Treating Cat Worms at Home
When to call the vet, treatment, and prevention
There are several different types of parasites than can affect your cat. A couple of them can be treated at home, but the others will require a vet visit. Truly, if your cat has parasites, it is best to get them checked by a vet if you possibly can.
Roundworms
Many kittens are born with roundworms. A good breeder will have treated the mother cat before she was bred and also treated your kitten early so that the possibility of your new kitten having worms is lessened. Your veterinarian will probably treat again when you visit for your kitten shots. The important thing with any parasite is to break the cycle, which may take more than one treatment.
If you have indoor/outdoor cats or if you have several cats, you may have to give a monthly treatment, which is certainly much easier and less expensive to do it yourself at home. If you actually see any roundworms, which look like very thin spaghetti, you should treat and then treat again in 10 days. Roundworm medication is fairly mild and safe to use monthly. Liquid is easier to administer than tablets.
Tapeworms
Tapeworms are contracted when your cat ingests a flea that has ingested a tapeworm. That sounds much more difficult to get than it actually is. If your cat has fleas, the likelihood that she has tapeworms is very high. These are hard to diagnose because they may not show up in a fecal exam. YOU will probably notice them first, as they come out the cat’s anus and stick to the fur around their bottom. They look like teensy grains of flat, white rice, though when they dry, they take on a yellowish color. You might also notice them in your cat’s fecal matter.
Can you treat these at home? This is a controversial question. There is a product that you can buy called Tape Worm Tabs from Tradewinds, and it contains the same active ingredient that your vet will prescribe. However, many people will tell you that the quality is not the same and the product is not as effective. Others say they worked the first time, and they never had the problem again. The solution? Ask your vet!
Hookworms
Hookworms are bloodsuckers! These can most definitely kill your cat, so they are nothing to mess with. It is also difficult to diagnose without a fecal exam, but the signs to look for are bloody diarrhea, anemia, weakness or poor stamina. If you see any of these signs, make an appointment with your vet and take a stool sample. Immediately. Many breeders will treat kittens with a 3 in 1 wormer before they go to their homes. Though these can be bought over the Internet, it really isn’t best to just automatically give something like this each month.
Whipworms
Whipworms are most normally seen in dogs than in cats, but if your cat shows signs of weight loss or mucous covered stool, you might want to take a fecal sample to the vet.
Giardia and Coccidia
The signs of these two parasites are loose stool, gas, and bad health in general. They also require a fecal exam for diagnosis.
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All of these parasites have the possibilities of also affecting humans, not to mention the damage they can do to your feline friend. If you see or even suspect worms, get them treated! Though you can easily treat roundworms and even tapeworms at home, it is always best to get the advice and treatment of your veterinarian. Please do not take any information in this article as a replacement for proper treatment from your vet.
On the preventative side, holistic therapists often give daily doses of fresh, minced garlic in their cat’s food. This seems to ward off parasites and even kill some worms like roundworms and tapeworms. Also, use flea prevention regularly, groom your cat daily, and keep your pet’s bedding clean. These things may not completely stop a problem, but they will help! Remember to act quickly if you see signs of parasites in your pet.
You might also enjoy Cat Fleas, which will help you eliminate and control fleas.
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