Can Humans Get Roundworms From Cats? A Comprehensive Look at Risks, Transmission, and Prevention

Can Humans Get Roundworms from Cats?

Yes, humans can get roundworms from cats - specifically the feline intestinal parasite Toxocara cati. While infection is possible, it happens in very specific circumstances and is highly preventable with good pet care and hygiene. Many pet owners ask:

• “Can a human get roundworms from a cat?”
  
  
• “Can humans get cat roundworms from bites or licking?”
  
  
• “How easily can humans get roundworms from cats?”

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What Are Cat Roundworms?

Cat roundworms (Toxocara cati) are intestinal parasites commonly found in kittens and outdoor cats. Adult worms can grow up to 10 cm long and produce thousands of microscopic eggs each day, shed in a cat’s feces. Over time, these eggs can contaminate the environment - including soil, sand, and litter boxes - creating a source of infection.

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How Can Humans Get Roundworms from Cats?

The most important question is how can humans get roundworms from cats? The answer is through ingestion of infective eggs, not from casual contact. Here’s how transmission happens:

1. An infected cat sheds roundworm eggs in its stool.
   
   
2. The eggs need 2–4 weeks in the environment (soil, litter, sand) to become infectious.
   
   
3. A human accidentally ingests these eggs, often by:
   
   
   
   • Handling contaminated soil (gardening, sandbox play)
     
     
   • Touching a litter box and not washing hands
     
     
   • Eating unwashed fruits or vegetables grown in contaminated soil
     
     
   • Children with hand-to-mouth behaviors
     
     

This is the only significant pathway of infection.

Can Humans Get Roundworm from a Cat Bite?

No. This is a common misconception. Roundworm eggs are not found in a cat’s saliva, so humans cannot get roundworms from a cat bite. Bites may transmit bacteria, but not Toxocara cati.

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Can Humans Get Cat Roundworms Easily?

Transmission is not easy. Unlike fleas or ringworm, you cannot get roundworm by simply petting a cat. Infection requires swallowing eggs that have developed in the environment. However, the risk increases in households with:

• Kittens (higher infection rates)
  
  
• Outdoor cats that hunt or roam
  
  
• Children (sandbox play, poor hand hygiene)
  
  
• Gardeners or landscapers exposed to soil

So while the answer to “Roundworm in cats - can humans get it?” is yes, the actual risk depends on hygiene and environmental exposure.

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What Happens If a Human Gets Roundworms from a Cat?

When humans ingest infective eggs, the larvae hatch but cannot mature into adult worms. Instead, they migrate through body tissues, causing toxocariasis, which can appear as:

• Visceral Larva Migrans (VLM): fever, cough, abdominal pain, enlarged liver
  
  
• Ocular Larva Migrans (OLM): eye inflammation, vision loss, strabismus
  
  
• Covert toxocariasis: mild or nonspecific symptoms (rash, fatigue, respiratory issues)
  
  
• Severe cases (rare): brain or heart involvement

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Prevention: Protecting Both Cats and Humans

For Cats

• Regular deworming: Kittens should be dewormed starting at 2–3 weeks of age; adult cats need routine prevention.
  
  
• Veterinary fecal checks: Annual stool testing ensures parasites are caught early.
  
  
• Litter box hygiene: Scoop daily and wash hands after handling.
  
  

For Humans

• Wash hands after gardening, handling litter, or touching soil.
  
  
• Wash fruits and vegetables before eating.
  
  
• Cover sandboxes so cats don’t use them as litter.
  
  
• Avoid raw or undercooked meat from potential paratenic hosts.

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What we hear from pet owners (real-world FAQs)

Can I catch roundworms if my cat licks or bites me?

Licking is not how Toxocara spreads; infection requires swallowing embryonated eggs from the environment. Bites are a bacterial risk, not a Toxocara risk. Still - wash hands and keep wounds clean.

My kittens were just dewormed - when is it safe?

Owners often ask about timelines and cleaning. Daily litter scooping, frequent surface cleaning, and handwashing are the mainstays while your vet completes the deworming series.

How likely is it to spread to my family - especially a baby?

Forum advice frequently (and correctly) points to the fecal–oral route and emphasizes hygiene. Keep the box off-limits to children; wash hands; sanitize high-touch areas.

Do I need to deep-clean the whole house?

Owners swap tips about vacuuming, mopping, laundering bedding, and wiping hard surfaces. These steps are sensible; combine them with a consistent litter-box routine and veterinary follow-up.

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Bottom line

• Yes, humans can get roundworms from cats - but not from casual contact, licking, or bites. The risk hinges on swallowing infective eggs that have matured in the environment.
• The infection is preventable: pair regular deworming and fecal checks with daily litter-box hygiene and handwashing.

If you’re concerned about exposure or symptoms, speak with your physician and ask your veterinarian about a deworming and testing plan tailored to your pets and household.