How To Get Rid Of Worms In Cats (Prevention & Treatment)
As a cat parent or an aspiring cat parent, it is worth learning how to get rid of worms in cats, as early detection and treatment will prevent serious health problems.
There are a number of worms that can attack your cat at any given time, with the most common ones being roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms.
Worms are not only a threat to your cat, some of them can also be transferred to humans.
Therefore, it is not only vital to learn how to treat worms in cats but most importantly, how to prevent your cat from a worm infestation.
How To Get Rid Of Worms In Cats – Prevention And Control
The first step you should take to protect your cat from worms is prevention, and there are a number of things you can do to prevent worms from attacking your kitty.
Preventing Fleas
Fleas are one of the biggest agents of worms in cats. They carry worms with them and they can transfer them to your cat.
Administering flea treatment will help you keep fleas at bay, and you can get products such as frontline that prevent fleas from living on your cat.
It can be more expensive to use a parasite preventative than one that treats the problem after fleas are found, but is worthwhile for your cats health, and also to keep them out of your home.
Make sure you consult your veterinarian in order to get information on the most suitable medication for your cat, and also how to administer the medication properly.
Brushing your cat’s coat using a flea comb also helps to detect and prevent fleas.
Check out this article discussing flea treatment advice for cats – how to get rid of them off your cat, and out of your home.
Maintain A Clean Home
A dirty house is a breeding place for fleas.
Clean your house including bedding (both human and cat bedding) to get rid of flea larvae that might have found its way in.
Ensure that yard yard remains clean, and keep outdoor material out of the house to help prevent a flea infestation.
Keeping Your Cat Indoors
The risks your cat can potentially face when outdoors may trump the fulfillment they get from a few hours of adventure in your backyard.
The outdoors exposes your cat to dangers like predators, cars and parasites like worms, and for this reason indoor cats are healthier and they also live longer.
If you really have to take your cat outside consider getting a cat harness, and taking them for walks.
Watch Your Cat’s Diet
Consult your vet to get a recommendation on the best diet that will give your cat all the nutrients and vitamins necessary to boost your cat’s immunity and attain optimal health.
Also, if your cat spends time outdoors make sure to watch over them.
If your cat hunts and kills birds and mice outdoors, eating them could infect your cats with worms.
Test Your Cat’s Poop
Testing your cat’s feces once or twice a year helps to catch and treat worms early.
The frequency of testing increases for outdoor cats because their chances of getting worms are higher.
Protect Yourself From Infection
Some worms can be transmitted to humans so make sure to protect yourself from worms.
Use rubber gloves when handling your cat’s litter box and also wash your hands after petting an infected cat.
Isolate Infected Cats
If you are a cat parent of multiple cats and one of your kitties has worms, isolate them from your other cats.
Keep the infected cat separate until a veterinarian confirms that they are free of worms, and ensure the rest of your cats are also tested.
Medication To Eliminate Worms
If you are looking to treat tapeworms or hookworms, we recommend Bayer Drontal Broad-Spectrum Dewormer – see our review.
Bayer Drontal is highly effective in treating three different types of parasitical worms, including hookworms, tapeworms, and large roundworms.
Bayer is the best alternative to Prosense dewomer solution, which treats only one type of worms in cats: roundworms.
Common Symptoms Of Worms In Cats
- Bloating.
- Coughing/difficulty breathing.
- Diarrhea
- Bloody stool and excessive scratching or biting.
Does your cat have diarrhea? Find out what you can do about it with our post about treating cats with diarrhea
How To Treat Worms In Cats
Keeping an eye on the symptoms of worms ensures that the problem is detected early and treatment is commenced immediately.
Some cats might not show the signs of worms that’s why testing feces is important.
If your cat exhibits the symptoms of worms, contact your veterinarian and make an appointment.
Worms need to be treated by a qualified veterinarian, so do not attempt to deal with them on your own.
Your vet will perform a series of tests to make a diagnosis, and if your cat has worms they will provide the proper treatment plan.
Although over the counter dewormers might work on some worms, it could be harmful when used to treat specific type of worms.
Purchasing over the counter medication is not advised especially without a clinical diagnosis.
