Regular deworming will keep your pet healthy and help avoid health problems brought on by parasites.
While the possibility of having worms is definitely greater for outdoor cats, your indoor cat is also at risk. Fleas and worm eggs can enter the home on our shoes, clothing, other pets, potting soil or house flies.
Roundworms and tapeworms are the most common intestinal parasite found in cats. Roundworms can make their way to your cat via their mother’s milk, or ingestion from contaminated soil and rodents. Tapeworms can appear after a cat has ingested contaminated fleas or rodents.
Diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss and abdominal bloating can be signs that your cat has some wiggly worms tagging along. Worm segments can sometimes be seen in your cat’s stool, or near their hind end.
Human contact with soil, or feces contaminated by roundworm, can pose a risk of infection. Keep your family away from soil that is frequently used by cats, and wear gloves when cleaning the litter box. Roundworms can cause eye, lung, heart and neurologic issues in people.
For kittens, we recommend deworming every 2 weeks, until 3 months of age. We suggest that outdoor kitties continue with monthly treatments and indoor kitties should be dewormed every 2-4 months.
Side effects are rare but can include vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite. Parasites may also become visible in the cat’s stool.
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