Parasite

Question
Hello. I have 5 kittens about 4 weeks old. I noticed a huge sore on the neck area. In this area a worm was popping in and out surrounded with green mucus and fluid leaking out. I pulled the worm out with tweezers, now a hole is left in the kittens neck. The mom cat has been licking the neck of another kitten, but I dont see a worm. What should be done?

Answer
Sounds like your kittens have had cuterebra flies laying eggs on them. Cuterebras are grubs that burrow into the skin and stay there while they grow in a tunnel that is sealed off on one end.

When they are ready to hatch they make a small hole that you can see. The momma cat smelled this and licked it open further. These grubs can grow rather large but will stay small as well depending on the size of the host. They prefer cattle but in the absence of these cats and dogs do nicely.

They are not very pleasant to look at and we have had many an owner faint in the exam room over them.
You can get some fly repellent spray like Ovitrol Plus and wipe the cats and kittens down with that to keep them away. You should bring these kittens into the house.

Do not squeeze the other one as that can cause an infection or worse an allergic reaction in the kitten. Get that kitten to a vet to have the grub removed. You can try some warm compresses on it to soften it and maybe that will open it up.

But you really should have the vet remove it.

Here is a picture of one in a cats neck:
http://userpages.bright.net/~bryanvet/cuterebra/larvaInSitu.jpg

The grub itself:
http://woodringsimulacra.wordpress.com/2007/08/18/cutebra-sp/


Good luck with it.