TL;DR: Finding live worms in your cat's vomit indicates a significant internal parasite infestation that requires a veterinary appointment within 24 to 48 hours. Capturing a photo of the parasites can help your veterinarian quickly identify the species and prescribe the correct deworming medication.
What does it mean if my cat is vomiting up live worms?
Finding live worms in your cat's vomit is a distressing experience, but it is a clear clinical sign of an internal parasitic infestation. Most commonly, these are roundworms (Toxocara cati), which are long, white, or tan parasites that resemble spaghetti. When the worm load in the small intestine becomes significant, the parasites can migrate into the stomach, triggering a vomit reflex that expels them from the body.
Is my cat vomiting live worms a veterinary emergency?
- Schedule a veterinary appointment within the next 24 to 48 hours, as this typically indicates a medium-urgency parasite burden.
- Seek medical care more urgently if the vomiting is accompanied by extreme lethargy.
- Visit a clinic immediately if you notice bloody stool or a distended abdomen.
- Understand that heavy infestations can lead to serious complications like intestinal blockages or severe anemia if left untreated.
How can taking a photo of the worms help my veterinarian?
- Capture a clear, well-lit photo of the worms before you clean up the area.
- Provide this visual evidence to your veterinarian to help them identify the specific parasite, such as roundworms or tapeworms, without waiting for a formal fecal float test.
- Use the photo to help ensure your cat receives the correct type of deworming medication immediately.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
Vomiting of live worms in cats can be caused by parasites such as roundworms and Strongyloides stercoralis. Vomiting typically occurs minutes to a few hours after eating. Diagnosis of S. stercoralis is made by microscopic demonstration of larvae (~500 µm) or adult worms in vomitus or stomach contents, aided by a Baermann apparatus to separate worms from ingesta. Adult Capillaria, threadlike and yellowish, may also be a cause, though typically found in the urinary tract.
Chapter: Parasitology
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 414)