If there is one thing that a cat parent surely has to deal with far more than a human parent, it is the issue of infestations.

The other day, while examining Edward’s faecal offerings (from a safe distance) in the litter box, I noticed what looked like a see-through rubber band poking out of the side of one of his turds. I decided to give it a tug (wearing a plastic bag over my hand…I’m not completely insane) and finally separated a 10cm long, spaghetti-like worm from the rest of the mess. I immediately googled the creature (yes, yes, I removed the bag before touching my keyboard) and confirmed that it was indeed a sizable, adult round-worm (deceased).

Now, 10cm long is about as long as one of Edward’s back feet…bloody long. If anything of similar proportions ever emerged from the back end of a human child, an ambulance would undoubtedly be called and a science-fiction movie would undoubtedly be based on the incident.

As it was, far inferior treatment was given to my poor old mog who simply received a worming tablet from the vet before being sent on his merry way back home where a further 5/6 worms were subsequently shat out as soon as the tablet took effect (it was like the anal version of Tremors).

How on earth he has been able to maintain his corporal mass (with an emphasis on the mass) with a tummy-full of ravenous parasites is beyond me.  He’s even managed to cultivate a goose-neck since we adopted him just six months ago.  It can’t be normal.

His father and I have since purchased an industrial size box of surgical gloves in order to prevent further infestation from passing from mog to human. Apparently, round-worm in a human can travel up to the lungs, heart and even eye! At first, I decided that I would wear the gloves at all times when in contact with kitties but when Edward started giving me that forlorn, boy in the bubble-type look, I soon reverted back to traditional cuddling…hopefully not at my peril!