Parasite Treatments for Cats

Protecting your Cats against Parasites

Kittens should be wormed with a broad spectrum preparation fortnightly from 6 weeks until 12 weeks old. This is particularly important against roundworm, tapeworm and hookworm. Then, over 12 weeks of age - once a month until 6 months old.

Cats over 6 months old - once every 3 months.

Adult cats should be wormed 3 or 4 times a year with a broad spectrum tablet that also kills tapeworm.

If a cat is diagnosed as having worms, it should be wormed fortnightly 3 or 4 times to break the life cycle of the worm.

We recommend worming with one of the following preparations -

 Ambex

 Popantel

 Drontal

 Milbemax

 Felex Plus Paste

 Revolution - this is a spot on formulation applied to the back of the neck once a month, treats roundworm and hookworm as well as heartworm, and can be a easy way to treat cats that are difficult when giving oral medications.

 

Protecting your Family against Parasites

Normal cleanliness routines should be established and followed by all members of the family, especially children -

   Wash hands after handling animal food, animal litter, etc.

  Wash hands before eating

  Clean litter trays regularly with hot water and bleach

  Keep animal bedding clean and fresh, using bleach in the washing water

  Wash all animal food bowls and water bowls in hot soapy water, rinsed with hot water after each meal

  It is recommended that family members are treated with anti-parasite treatments each time your animals are treated for worms and fleas - or every 3 months.  Human treatments are available from chemists.

Understanding Parasites

 Heartworm

This is one of the most serious feline parasites which is spread when infective mosquitoes bite cats and transfer heartworm larvae. Cats are a resistant host and infection is often self-limiting

Heartworm may cause - asthma like signs; difficulty breathing; gagging; vomiting; weight loss; sudden death

  Hookworm

Hookworm can penetrate the skin when cats walk on or ingests contaminated soil - it attaches to and feeds on the cat's intestinal lining. 

Hookworm may cause - internal bleeding; anaemia.

Zoonotic Potential (Potential Impact on humans) - People may become infected with hookworm by touching or accidentally ingesting contaminated sand or soil. In humans, hookworm cause itching lesions while penetrating and migrating through the skin

 Roundworm

Roundworm is the most common worm in cats. Iinfection occurs via ingestion of queen's milk by kittens and ingestion of infected eggs or infected hosts such as rodents. The roundworm lives in the small intestine. .

Roundworm may cause - diarrhoea or constipation; vomiting; dehydration; stunted growth

Zoonotic Potential (Potential Impact on humans) -humans, especially children, contract roundworm through the ingestion of contaminated dirt. The roundworm larvae migrate through the body causing sickness. If the roundworm larvae reach the eyes they can lead to vision problems - even blindness

 Tapeworm

Tapeworm are flat segmented worms that live in the small intestine.

Tapeworm may cause - weight loss; diarrhoea; poor coat condition

Types of tapeworm - 

  Dipylidium caninum (flea tapeworm) - infection occurs when a cat ingests a flea that has eaten tapeworm eggs 

  Taenia spp. - infection caused by ingestion of infected animals such as mice 

Zoonotic Potential (Potential Impact on humans) - flea tapeworm can infect humans via the accidental ingestion of infected fleas or contaminated soil. The tapeworm may form cysts in humans which infiltrate and damage vital organs such as the liver and lungs