Worms in cats can look different depending on the type of worm affecting the cat:
- Roundworms resemble spaghetti noodles, are cream-colored or white, and can be 3 to 6 inches long. They may sometimes be seen in the cat's feces or vomit moving around. They swim freely in the intestines and steal nutrients from food.
- Tapeworms are flat, ribbon-like worms inside the intestines, but when segments break off, they look like small grains of rice or sesame seeds around the cat's anus or in the stool. These segments may be visible on the cat's fur near the rear end.
- Hookworms are much smaller and thinner, often not visible to the naked eye but if seen, they look like tiny, thin strings. They have hook-like mouthparts that attach to the intestinal lining and feed on the cat's blood.
- Whipworms, less common and harder to see, have a whip-like shape with one thicker and one thinner end, but are usually only identified through veterinary tests.
Visible signs often include whole worms, parts of worms, or worm eggs in feces or vomit, or around the cat's anus in the fur. Observing these signs along with symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, dull coat, or pale gums can indicate a worm infestation.
In summary, worms in cats can look like spaghetti noodles (roundworms), small grains of rice (tapeworm segments), or tiny thin strings (hookworms), and you might see them in the cat’s feces, vomit, or fur near the rear end.