Although cat roundworm is typically less severe than other worms, it should not be ignored. Infections are quite common, and your vet should be testing your kitten at the initial check ups and vaccination visits. Typically, kittens are treated even when they test negative. A fecal flotation exam should be done once per year at your cat's annual check up.

Here are 7 important points concerning cat roundworm.

1. How your cat gets it - Felines can become infected with roundworm by contact with contaminated soil or eating infected prey, including insects. Contracting roundworm, therefore, is easier for outdoor cats that indoor. Kittens may get it from an infected mother, who may not show any signs of the disease.

2. Roundworm is common - Almost all kittens have roundworm, and even if they test negative, are usually treated for it. Although most cases are not severe, roundworm is dangerous in kittens if left untreated and can cause death.

3. What is roundworm - Cat roundworm (Toxascaris leonina and Toxocara cati) according to Cornell Feline Health Center, are the most common of the intestinal parasites that affect cats. T. leonina may also infect dogs, so your cat may not be the only one with a problem. Infection rates are an estimated 25 to 75% (higher in kittens than adults).

4. What they look like - Adult roundworms are 3 to 5 inches long, and cream in color. Their tubelike bodies resemble strands of spaghetti.

5. What they do inside your cat - The lifecycle is somewhat different for T. cati and T. leonina. T. leonina take 2 to 3 months to mature and remain in the intestines the whole time. T. cati, on the other hand, migrate through tissue wall making their way to the throat via the lungs. They are then coughed up and swallowed. Unlike hookworms, roundworms are not tissue feeders. Instead of attaching themselves to the inside of the intestines, they swim freely in the intestines of the cat.

6. What happens next - While inside your cat, female roundworms produce fertile eggs. Those eggs pass through the cat's intestines and out into the world in the feces. It takes up to several weeks for them to develop into the infective larva stage. It is interesting to note that they can remain infective for years.

7. How you prevent infection - An obvious preventive measure would be to deworm queens prior to pregnancy so they do not infect their kittens. This cannot be guaranteed though as dormant worms will come to life during pregnancy. General prevention, however, involves preventing cats from being outside, roaming and hunting, and control of pest populations.

By and large, most other intestinal parasites cause more severe issues for your cat than roundworm. Adult cats can often have a case of roundworm and still appear healthy.

Unfortunately, if the intestines become blocked by a large enough number of worms, roundworm can become life-threatening. Kittens in particular are at risk. In addition, adult cats with compromised immune systems or certain pre-existing conditions will be at risk, as are older cats.

If you have an at risk kitten or older cat at home, you should have a discussion with your veterinarian about cat roundworm infection and treatment.