLearn Veterinary Websites