What is Coccidia?
Most cats will come in contact with coccidia sometime in their life. The majority of adult cats are immune to the infectious disease that coccidia can cause, called “coccidiosis”. Kittens under six months of age and cats suffering from conditions that hinder their immune system may contract coccidiosis. This rare infection can cause serious effects and, in extreme cases, may even be fatal. Kittens who are infected with coccidiosis are contagious and can infect the rest of the litter. The most common parasite to cause coccidiosis in cats is Isospora felis. Veterinary attention is needed to ease symptoms and rid the cat of the parasitic infestation.
Coccidia are a group of single-celled parasites called “protozoa”. Cats are susceptible to infection from a number of these parasites, including Isospora, Toxoplasma, Sarcocystis, Besnoitia and Hammondia. Coccidia lodge in the intestinal wall and form cysts. Some of these protozoa require more than one host to complete their development. Once inside the body, it can take up to two weeks for the parasites to mature and begin to reproduce. Coccidia are found throughout the world.
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Symptoms of Coccidia in Cats
Kittens may start to show symptoms of coccidiosis from the ages of two weeks to six months. The stress of the weaning process can leave a kitten vulnerable to developing a parasitic infection. Signs to watch for are as follows:
- Watery diarrhea (may contain blood)
- Vomiting
- Anorexia
- Weight loss
- Dehydration
- Abdominal pain
- Uveitis (inflammation of the uvea)
Causes of Coccidia in Cats
To become infected with coccidia, a cat must come into direct contact with the parasite. Kittens are often exposed to the protozoa from their mother's feces (as adult cats often contain the parasites without showing any symptoms). All known causes of parasite exposure are listed below.
- Direct contact with infected feces
- Hunting and eating rodents that contain protozoa in its resting stages
- Ingesting contaminated soil
Susceptibility is increased in cats with immune deficiencies or who are experiencing stress.
Diagnosis of Coccidia in Cats
If your cat or kitten begins to exhibit any of the symptoms of coccidiosis, bring it to a veterinary clinic or animal hospital immediately. Be prepared to provide the cat's full medical history, especially if it is an adult cat with immune system issues. The veterinarian will perform a complete physical examination of the cat, watching for known signs of coccidiosis.
The most common way to diagnose a parasitic infection in a cat is by taking a sample of the cat's feces and sending it for microscopic examination. During this examination, larval or adult coccidia may be identified. As these protozoa are exceptionally small, if a microscopic examination comes back negative, there is no guarantee that your cat or kitten is not infected. Blood work will be run, including a complete blood count and a biochemical profile to assess the cat's overall condition. Certain parasites may also be identified via blood smears. If the infected cat is an adult, feline viruses that negatively affect the immune system, such as feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus, should be tested for.
Treatment of Coccidia in Cats
In some kittens or adult cats, coccidiosis may spontaneously go away on its own. In severe cases, both symptomatic and causative treatments may be needed.
Antibiotics
A course of antibiotics such as Sulfadimethoxine, Trimethoprim-Sulfonamide or Amprolium can stop the coccidia from reproducing. Up to two weeks of oral administration is needed.
Supportive Care
If the infected cat has become severely dehydrated, hospitalization and intravenous fluids may be needed to stabilize its condition.
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Recovery of Coccidia in Cats
Be sure to isolate your adult cat or kitten from other cats during antibiotic treatment. Reinfection can easily happen, so extra sanitation measures should be taken. Clean all litter boxes at least once a day. Most coccidia need at least 24 hours outside of a host to infect another animal, so removing feces from the litter daily can prevent the parasites from re-entering your cat. Disinfect the litter boxes weekly using hot water and bleach.
Take extra care when monitoring the health of kittens to identify cases of coccidiosis before the infection has progressed too far. Test any pregnant cats for protozoa so that kittens may be treated after birth. Most coccidia can not spread to humans. The most common coccidia, I. felis poses no threat to owners. Infections of Toxoplasma or Cryptosporidium may present a small risk to pregnant women and any human who has a suppressed immune system.
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Coccidia Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
American Shorthair
Ozzy
3 Months
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Vomiting
Blood In Stool
I recently seen diarrhea with drops of blood in it by my cats litter box. I looked in the rest of the litterbox but the feces in there looked normal. I also saw very yellow throw-up with little pieces of dog food but occasionally my cats find a piece of dog food and eat it. Iwas not there to observe who vomited or did diarrhea. I have a chihuahua about the same size and a kitten so I’m not sure who may have done it. They both seem fine because there are no observable symptoms.
June 4, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations
I'm not sure which of your pets may have the problem, but it would be a good idea to monitor them both. If the signs continue, you will need to figure out who is having the problem, and have them seen by your veterinarian.
June 5, 2018
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dsh
Ellie
10 Weeks
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Diarrhea
Rapid Weight Loss
If I can’t afford an expensive vet visit, is there a way to get coccidia medicine online? I have a 10 week old kitten that I just brought home, and she’s lost a lot of weight in the past week and has diarrhea with a slightly pink tint to it in some places.
June 4, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
You cannot get medication for coccidia without a prescription, from what I am aware. Since you don't actually know that she has coccidia, a fecal examination and appropriate medication would be a good idea, and that should not entail an expensive visit to your veterinarian - preventive care is typically quite reasonable in cost.
June 4, 2018
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domestic short hair
Litter of 5 kittens - Blaise, Brooke, Copper, Fern, Willow
7 Weeks
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Diarrhea
Weight Loss
Lethargy
Seizures
Loss Of Appetite
Labored Breathing
Loose Bowel Movements
Coma
I am a foster for a local animal rescue group. We recently lost a whole litter to coccidia which went undiagnosed until the last kitten was critical. The kittens were seen by the vet used by the rescue multiple times during the final week and also at an emergency clinic where blood tests were ordered but the rescue refused treatment. My question, should coccidia in a nursing mom and kittens be something a vet would consider immediately if symptoms such as diarrhea, loss of weight, loss of appetite, lethargy and even what was described as a coma in the first kitten are exhibited? I am trying not to assign blame but I have just witnessed five kittens die a most horrific death and I am desperate for answers. My family was round the clock caring for the kittens for a week. We were giving Caro syrup on the gums, PediLyte for hydration, syringe feeding urgent care canned food and keeping the kittens warm by both heating supplies and skin to skin contact every three hours. Could/should we have done more?
May 29, 2018
1 Recommendations
For me, Coccidia and other parasites should always be considered with these symptoms in kittens and the test to check for them is relatively simple and inexpensive compared to blood tests, it is always good to check and rule out the possibility early. The Veterinarian wasn’t wrong for not thinking about Coccidia as there may have been other symptoms or factors which may have drawn their attention in a different direction. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
May 30, 2018
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Domestic shorthair
Lazlo
18 Months
2 found this helpful
2 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Eating Well
No Loose Stool
How long does coccidia stay inactive/dormant before diagnosis? We rescued a feral cat who is about 18 mos. He was underweight and stressed when he arrived. Treated for roundworms. We brought him in for follow up and the coccidia was then diagnosed. We have had him isolated for about a month and not sure how he got it.
April 19, 2018
2 Recommendations
Generally it takes less than two weeks from ingesting an oocyst to symptoms presenting; however some cats may carry Coccidia and be asymptomatic and may only present with symptoms later on, sometimes oocysts are found in perfectly healthy cats. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
April 19, 2018
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Coccidia Average Cost
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Average Cost
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