Last Updated on May 4, 2026 by admin
Hookworms are small intestinal parasites that feed on blood and can make cats seriously ill. They are treatable, but they are not a do-it-yourself problem. If you suspect hookworms, your cat needs a veterinary fecal test and an appropriate dewormer.
The most important correction: people can be affected by animal hookworms. CDC explains that dog and cat hookworm larvae most often cause cutaneous larva migrans, an itchy skin condition from larvae burrowing in the skin. CDC also notes that rare cases can involve deeper tissue such as the intestine, lungs, or eye. So it is more accurate to say that human illness is usually skin-limited, not that internal infection is impossible.
What Hookworms Do to Cats
Hookworms attach to the lining of the small intestine and feed on blood. Cornell Feline Health Center notes that mild infections may cause diarrhea and weight loss, while severe infections can cause anemia from blood loss. In heavy cases, a cat’s stool may look black and tarry from digested blood.
Kittens, outdoor cats, cats in crowded environments, and cats without regular parasite prevention are at higher risk. A cat can also have a light infection with few obvious signs, which is why fecal testing matters.
Signs to Watch For
- Diarrhea, soft stool, or mucus in the stool
- Black, tarry, or bloody stool
- Weight loss or poor growth in kittens
- Pale gums, weakness, or tired behavior from anemia
- Poor coat quality or a pot-bellied look
- Vomiting or reduced appetite in some cats
Call your veterinarian promptly if your cat is a kitten, seems weak, has pale gums, has black or bloody stool, or is not eating. Blood-loss anemia can become urgent.
How Cats Get Hookworms
Infected cats pass hookworm eggs in feces. In warm, moist conditions, those eggs develop into larvae in the environment. CAPC says cats can become infected by swallowing larvae from contaminated soil or another host, or by larvae penetrating the skin.
Common feline hookworms include Ancylostoma tubaeforme and Ancylostoma braziliense. CAPC notes that A. tubaeforme is acquired after birth from environmental contamination rather than through nursing. That makes litter hygiene, feces removal, and parasite prevention especially important.
Can Humans Get Hookworms From Cats?
People do not usually develop an adult cat hookworm infection in the same way cats do. The more common human problem is cutaneous larva migrans: itchy, raised, winding tracks on the skin after bare skin contacts contaminated sand or soil.
That risk is real. It is why CDC recommends removing animal waste quickly, getting pets regular veterinary care, wearing shoes, and avoiding bare-skin contact with contaminated soil or sand. If a person in your household develops itchy red tracks on the feet, legs, or another exposed area after soil or beach contact, they should contact a healthcare provider.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Veterinarians usually diagnose hookworms with fecal testing. CAPC recommends fecal testing for cats and notes that antigen or PCR tests may help in some cases where eggs are hard to find.
Treatment means using a veterinary-approved dewormer and following the schedule your vet gives you. Merck Veterinary Manual lists several drugs approved for feline hookworms, but the right choice depends on your cat’s age, health, risk factors, and the parasite species suspected. Do not give dog dewormers, livestock dewormers, herbs, garlic, diatomaceous earth, essential oils, or leftover medication.
For why that matters, see our guide to cat worm home remedies and our article on natural deworming remedies for cats. Both explain why parasites need real diagnosis and parasite-specific treatment.
Cleaning and Prevention at Home
Cleaning does not replace treatment, but it helps reduce re-exposure. Scoop litter boxes daily, wash your hands after handling litter or soil, dispose of feces promptly, and keep children from playing in areas where pets may defecate.
For outdoor cats or cats with repeated parasite exposure, ask your veterinarian about year-round broad-spectrum parasite control. CAPC recommends parasite control with hookworm efficacy and timely feces removal to reduce environmental contamination. Regular vet checkups also make it easier to plan fecal tests and prevention before a small parasite problem becomes a big one.
Should You Quarantine a Cat With Hookworms?
You usually do not need dramatic isolation unless your veterinarian recommends it for your household. A practical approach is better: keep the infected cat’s litter box very clean, prevent other pets from sharing feces-contaminated areas, wash hands carefully, and follow the full treatment and retesting plan.
If you have young children, immunocompromised people, or multiple pets at home, ask your veterinarian and physician what extra precautions make sense. Hookworms live at the intersection of pet care and public health, so clear professional advice beats guesswork.
Bottom Line
Hookworms in cats are common enough to take seriously and treatable enough not to panic. Watch for diarrhea, weight loss, pale gums, and black or bloody stool. Use veterinary diagnosis and deworming, keep litter areas clean, and remember that animal hookworms can affect people, usually through itchy skin tracks and rarely more deeply.