Maggots

Question
Hi  Jessica,

The exact same thing just happened to my cat as was in the previous posting from Michael.  I don't understand this either.  My cat was fine and just seemed to get not well over a couple of days.  And then literally from the drive to the vet, which is about 20 mins., she deteriated drastically.  A couple questions .... does the infestation by the maggots occur suddenly or is it something that occurs over a period of months?  I can't believe I would not have noticed this problem if it had been there long. Also, my cat is an indoor-only cat and always has been.  On occassion she would go on my balcony but only for short times.  So, how would this has happened?  I live in a place where there are very few flies/bugs.  She did have a previous infection in her rectal area due to her being overweight and not being able to clean herself properly.  Could this had contributed?  I too ended up putting my kitty to sleep and I'm devastated by what has happened!  My vet didn't say they couldn't "fix" her.  The said they could try to remove them surgically but my kitty seemed so sick, I just couldn't put her through it.  Obviously, they didn't know the extent of this until they got in there to look.  Thanks.

Answer
Brenda, I'm so sorry to hear this.  What an awful thing.

Maggot infestation happens suddenly.  What happens is, a fly lays her eggs in a wound where tissue is dying, because it's warm, moist, and dead flesh provides a food source, all of which are perfect for the developing maggot.  A house fly lays about 100 eggs in one sitting, and this could be done while the pet is sleeping.  It takes only ONE fly to create an infestation.  In less than a day, the eggs hatch, and larvae begin to feed on the decaying tissue in the wound.  It's important to realize that these larvae are not parasites (feed on live hosts), they are saprophytes (feed on decaying matter).  So they will never just burrow into healthy skin or eat away at a clean wound.  They only consume the tissue that has died already.  The maggots themselves are not the most pressing problem.  They actually can be considered beneficial, since they clean up a wound, but when you see maggots, it's a sign that there is a serious wound or infection present.

There are some parasitic insect larvae that WILL burrow into healthy skin and feed on live hosts.  But those that I know of are solitary creatures and will be found in isolated lesions instead of found squirming in a group in one hole.  Many parasitic larvae are not visible at all and stay below the skin's surface.  And they are most common in rural settings where insects are a real problem.

I don't think you would be likely to see this again if you got another kitty.  But if you do ever come across any open sore, you should get the kitty to the vet for treatment before it becomes a serious problem.  If there is any odor from the wound, it's an emergency, as this can indicate there is already an infection and necrosing tissue, which will attract flies.