Worming For Cats: What Should I Use And How Frequently
Not all worm treatments for cats are equally effective. For the best advice on the type of worming preparation most suitable for your cat, you should seek the help of your local VetEnt vet.
As kittens can be infected with roundworms from a very young age it is important that worming for cats is started early andrepeated regularly. Tapeworms are more likely to be a problem in adult cats. At this age less frequent worm treatment is required.
A suitable protocol for worm treatment for cats of all ages is:
- Kittens 2 weeks 3 months: 0.5 worming tablets every 2 weeks
- Kittens 3 months 6 months: 1 worming tablet once monthly
- Kittens/cats 6 months +: 1 worming tablet every 3 months
Drontal Allwormer dose for cats & kittens:
- 1 worming tablet per 2 to 4 kg body weight
- 1 worming tablet for large cats per 6 kg body weight
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What Are Some Possible Conditions Caused By Intestinal Parasites And What Are The Treatments
Again, we see a lot of gastrointestinal diseases. We can see weight loss or an unthrifty hair coat. There are also some diseases that we call fakers if that makes sense. It looks like a severe disease, but it’s caused by an infestation of intestinal parasites. That’s why we tend to recommend those intestinal parasite checks a lot. And then, depending on what we find, then we can recommend a treatment. I love feline Drontal here. It is an oral dewormer that we give that covers all of the major intestinal parasites that we see in cats. Some other ones require some different specific treatments, but I tend to reach for that feline Drontal for all of the internal parasites out there.
Key Benefits Of Worming Your Cat
Understanding how often you should worm your cat has the benefit of helping protect their health as well as your familys.
Healthy cat
Intestinal worms live inside your cats gut, feeding and stealing precious nutrients. And although most cats dont show any obvious signs of a worm infection, they can cause problems including weight loss, vomiting, and diarrhoea if left untreated. Young kittens tend to be more susceptible and worms may cause poor growth and development, anaemia , and even death in severe cases.
Healthy family
Keeping your cat worm-free isnt just for their benefit. Its also important because roundworm and tapeworm, commonly found in cats, can also infect humans and may cause rare but serious illnesses, including blindness in children.
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Is It Necessary To Worm An Indoor Cat
To put it simply yes! Indoor cats are not immune to worms. Fleas can spread tapeworm and may enter the house on other pets or visitors. Soil contaminated with worm eggs can also be easily tracked inside on muddy boots or clothing! The recommended frequency for worming your indoor cat is best discussed with your vet, as this will vary depending on lifestyle factors including if the household has multiple pets.
How Often Should You Deworm Your Cat
For your cats overall health, especially when they are still very young, deworming them is very important and a must. But how often should you deworm your cat, and at what age is it safe to begin deworming?
You should deworm your cat as often as every three months. Deworming a cat that spends a lot of time outside is very important. Indoor cats should be dewormed every three to six months despite not going out much. Concerning the question of how soon you should start: as early as possible is better.
To satisfy our curiosity, we will investigate in this article the correct age at which we can start to deworm a cat. We will also discuss how often after the first session a cat should be dewormed until it is an adult and if we should keep on deworming.
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About Dr Pete Wedderburn Dvm
Dr Pete Wedderburn qualified as a vet from Edinburgh in 1985 and has run his own 4-veterinarian companion animal practice in County Wicklow, Ireland, since 1991. Pete is well known as a media veterinarian with regular national tv, radio and newspaper slots, including a weekly column in the Daily Telegraph since 2007. Pete is known as “Pete the Vet” on his busy Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages, regularly posting information on topical subjects and real-life cases from his clinic. He also write a regular blog at www.petethevet.com. His latest book: Pet Subjects, was published by Aurum Press in 2017.
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Do Worm Affect Humans
Some of the worms can be passed on to people. This is referred to as zoonosis. The risk of infection is higher in children due to the amount of time spent outdoors where animals defecate. Young children are also more likely to put their dirty hands in their mouths after playing in the dirt, grass or sand that might be contaminated. Pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals are also at greater risk. When zoonotic roundworms and hookworms infect humans, the parasites rarely mature in the intestine rather, the larval worms migrate in the hosts tissues .
People become infected with roundworms by accidentally ingesting eggs or larvae that are shed in the feces of infected animals. People can become infected with hookworms through direct skin contact with hookworm larvae in soil contaminated with the feces of infected animals.
When roundworm eggs are accidentally ingested, they hatch, and infective-stage larvae migrate through the human liver, lungs, and other organs and tissues where they produce damage and induce allergic responses. Infection may leave children with permanent visual or neurologic damage. Infection with hookworms causes a cutaneous larva migrants syndrome, which is characterized by progressive, intensely itchy, lesions in the skin.
How Do I Pick The Right Wormer For My Cat
There are several ingredients available which effectively kill various worms. Many products combine a number of ingredients to kill all of the worms listed above, so when selecting a product, look at the list of worms it will act against to ensure you are worming your pet completely.
Cat anti-worm treatments
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Some Of The Ways You Can Prevent Your Cat From Getting Worms Are As Follows:
- All kittens and all-new household additions should be dewormed
- Use monthly heartworm and flea preventative that treats and controls hookworms and roundworms all year long
- Routine wellness and fecal examinations
- Keep your litter box clean
- Keep your cat indoors so that their possible exposure is limited
If you have any further questions about deworming cats or you’re ready to get an appointment for your own pet, please give us a call!
How Do I Know If Cat Dewormer Is Working
Since it takes 2 to 4 days for the anthelmintic to be effective, it is possible that the cat may still have insects after the anthelmintic. You may also need a second dose. Normally, the worm disappears 2-3 weeks after giving the cat an anthelmintic . A second deworming may be required after a few weeks to get rid of all the worms.
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Types Of Worms In Cats
There are a number of worms that can infect cats, and to some extent, there are significant geographical variations in the prevalence of these different parasites.
The most common worms live in the cats digestive tract, usually in the intestines.
Common intestinal parasites are listed below:
- The most common roundworms are Toxocara cati and Toxascaris leonina
- Other common intestinal worms are Gnathostoma species, Physaloptera species, Strongyloides species, whipworms, and hookworms .
- The most common tapeworms are Dipylidium caninum and Taenia taeniaeformis.
- Other less common tapeworms include Diphylobothrium latum, Spirometra species, Diplopylidium species, Joyeuxiella species, and Echinococcus multilocularis
- There is also a stomach worm, called Ollulanus tricuspis
In some parts of the world, there are worms that can infect other parts of the cats body.
- Heartworms
- Lungworms
- Eyeworms
This may look like a frighteningly long list of cats worms, and its important to remember that simple control measures are usually enough to prevent these creepy crawlies from harming your cat or yourself.
Weight Loss And Sudden Change In Appetite
Infected cats will experience weight loss. It happens because the worms inside the feline dont allow nutrients to work at its full potential, which results in weight loss. However, depending on the size and quantity of the parasites, this change can be both drastic and marginal.
In some cases, cats develop an extended stomach. This distended abdomen is known as pot-belly. This happens when the cat is suffering from roundworms.
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How Often Should I Worm My Cat
- Because kittens are particularly susceptible to worms they need worming more frequently than adult cats.
- It is generally recommended to worm kittens every two weeks from two weeks old to twelve weeks old, then monthly to six months old.
- Adult cats should then be given an intestinal wormer at least every three months.
- If youre using a product that combines deworming and flea prevention, such as Advocate, or Revolution Plus, you may choose to continue using these products monthly. These do not cover adult tapeworm, so you should periodically also use Profender or a worming tablet, especially if your cat is a hunter, to ensure your cat remains tapeworm free.
Deworming Your Cat: Why And When
Worms, a lot of people get uncomfortable just thinking of them. And yet it is important to keep an eye on these parasites, especially if you are a cat owner. A kitten may experience growth retardation and deficiency symptoms as a result of worms. Adult cats arent as greatly affected, but enough to say: deworming your cat is a must.
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Symptoms Of Cat Worms
It is important for cat owners to be on the lookout for symptoms of worms, because by the time your feline friend displays signs of infestation, he or she is usually already well along in the process. Some of the most common symptoms of worms in cats are:
- Weight loss accompanied by a marked increase or decrease in appetite
- Distended abdomen, or pot-bellied appearance
- Lethargy
- Dulling of coat and/or hair loss accompanied by skin irritation/inflammation
- Rubbing or dragging the hindquarters across the ground
- Visible presence of segments of tapeworms in cats attached to the skin and fur around the anus/hind quarters area
- Visible presence of roundworms in cats in infected stool, like tiny grains of rice
These symptoms of worms in cats can also indicate other illnesses, so we recommend contacting your veterinarian immediately if you suspect or witness any of these symptoms of worms in cats in your feline friend.
Should I Bathe My Cat After It Has Been Dewormed
It depends. It may not be entirely necessary or needed, especially where a kitten is concerned.
They should only be bathed after they have been vaccinated, as they may become ill otherwise.
In terms of adult cats, if you have given them an internal deworming agent, there is no harm in giving them a bath. However, there is no specific need to do so.
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Preventing Infections With Deworming Cats
If you want to keep your cat healthy, you need to control tapeworm infestations. Deworming cats will help prevent them from getting sick.
You can buy dewormer pills at your local pet store. You may also get them online. Your vet can tell you how much medicine to give your cat.
He or she will also recommend a type of dewormer that best suits your catâs age and size.
If your cat becomes ill due to using one of the dewormers, donât hesitate to contact your vet for further information, as he can help provide an alternative.
Are Worms Dangerous To Humans
Humans can get infected with cat worms. However, they are considered an abnormal host for feline worms, so they become lost and confused in a human body and do some unusual things. Eggs of roundworms are excreted in cat feces. After two weeks in the open, they can become infectious to humans. If accidentally ingested, the worms can migrate to organs such as the liver, lungs, brain or eyes. The human body generates an immune response to try to wall them off and prevent them from moving any further. The disease in humans is known as visceral larva migrans. If in the eye, it is known as ocular larva migrans. Children are at a higher risk of infection. Humans can also be infected with feline hookworms and tapeworms. As with roundworms, eggs are excreted in the feces of infected cats.
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Does A Vet Have To Deworm The Cat
No, it is easy enough to deworm the cat on your own using over the counter dewormers.
It is important to note that not all general dewormers treat every parasite that may be affecting your cat, so it may be useful to get prescribed deworming medicine from your vet to treat the cat accordingly.
Dewormers come in liquid or tablet form, and so the only tricky bit may be sneaking it into their food or milk that you give them.
The Benefits Of Deworming Your Cat
Keeping your cat on a regular deworming schedule can help protect your pet.
- Helps keep your cat healthy: Cats with worms may appear perfectly healthy on the outside, but on the inside, its a different story. Worms live in the intestines and feed on your cats nutrients or blood. In some cases, this can lead to weight loss, increased appetite, diarrhea, dry and coarse fur, and weakness. Severe infections can lead to anemia or a pot belly.
- Helps prevent reinfection: Most dewormers work by paralyzing and killing the worms in your cat. Regular, continuous worming is vital to help remove any further worms your cat may pick up.
- Helps protect yourself and your loved ones: Some worms, like roundworms, can pass to humans through contaminated soil or pet waste, and can cause damage to organs and the eyes. Although this is very rare, it can be serious especially for young children, leading to blindness in extreme cases. Deworming your cat can help lessen the chances of your family encountering intestinal worms.
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How Worms In Cats Are Contracted
At Prestige Animal Hospital, we love helping educate our clients about the best detection and prevention methods for worms in cats, and we pride ourselves on providing our feline patients in and around the San Bernardino County, Southern California area with the utmost in care and treatment protocols. Some of the most common ways to contract worms in cats include:
- Drinking contaminated milk from the mother during nursing
- Rolling in, sniffing, eating, stepping in or licking contaminated soil
- Consuming infected prey like rodents, birds, and reptiles
- Mosquito, flea and tick bites and ingestion
- Coming into contact with an infected cat or another infected animal
- Consuming or coming into contact with an infected animals feces or vomit
It is very important to understand that worms in cats can cause severe medical issues and health conditions if left untreated. This is why we recommend discussing a cat worm preventive protocol with your veterinarian. You can learn how to spot some common symptoms of worms in cats, and also how you can go about preventing the presence and spread of worms in and around your home and family, by reading on.
How Often Should I Deworm My Indoor Cat
You should deworm your indoor cat at least every three months, even if they spend their days indoors, to keep them healthy and free of worms.
Kittens and their mothers are the most vulnerable to intestinal parasite infection, and as a result, they are more likely to harbor worms and produce infective-stage larvae.
As a result, they require a more thorough deworming regimen than an adult cat.
According to the manufacturers recommendations, deworming kittens should begin at six weeks of age and be repeated at 8, 10, and 12 weeks of age.
Nursing dams should be treated at the same time. After that, kittens should be dewormed once a month until they reach the age of six months.
During the summer months, it is advised that adult cats have monthly dewormers in addition to their flea and heartworm prevention, as well as an annual fecal check.
It is also recommended that all outdoor cats be dewormed for tapeworms 1-2 times a year.
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