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My cat is thin and not eating. What kind of worms might he have?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | unneutered | 1 year and 8 months old | 6.5 lbs

Hi, my cat, Wilkie, is eating little. He's getting thin but he's still playful and active. I've tried everything to make him eat but it doesn't work. Now, my cat might have worms. I want to deworm my cat but I don't know what kind of worm does he had. What do you think kind of worms does my cat has?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on December 2nd, 2017

Unfortunately there is no way for us to guess what kind of worm your cat has. It’s best to take him to your vet and have his stool checked to verify what kind of worm is present. Many worms can only be examined by the use of a microscope (hookworms, coccidia, whipworms). You can also examine his poop to see if you find any of the visible worms (roundworms, tapeworms). Some dewormers are also available over the counter at your local pet store. I hope you find out what kind of worm Wilkie has soon. Also it is a good idea to get him examined by your vet anyway since worms don’t usually cause a cat to have a decreased appetite. Best of luck to you and take care.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Catherine Stecyk

    Veterinarian

    Published on July 27th, 2018

    Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The best way to check for intestinal parasites is to have your veterinarian analyze a sample of Zoey's feces. He/she can look under a microscope to look for evidence of adult worms as well as parasite eggs, and offer treatment recommendations as indicated. Decreased appetite can also be a sign of an underlying systemic disease, such as kidney or liver disease, a hormonal imbalance, or even other infections or cancer. Based on physical examination and history, your veterinarian may recommend bloodwork to look for evidence of systemic disease which could explain Zoey's weight loss and decreased appetite. I hope this is helpful!

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