A question about feline parasites?

Question

in the past two weeks two of my young cats have had a parasite and i want to know what this thing is. I was lucky enough to remove the things myself but i need to know what they are.

The parasites in question are short fat worm things and they burrow under the skin making a large hole in the skin. I was able to nudge them both far enough out of the hole to grab them with one of my husbands computer tools that i push and three prongs come out to grab things. I put antiseptics on the wounds to fight infection but i'd like to know what these parasites are to do more research on them

Also while i'm at it what does it take to become a veterinary assistant and maybe eventually a vet. After dealing with these problems and having to keep these cats calm i'm seriously considering a career in veterinary care.

These things don't look like fly larve they look to be too fat to be fly larve. Also i haven't the funds to take these cats to a vet. I'm tired of people saying that i shouldn't even own pets if i can't afford it. Most of these kittens are born to wild barn cats that have made my home their home. Luckily i've been able to tame a few of their kittens. Plus i live out in the country and the nearest animal shelter that is no kill has too long of a waiting list. i've put ads in the paper and internet but only 2 people have taken a kitten home

Answer 1

This is a parasite called Cuterebra, or Warbles.

Warbles are the larval stage of the botfly, which characteristically infect rodents and rabbits. They are found under the skin, usually around the legs and neck. They have also been reported from deer, cattle, cats, dogs, hogs, mules, mink, foxes and man.

Only one genus, Cuterebra, is currently recognized from North America.

The larvae enter the host by way of a natural body opening, commonly the nose or mouth, or a minute abrasion of the skin. They frequently remain in oral and nasal passages several days before migrating to preferred locations under the skin, where they develop into warbles. The larvae encyst within the skin of the host and complete their development.
The early stages of Cuterebra infection are rarely evident from external inspection, and they do not become noticeable until growth of the warbles can be detected by touch. In smaller mammals, such as chipmunks, the larvae often produce an obvious awkwardness in locomotion, which may render them more susceptible to predation.

In some instances, secondary bacterial infection may have a greater detrimental effect on the host than the primary attack by the Cuterebra warbles. It has been observed that, after larvae dropped from chipmunk hosts, the resulting wounds, with few exceptions, became purulent and the host's activity was markedly reduced.


Treatment of infected captive animals consists of mechanical removal of larvae from the cysts. The opening should be enlarged by an incision and the parasite squeezed out. The wound should then be rinsed with an antiseptic solution and a topical antibiotic administered.

If you were able to get the warble out without squishing it, then just rinsing the wounds with a diluted betadine solution will be fine. They heal in no time. If they look infected, a vet visit for antibiotics is needed. No need to panic, people!

Contact your local college for info on Vet Tech and Veterinary programs. Working or volunteering at a vets office to gain experience will let you know whether this is really the job for you or not.

Answer 2

You need to get the cat to the vet ASAP. It sounds like there is an infection and the worm like parasites are maggots. The only way to treat this is to take the cat to the vet ASAP.

If you want a career as a vet assistant you don't need any schooling. All you have to do is apply at local vet clinics. It's on the job training. If you want to be a vet tech you need 2 years of schooling with an associates degree in applied science. That's what I'm going for. I've got a little less than a year left and I love it. Hope I helped some.

Answer 3

They sound like maggots. You need to bring that cat to the vet. Do some schooling before you try to diagnose your cat and treat him without taking him to the vet. A person who wants to be in the vet feild should have the common sense to know when a cat needs to see a vet. This cat has an infection. Gosh how would you like it if you didn't recieve care from a doc?

Answer 4

It sounds like fly larvae or maggots to me. Believe me there are many more there than you have taken out! Please, please take the cats to a vet to be treated. This is very serious!!!!

Answer 5

i think it is some type of worm like ring worms or something