Finding out that your Cat has worms can be a distressing experience for any pet owner. Not only can discovering worms be terrifying but their presence can also pose serious questions about your cat’s health.

However, there are a number of safe and reliable ways to control worms in cats, as well as a number of preventative steps you may take to reduce the risk of a potential re-infestation.

What You Need To Know About Worms In Cats? Here’s The Scoop:

How Do My Cats Get Worms?

Worms can infect your cat in a variety of ways. Tapeworms, hookworms, and roundworms can all be contracted in different ways.

1. Tapeworms

Tapeworms are the most common worm encountered by pet owners. Tapeworms are segmented, long, and flat. When pet parents see tapeworms, they see parts of the worm that look like grains of white rice or sesame seeds near the pet’s rear end or on bedding. Tapeworms are transmitted to cats by ingesting fleas that have been groomed from their hair.

2. Roundworms

Ingesting roundworm eggs or larvae from the muscle tissue of infected rodents or other critters may cause roundworm infection in cats. Hookworms are more likely to be transmitted to outdoor cats that are hunters of prey. Roundworms are commonly transmitted in kittens by mother’s milk.

3. Hookworms

Hookworms are earthworms that live in the soil. If your cat goes outside, brushing his feet after walking through a contaminated area will give him/her hookworms. Hookworms may also be acquired by ingesting the feces of infected dogs and cats. Cats may be meticulous groomers of themselves and other pets, grooming fecal material off of other pets with roundworms or even grooming their paws after visiting the litter box with contaminated feces.

When Can I Dewormer My Cat?

Deworming is needed at two, four, six, and eight weeks for kittens. Both cats and kittens over the age of six months should be treated with a monthly heartworm and flea preventative that also treats and controls hookworms and roundworms all year long.

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What Is The Best Way To Tell If My Cat Has Worms?

Most of the time, you won’t know your cat has worms until you see them, which isn’t always the case. Intestinal worms and eggs can be detected during your cat’s routine fecal screening.

Here Are Some Signs That Your Cat Might Be Infected With Worms:

• Loss of weight
• Thick coat of fur
• Puffy stomach
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting and lethargy
• Dragging their feet on the ground

What Is The Vital Schedule For Deworming?

Kittens and their mothers are the most vulnerable to intestinal parasite infection, and as a result, they are more likely to harbor worms and develop infective-stage larvae. As a result, they need a more rigorous deworming routine than an adult cat. Deworming kittens should begin at 6 weeks of age and be repeated at 8, 10, and 12 weeks of age, according to the package insert or vet recommendations. Nursing mothers should be handled at the same time. After that, kittens should be de-wormed once a month before they reach the age of six months.

During the summer months, it is recommended that adult cats receive 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 de-wormed for tapeworms 1-2 times a year.

How Does My Cat Get De-wormed?

Your veterinarian will have a treatment plan based on the type of worms your cat has been diagnosed with after your veterinarian has detected and diagnosed your cat with worms. Your cat will be given a dewormer cure, which can be in the form of a small pill, liquid, injection, or topical treatment.

How Do I De-worm My Picky Eater Cat?

This is a challenging one. Panacur is odourless and tasteless when frozen, so cool the dose before combining it with a tasty treat like fish. Panacur, on the other hand, does not get rid of tapeworms, so if you think your cat has them, you’ll need a contingency plan—Pyrantel (a tapeworm treatment) is available as an injection and a spot-on, so if you have someone who can keep the cat steady in a towel while you apply the spot-on, this might be the better choice.

Is It Safer For Cats To Eat Before Or After They’ve Been Dewormed?

Though this is uncommon, some cats can have a mild reaction to a deworming drug, such as vomiting or diarrhea. To prevent gastric upset, it is often advised to take oral deworming medications with food.

Is There A Rise In The Number Of Worms In The Stool After The Deworming Treatment?

It is possible. If the deworming procedure destroys a significant number of worms in the bowels, they will be flushed out with the feces, making it seem that there are many more than normal.

Can A Pill Forcefully Pushed Down A Cat’s Throat Cause Them To Choke?

No, if they don’t spit it out, they would immediately swallow it. If your cat spits it out, you will have to try again. Cats do not need to chew their food; they simply swallow it whole, so swallowing pills is a natural process they do.

Can I Use Dog Dewormer To Deworm My Cat?

It is safer to use cat deworming treatment because the dose varies significantly due to the size of the cats. Still, if you want to use same treatments for two different species its best to consult an expert veterinarian.

How Can I Deworm My Feral Cats?

Most of the vets will not advice any treatment for feral cats unless they examine them. However, you can try some safe and effective over-the-counter products for worm treatments such as Drontal All Wormer Cat Tablets, Profender, and Popantel Cat All Wormer Tablets or you can set traps, catch them, and take them to the veterinarian for deworming .

Is It Normal For A Kitten To Vomit Few Times After Deworming?

Vomiting is common after deworming , but if you notice blood or unusually colored vomit (such as black), please speak to your veterinarian right away.

How Long Does A Dewormer Take To Work In Cats?

For a care plan and time period, contact your veterinarian. In most cases, the first dose would kill any adult worms that are present at the time of dosing. Many treatments would necessitate additional doses to kill the adults that were larvae when the first dose was administered.

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Is It Safe To Give A Tapeworm And Roundworm Dewormer To My Cat At The Same Time?

Tapeworms are only usually a problem in older cats, unless a kitten has fleas. It is safe to treat adult cats older than 6 months of age every 1-3 months with a product that is effective against both tapeworms and roundworms. Consider your cat’s well being, other ongoing treatments, and your veterinarian’s advice.

What Should I Do To Prevent Parasitic Infection In My Cat?

After each use of a cat, thoroughly clean food and water dishes, as well as any syringes, nipples, bottles, and tubes. Remember to quarantine any new kitten that comes into the house, both for the sake of the other cats and the kitten’s protection. Your cat does not display any tapeworm symptoms and maybe flea-free, but a flea may easily leap onto your cat, return to the kitten, be swallowed by the kitten, and transmit tapeworms. Scoop the litter boxes on a regular basis and thoroughly clean and wash them 1-2 days per week.

You can also try some all wormer preventative treatments with flea and tick preventive treatment to control or treat parasitic infection in cats after consulting your veterinarian.

If you still have some questions or concerns about deworming your cat and would like to reach us out. Please visit us at canadapetcare.com

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