Yes. Community cats can get New World screwworm (NWS), a parasitic fly infestation in which larvae feed on living tissue. Treat visible larvae, a worsening wound, or a suspicious wound after surgery as a reason to contact a veterinarian promptly. If NWS is suspected, veterinary care and reporting to animal-health officials are both important.
How New World screwworm affects cats
New World screwworm is not an ordinary wound infestation. Female flies lay eggs in wounds or body openings, and the larvae burrow into and feed on living tissue. The CDC explains that “NWS eggs hatch into parasitic maggots (larvae) that burrow into and feed on living tissue or flesh” (CDC: About New World Screwworm).
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Cats are susceptible, including outdoor cats with small or irritated skin breaks. The term “community cat” describes a caregiving context, not a separate risk category used in official guidance. APHIS specifically calls attention to wounds of any size and recent surgical sites such as spay or neuter incisions (APHIS veterinary guidance for cats and dogs).
Signs that need prompt veterinary attention
Look for a wound that is worsening or unusually painful, visible or moving maggots, foul odor, bleeding or bloody discharge, or a change in behavior. A cat may become irritable, stop eating, or withdraw and isolate. These signs warrant veterinary assessment; they do not by themselves confirm NWS.
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- Check for wounds, irritated or broken skin, and recent surgical incisions when it is safe to observe the cat.
- For a veterinary assessment, relevant areas may include skin folds, the mouth and ears, paws, abdomen and navel, and the perianal or genital area, as well as places the cat has been licking excessively. Do not force an examination of a frightened or unhandled cat.
- If the cat is difficult to handle, contact a clinic or community-cat organization for advice on safe, humane transport rather than risking a bite or delaying care.
APHIS and CDC describe the warning signs and examination considerations in their cat-and-dog guidance, veterinary factsheet, and NWS overview.
What to do if you see maggots in a cat’s wound
- Call a veterinarian promptly. Describe the wound, what you saw, when it began, and any recent surgery or travel from an affected area. Ask how the cat should be brought in.
- Do not try to remove larvae or treat the wound yourself. Do not apply livestock sprays, powders, or ointments, or give a drug without veterinary direction. The veterinarian can examine the cat and determine appropriate care.
- Arrange safe transport. If the cat cannot be handled, ask the clinic or a local community-cat group about humane trapping and transport. Avoid forcing an examination or handling a distressed cat.
- Report suspected NWS. Contact your State Animal Health Official and USDA APHIS Area Veterinarian in Charge. Reporting supports animal-health response but does not replace veterinary care. APHIS provides this reporting direction in its factsheet for private veterinarians and cat-and-dog guidance.
Why location and recent surgery matter
Outdoor exposure and open or irritated skin are reasons to pay attention, but they do not establish that a cat has NWS. Mention recent surgery, travel, or a move from an affected region when you call the veterinarian. A spay or neuter incision is among the sites APHIS flags for careful attention.
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- FLEA AND TICK PROTECTION: PetArmor Plus for Cats flea drops protects your furry family members from brown dog ticks, American dog ticks, Lone Star ticks, and deer ticks (which may transmit Lyme disease).
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APHIS reports that NWS was eradicated from the United States in 1966 and that a second confirmed U.S. detection was reported in a calf in Zavala County, Texas, on June 5, 2026. Those dated facts are not a live map of risk for cats or a measure of community-cat incidence. Check USDA’s current screwworm status information for updates, and follow local animal-health guidance.
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FDA emergency use authorizations are specific to the named product, species, intended use, and any age or weight conditions. FDA lists cat-specific authorizations for Credelio CAT and NexGard COMBO for treatment, and nitenpyram (Capstar) for prevention and treatment under defined conditions. The FDA announced that its generic nitenpyram authorization was revised on September 3, 2026 to include prevention as well as treatment for cats and dogs at least four weeks old and weighing at least two pounds. Check the FDA’s current veterinary information and FDA’s announcement on generic nitenpyram for current authorization details.
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These authorizations do not make products interchangeable or mean that a caretaker should choose or administer a drug without veterinary direction. The sources do not establish that ordinary flea prevention alone prevents NWS, or compare the effectiveness of the authorized cat medicines for community cats.
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- Delivers total flea protection – kills adult fleas, flea larvae and flea eggs through contact
- Same-day effectiveness – kills fleas within 12 hours of application and keeps working for 30 days
- Fragrance-free formula, waterproof after 24 hours of application
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