Worm Treatment and Prevention in Cats

Seems like we need to give our cats a lot of wormers--why?

Hard to believe, but we share more than half of the parasites of cats!

 

The control of internal worm parasites in cats should be managed by a licensed veterinarian. Choice of product, and the schedule of administration and dosage all need to be appropriate in order to make your investment in this type of therapy pay back with good parasite control. No single product is effective against all intestinal parasites.

Sometimes the wormer is dispensed for home administration and in this case, make sure the directions are closely adhered to and that the cat is observed following treatment for a while. Make sure if you are worming the cat at home that you are familiar with possible side effects and know when to call the vet.

Worms are often present in a few different stages of development at any one time in the cat, so multiple treatments will generally be required to clear the infestation. As well, note that some parasites can be picked up all over again if they are present in the cat’s environment. This is why we recommend continued monitoring for parasites with periodic fecal checks. Cats that hunt are prone to picking up hunting tapeworm over and over, and cats with fleas, prone to getting the flea tapeworm repeatedly!

It takes more than medication to clear worms. The litter box should be cleaned daily, and sanitized with dilute bleach regularly. Control of external parasites and hunting behavior will help curtail new tapeworm infestations. Keeping the cat indoors will prevent picking up sticky infectious eggs as a result of digging in local flowerbeds where stray cats have left behind their stool and parasite eggs . If you introduce new cats into the household, make sure that they are wormed and isolated for a while before they mix in with resident cats to help prevent introduction of diseases and parasites.

Because many internal parasites of cats can also infest people, the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) together with the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists has advised routine treatment of all kittens, whether or not their fecal sample shows eggs. Treatment at 3,5,7 and 9 weeks, then continued treatment as needed, depending on results of follow up bowel movement tests and the lifestyle/risk of exposure to parasites should be done as a standard protocol.

By draining key dietary nutrients or blood from the host cat, and damaging the lining or function of the gut, intestinal parasites can have quite a debilitating effect. Young kittens may even become anemic or stunted in their growth. Proper worming care of cats from birth through the golden years helps ensure optimal health.

 

Disclaimer: This website is not intended to replace professional consultation, diagnosis, or treatment by a licensed veterinarian. If you require any veterinary related advice, contact your veterinarian promptly. Information at Cathealth.com is exclusively of a general reference nature. Do not disregard veterinary advice or delay treatment as a result of accessing information at this site.