Natural Worm Treatment For Cats

How Does Your Dog Or Cat Get Intestinal Parasites

Ok, where are my poop eaters?

This unfortunately is the number one for your pet to become infected with roundworms and whipworms.

But roundworms can also be passed from the mother to the pup or kitten through the placenta or in the milk.

This is one of the main reasons why the vet deworms your puppies and kittens so frequently when you first get them.

Other routes of transmission include fleas or eating mice, rabbits, or small rodents.

So if you have an outdoor cat, you need to be checking stool samples frequently for intestinal parasites and the same with your dogs if you have a dog that is an avid hunter.

Power Of Garlic And Pumpkin Seed

Another home dewormer is to mix fresh, minced garlic into your cat’s food. Do this only one time a day. While garlic is known as a preventative, it can help kill insects and parasites as well. You will want to start with small amounts of garlic, so you do not turn your cat off of eating the food.

Raw pumpkin seeds are a great dewormer, and they especially fight tapeworms. Grind up the seeds and add 1/4 cup to your cat’s food daily.

How Is My Cat Dewormed

After your veterinarian has identified and diagnosed your cat with worms, they will have a proper treatment plan according to the type of worms your cat has been diagnosed with. Your cat will be prescribed a dewormer medication that might be a small pill, liquid, injection, or topical medicine to be administered.

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How Do I Know If My Cat Has Worms

It can sometimes be difficult to identify whether your kitten or cat has worms, so we always recommend maintaining an appropriate worming schedule for your cat. There are however some common symptoms to look out for which may suggest an infestation. These can include diarrhoea, weight loss and behaviour changes such as bottom dragging or lethargic behaviour. Remember to consult your vet if your cat is displaying any of these symptoms.

How Do Felines Get Tapeworms In The First Place

As if tapeworms are gross-sounding enough, consider the most common way that cats get them in the first place:

From fleas.

You may not think that you have fleas in your home, but it’s actually relatively easy to come in contact with these little buggers on a day-to-day basis. Boarding kennels , grooming shops, pet stores, or even veterinary hospitals are often hotspots for fleas that may pass from one animal host to another.

Even the great outdoors can expose your cat to fleas. This is especially true if your cat goes outdoors and you live in a woody area.

Tapeworms, like a few other common parasites, require at least 2 animal hosts in order to survive. The first hostusually the common fleawill contain tapeworm larvae. Once the infected flea becomes ingested by the second hoste.g., your catthat the larvae will find their way to the animal’s small intestine, latch on, and begin to grow.

For cats specifically, they typically become infected by tapeworms after accidentally eating a flea while grooming, or after eating a tapeworm-infected rodent.

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Best Cat Dewormer: Bayer Tapeworm Dewormer

The Bayer Tapeworm Dewormer pills are the best because they act against tapeworms in a single, easy-to-administer dose. Each pill contains 23 mg of the active ingredient, praziquantel, and can be given directly or powdered and mixed with food. Its ability to quickly and safely eliminate parasites makes it the preferred cat dewormer of many feline-owners and vets.

Effectiveness Of This Dewormer

The main ingredient is the food-grade Diatomaceous Earth. It is made of crushed diatoms, coral-like creatures that have the structure of tiny crystal shards when crushed. The shards are so small that they cant hurt you or your pets, but they can do a lot of damage to invertebrates. They can irritate eyes and nasal passages but are just dusty on your skin. On a flea or tick though, it will form crisscross scores on the shell, either dehydrating the insect or drowning them, depending on if its use with water or not. There is no chemical for the pest to become immune to, so it can be used with success every time.

Deworming is a part of raising animals so why not try a natural dewormer for dogs, cats, and other animals?

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Some Foods That Help To Reduce Intestinal Worms Include:

Raw grated carrot, watercress, pumpkin & pumpkin seeds, coconut, papaya, greens, fennel and apple cider vinegar.

Adding a good quality Canine/Feline Probiotic along with digestive enzyme supplements also provide additional support by ensuring the gastrointestinal tract has a good balance of healthy intestinal flora to help flush out intestinal worms.

There are a number of herbs that have anti-parasitic properties which may be used to help control worms in dogs and cats as well as horses, poultry, birds and people!

If you do need to use a conventional wormer or heartworm medication, then it is a good idea to follow up with liver detox remedies to reduce the risk of side effects.

Please contact us if you would like to know about the many natural non-toxic solutions we have for controlling worms for both your animals and your family.

Tips To Prevent Worms In Cat

• Maintain good litter box hygiene as litter box is the main culprit of worms especially if you have more than one cat maintaining hygiene not only keeps the litter box fresh but also prevent worm infestation.
• Cleaning the home is as important as maintaining hygiene of litter box since cat roams all day long in-house.
• Make sure your backyard garden and pets are flea free.
• Consult your vet for appropriate internal parasite treatment or its prevention program.
• Clean or cat on a regular basis and maintain their hygiene.
• Watch out if they are outdoor and make sure they do not eat or meet a rodent as they are the primary source of worms in them

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Cats Should Be On Parasite Prevention Year

Veterinarians recommend broad-spectrum parasite prevention for all cats. Indoor-outdoor cats are at high risk for contracting intestinal parasites like roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms, and all cats, including those that live indoors, need prevention from deadly heartworms.

“Parasites can enter the house many ways,” Sawyer said. “They can be brought in by other pets like the family dog or by small rodents. They can be brought in by us, for example, a flea on our clothes or on our shoes. Mosquitoes can also enter through an open door or window and transmit heartworm disease.”

Some owners think their cats only need preventives in the spring and summer, but veterinarians recommend keeping cats on a broad-spectrum parasite preventive all 12 months of the year. Different parasites are active during different months, and parasite activity can vary depending on where you live. Additionally, parasites can become active earlier than expected, including in the winter.

“It’s a little bit of a gamble, especially with climate change and the unpredictability of the weather in most areas of the country,” Jeffer said. “Where I live in North Carolina, the weather changes from week to week. One week we might have a snowstorm and the next week it might be 70 degrees. When there are puddles on the ground and the temperature’s warm enough, that’s mosquitoes’ favorite time of year.”

Do These Home Remedies Really Work

In most cases, there havent been any studies done to test their effectiveness on cats. All you have to rely on is anecdotal evidence and somewhat-related research.

Thats a fancy way of saying that theres no real evidence that theyre effective.

Thats why most vets would discourage their use, as they prefer other treatments like lime sulfur therapy. Many cat owners dont like to use this treatment, though, because it smells horrible, can cause hair loss, and may discolor the skin.

There are also oral treatments available, but these are expensive and can cause undesirable side effects.

As a result, many people are drawn to natural home remedies like those shown above. You can try them if you like, but we recommend starting with the lime sulfur therapy if you definitely want to see results.

Featured Image Credit By: George Hodan, public domain pictures

Contents Overview

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Effective Home Remedies For Worms In Cats

If youve got a cat, youre going to have to deal with parasites. Im not saying its inevitable but if you dont believe me, just look at my two-month-old kittens who had worms. It was quite a shock for me when I saw those wiggly things under their tail.

I know that vets can offer deworming pills that are safe and effective- but there is always the concern about the toxicity of cat dewormers and how much your pet will like taking them each day. Luckily, I am here today to offer 6 homemade cat remedies for dealing with parasites!

Intestinal Parasites In Cats

The cat’s intestinal tract can be infested by different types of parasites, but the following are the most common ones:

• Vermes: Vermes are also known as worms, and there are two types: Round-shaped ones are known as Nematodes, and flat ones are called Cestodes.

• Protozoa: These are unicellular parasites of which mainly two types exist: Coccidias and Giardias.

The eggs of these parasites are expelled through the feces of already infected cats. Therefore, the main route of contagion is through the ingestion of infected feces or through the ingestion of small rodents that have eaten feces infected with parasite eggs.

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Other Parasites That Display Similar Symptoms As Worms Are:

Coccidium is an organism that can live in your cats intestines that is sometimes ingested through raw or undercooked meat, including rodents. Be sure to clean their litter tray daily, as it takes one to two days for faeces to become infectious. Symptoms can include diarrhoea, vomiting, weight loss and loss of appetite.

Toxoplasmosis is a multisystemic parasite that can also be dangerous to humans. Symptoms can include non-specific signs, such as fever and loss of appetite, as well as ocular lesions, difficulty in breathing and diarrhoea.

It is important to treat your cat regularly throughout its adult life. If you have any concerns about treating your cat for parasites, contact your vet.

Natural Cat Flea Treatments To Avoid

The flea treatments in the table are age-old remedies for parasites that dont work or are harmful to cats:

Garlic

Garlic, when used internally and externally, is a popular insect repellent. Some sources may also suggest adding garlic to your cats food as it makes the fleas bloodmeal less appealing.

However, there is no evidence that proves garlics effectiveness against fleas or other bugs. In fact, garlic is poisonous for dogs in high doses, and cats are even more vulnerable to garlics toxic effects.

According to studies in Interdisciplinary Toxicology and Frontiers in Veterinary Science, accidental ingestion of garlic is a common cause of food-related poisoning in cats. Therefore, using garlic topically or adding it to your cats food is not recommended as a way to get rid of fleas on cats.

Citronella

Citronella oil is a popular natural insect repellent. Because humans use it to keep away mosquitos, some users may consider using citronella to treat fleas on cats.

However, citronellas side effects on cats outweigh its potency against fleas. Citronella is a skin and eye irritant. It can also be toxic if inhaled or ingested in high concentrations.

Pennyroyal Oil

Derived from the pennyroyalherb, pennyroyal oil has a longstanding history of being an effective fleadeterrent.

Brewers Yeast

Diatomaceous Earth

• Applying it to your cats fur
• Applying it to your carpets

Neem Oil

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How To Prevent Worms In Pets

Prevention is always better than cure, so follow these tips to reduce the risk of your pet catching worms.

• Disinfect food and water bowls regularly.
• Ensure housing is regularly cleaned and disinfected, but only use a disinfectant that’s safe for animals.
• Good pasture management is needed for horses, ponies, donkeys and rabbits to prevent them from eating the larvae and eggs of worms. This may involve removing droppings and rotating which areas your animal has access to.
• Avoid collecting greens for rabbits from areas where wild rabbits and rodents have been. If your rabbits are kept outside, place their housing so that exposure to wild rabbits and rodents is minimised.
• Pregnant animals should only be wormed under the supervision of a vet.
• Clean up after your pet and dispose of faeces carefully.
• Wash your hands thoroughly before you eat.

For more advice on how to get rid of worms, have a read of our ‘get worm wise guide‘.

How Long Will A Roundworm Treatment Take To Work On My Cat

Similar to tapeworm treatments, most roundworm treatments for cats require several doses two or three weeks apart to ensure all worms are eradicated. Consult the directions included with your chosen worming treatment for best results. Kittens are particularly vulnerable to roundworm infection, so be sure to keep up to date with your kittens worming schedule.

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Can Turmeric Be Used To Treat Worms In Cats

Yes, turmeric can prove very effective in treating worms in cats it can assist in boosting your cats general health and vitality.

Turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory effects, making it a superfood. It also contains components that can aid in the removal of worms as well as the repair of intestinal damage. Your cats gut will be healthier as a result of this!

Turmeric is a perennial herbaceous plant. It has therapeutic benefits and is unquestionably safe for cats.

Turmeric is commonly used to heal the diseases of cats. It improves their immune systems function, which aids in the fight against numerous ailments.

Because of its medical benefits, Curcumin is given the nickname CURE-CUMIN by Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.

Bayer Drontal Broad Spectrum Dewormer

Who should use: For cats with tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms.

When owners are not sure of the type of worm infesting their cats, or if they suspect multiple types of infestations, then a broad spectrum dewormer such as the Bayer Drontal Cat Dewormer is a great alternative. Although expensive, this treatment may actually end up saving money if your cat contracts intestinal parasites very frequently or if you want to treat multiple cats.

Bayer Drontal Dewormer is a favorite of vets and has two ultra-powerful active ingredients: pyrantel pamoate and praziquantel. It is available in the tablet form and doses can be conveniently administered. The tablets are equally safe for both kittens as well as adult cats. Each bottle contains 50 tablets, which makes it worth all the money cat owners spend buying it.

These cat dewormer tablets are very effective, yet safe. There is very less risk associated in the form of side-effects.

Side-effects: This medication has a very low risk of side-effects.

Pros

• It is the preferred treatment of vets when they are looking to treat intestinal parasites.
• This targets multiple types of worms and has two active ingredients: pyrantel pamoate and praziquantel.
• The medication is very effective yet carries a low risk of any side-effects.

Cons

• This cat dewormer is very expensive to purchase.
• It is not recommended for kittens below 1 month or 1.5 lbs.
• Some cats may not enjoy the taste.

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Can Cats Get Worms From Dogs

Yes, cats can pick up infected eggs from dog poop, as not all roundworms and hookworms are species-specific. Ancylostoma braziliense hookworm can affect both dogs and cats, as well as Toxascaris leonina roundworm.

Cats can also get tapeworms via the flea on dogs if they are living in an infested home or yard. If a flea from a dog jumps onto a cat and gets ingested, there is the potential for a tapeworm infestation to develop.

The most common types of worms in cats are:

• Roundworms

• Tapeworms

• Whipworms

There are also a number of less commonly diagnosed worms in cats that can cause serious health problems and can even be fatal, including:

• Lungworms

Severe infestations of liver flukes may cause:

• Swelling of the liver

• Abdominal distention

There Are Many Types Of Gi Parasites

Some kittens will have parasites that aren’t covered by your standard dewormer. If the kitten is dewormed, but her poop still doesn’t seem quite right, ask a vet for a fecal exam to test for other parasites, such as:

Coccidia – a nasty little single-celled organism that causes mucousy diarrhea in kittens, and can be treated with the prescription drug Ponazuril or Albon

Giardia – another protozoan infection, resulting in soft, frothy, greasy diarrhea, which can be treated with Panacur

Tapeworms – a parasitic worm found in kittens who have had fleas. Tapeworm segments may be visible in the feces –you’ll need Praziquantel to get rid of them

and so much more!

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Diagnosing Worms In Cats

While some worms can be seen by the naked eye, others must be diagnosed with fecal testing. Your veterinarian will ask you to bring in a stool sample, which will be placed in a solution that allows the parasite eggs to separate from the feces and float to the top.

Next, a drop of the sample is placed on a slide and examined under a microscope to determine the exact type of worm infesting your cat. A physical exam, along with blood work, may also be carried out to get a complete picture of your cats health.

Because the lifecycle of each parasite is different, its important to know exactly the type of worm infesting your cat. This will determine medication, treatment, and follow-up care. After treatment, your cat will likely need another fecal exam to ensure the worms have been wiped out.

Thankfully, most intestinal worms in cats are easily resolved with either a single dose of dewormer or a short course of deworming medication that your vet can prescribe and administer. Certain worms can be more stubborn to resolve, resulting in slightly longer treatment courses of intestinal dewormers.