Maggots

Bacteria, infection, parasites, there really seems to be no end to these pests and nuisances that come into the household. It can be frustrating for a cat owner to deal with any of these types of parasites but proper hygiene and routine checks will help to keep things in line. This is essential for long term cat caring and perhaps general house maintenance in general. Maggots are perhaps one of the most undesirable sights for a person coming home to throw away the trash. It’s common to see maggots grow around sites with throwaway rubbish as these places often attract the common housefly. They will go looking for food and other things they deem desirable without discretion. It is at this point that that they will start to lay their eggs.

Eggs of a fly will eventually hatch into the larva stage of a fly and become what is known as maggots. Unfortunately animals are natural points of interest for the fly as they will seek nourishment from cats that have suffered wounds and those who are suffering from cases of diarrhoea. The fly will approach the site of the infected wound of animal excrement and seek to lay its eggs on the cat’s fur. This is an ideal breeding ground for these parasitic life forms that actually feed on the live or decaying tissue of a cat. This is quite a detrimental situation as the main targets for this type of scenario will be those that are already in a subpar state of health. The maggots will then begin to penetrate the skin and burrow deeper into a cat causing severe amounts of pain and irritation.

No cat deserves to suffer from this type of infestation and if left alone, the tunnelling of the maggots will persist and secrete toxins into the blood stream that can cause blood poisoning. This is a great threat to a cat and needs to be assessed and treated without delay. Through proper hygiene and routine grooming, maggots can be prevented or at least discovered in due course. After discovery a warm soapy bath should be given to the cat to begin cleansing the area. No further action should be taken at this point until a vet is able to assess the severity of situation and advise of a proper treatment programme. Cleanliness is important in cat care and an owner will do well to ensure their cats are regularly kept in check and groomed even when ill. All wounds should also dressed to eliminate risk of infestation.