The likelihood of infection can be decreased by limiting your cat's ability to eat earthworms. In many cases, earthworms serve as the source of Capillaria infection.
Can earthworms hurt cats?
While worms are not toxic to cats, they can cause parasites if they are consumed. There is no evidence that worms or earthworms are poisonous to cats. Eating a worm does not have the same effect on your cat as if your cat ate a poisonous herb, for example.
Are worms harmful to cats?
Worm infestations that are left untreated can be dangerous, even fatal, for your cat. Migration of larvae through the organs and tissues of the body as they make their way to the intestine could result in severe skin infections, blindness, convulsions, or pneumonia, depending on the path of larval migration.
Can cats get earthworms?
The most common intestinal worms cats get are called roundworms and tapeworms. Most infected cats do not show signs of having worms; however, heavy burdens of worms can cause weight loss, vomiting and diarrhoea, irritation around the anus and failure to thrive.
Are earthworms poisonous eating?
Is it safe to eat worms? Generally, studies show that it's safe to eat most commonly consumed species of worms and other insects ( 3 ).
