Ragdoll Cat

　　Pathogen and Transmission:

　　There are many types of ascarids, each with specific infection hosts. Cat ascarids are about 5~10 cm long, slender with both ends tapered. The life cycle of roundworms is quite unique. After the female worm lays eggs, the eggs are excreted with feces, and larvae form inside the eggs after 5 days. Once the cat ingests these eggs, larvae hatch in the small intestine within 1 hour, enter intestinal blood vessels, and migrate via the bloodstream to lungs, liver, and other organs. The larvae growing in the lungs crawl up the respiratory tract to the throat, are swallowed again into the small intestine, where they develop into adults in 20~30 days, and lay eggs again after 60 days, starting a new life cycle. This development process is called the "internal migration" life cycle. Cat ascarids can infect via oral ingestion and also transmit to kittens through mother's milk; if a pregnant cat ingests dog ascarids, transmission to the fetus may also occur through the placenta.