Translated by Nick R
We must be aware of the care we need to give to our new pets to ensure their health and life, and one of the things we must take into account is deworming.
Deworming must be done periodically since external and internal parasites can affect your feline, so here I’ll explain why, how, and when to deworm your cat.
Table of Contents
Importance of deworming your cat
First of all, let’s talk about parasites. Parasites are organisms that depend on another living being to survive (the cat in this case). They live on or inside the cat and affect some aspects of his health.
In this study, “Parasitic control in dogs and cats: knowledge about the major parasitic diseases in the Mexican Southeast“, they explain how parasites are related to “gastroenteric problems, the circulatory system, as well as other tissues and organs (…) and skin problems”.
Deworming is the process by which we seek to completely eliminate parasites that can be both in the skin and fur of your pet and also inside its body (the digestive system, for example).
It is imperative because these parasites are contagious and can spread to other animals and even to humans, therefore it is necessary to pay special attention to this issue in order to control any parasites your feline may have, treat them on time and properly, and of course prevent their transmission since they can turn into delicate diseases that can lead to the death of the animal.
Felines can suffer from a large number of diseases, and here are 19 common diseases in cats.
Why do cats get parasites?
Some cats can contract these organisms because, for example, they go outside every day, and not only have contact with other animals that may live in the street, but also with different surfaces and places from where they can catch them. If this is the case with your cat, you need to be more careful and watch out for parasites.
On the other hand, there are cats that are homelike and don’t go out and are also at risk of becoming infected since the owner, the people living with the pet, or visitors can carry parasites on their clothes or shoes that can end up infecting the feline.
External parasites
Also known as ectoparasites, they live in the external part of the cat and can be transmitted to humans, some of these parasites are:
Fleas:
These are the parasites that affect cats most commonly; they also reproduce very fast, a female can lay up to 50 eggs, so your pet will be infested with a lot of fleas if not treated quickly. Flea bites can cause allergic reactions, anemia, and even transmit diseases.
Fleas can be easily seen on your pet’s coat, especially if it is very hot: you’ll see them jumping up and down on the fur. It is not only necessary to treat the animal but also the whole house environment, such as bedding, sofas, blankets, cushions, etc., as they may be infected with eggs and larvae.
Ticks:
Although these parasites mostly affect dogs, cats can also be victims. They dig their head into your pet’s skin and suck its blood. You can identify them because they are large brown balls about 3 to 8 mm long.
Just like fleas, they can reproduce quickly and transmit diseases such as:
- Lyme disease: it is a bacterial infection that reaches the bloodstream after the tick bites, affecting different organs and joints. This disease causes a skin rash, fever, loss of appetite and muscle pain.
- Wildcat fever: this disease has a high mortality rate in both domestic and wild felines and can cause the death of the animal in less than a week.
The article ” Cytauxzoonosis, a lethal disease for both wild and domestic felines” tells us about this disease and its signs: “It causes anemia, depression, anorexia, vomiting, jaundice, dehydration, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly and fever”.
- Anaplasmosis: It causes fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, joint pain, diarrhea, and respiratory problems.
- Tularemia: a highly contagious disease even for humans. It causes fever, tiredness, chills, eye infections, dehydration, and swollen and painful lymph nodes.
- Babesiosis: this disease causes anemia, anorexia, weakness, vomiting, and pale mucous membranes and can also cause kidney failure, pulmonary edema, and liver disease.
Mites:
They are ectoparasites found on animal skin, although they can also penetrate it. There are more than 50,000 types of mites that attack animals and humans. Some that can affect cats, in particular, are Cheyletiella, otodectes, mange mites, and demodex.
Mites are the main cause of scabies.
- Scabies: it is a skin disease very contagious for humans as well. It causes intense itching and can even cause lesions on the cat’s skin and alopecia. There are different types of scabies: Otodectic scabies, which is located on the feline’s ears; Notoedric scabies, which is generally located on the head and neck of the animal; and Demodectic scabies, which is located on the cat’s head, neck, eyelids and eyes.
Symptoms of external parasites
To detect if your cat has any of these parasites you must first, in case of fleas or ticks, check your feline periodically since they are easy to detect in the coat, on the other hand, be attentive to these general symptoms caused by these organisms:
- Excessive scratching.
- Skin reddening
- Skin wounds and scabs.
- Alopecia (loss of fur).
- Loss of appetite.
- Fever.
- Vomiting and diarrhea.
Products for treating external parasites
There are different products to deworm your cat and prevent or eliminate these external parasites.
Topical medications
- Anti-parasite pipettes: they usually have an applicator and are applied to the back of the neck so that the cat cannot lick it off. It must be a special one for cats, don’t put a dog’s one; it can be toxic! Also, you must consider the weight of your feline because the pipes come in different presentations and it could fail or intoxicated the cat.
- Flea shampoo: if your feline already has fleas, you can choose to bathe him with this type of shampoo to eliminate them.
Spraying medicines
- Anti-parasitic sprays: these are applied all over the animal’s body (avoiding the eyes, of course) at a certain distance (10 to 20 cm) and this way it kills the fleas and ticks that have infested your pet. Once they die, they fall to the floor or the surfaces where your pet is so you must clean the rugs, blankets and bedding very well.
- Anti-parasite collars: these have chemical substances (insecticides) that repel parasites and are quite easy to use. The substances they contain are constantly released in all the feline’s skin and fur during the time stipulated in the product. I do not recommend them because they could intoxicate or poison your cat due to the chemicals contained in these products or even harm you, since when you pet your pet these chemicals will remain in your hand.
Oral medications
- Tablets: in pill format, they are a little more difficult to administer since you must get your feline to swallow them. These products are both for prevention and to eliminate the parasites that the feline already has.
Manual
- Tweezers: if you notice a tick on your feline, you can remove it by grabbing it with tweezers, but be careful because if you pull too fast and hard or press, the tick’s head may remain inside.
Then you can drown it in a cup with alcohol, or you can go to the veterinarian to remove it properly and make sure that your feline does not have any infection.
Recommendation: To prevent these parasites, you need your pet to have proper hygiene, so here are 9 essential tips to improve the hygiene of your dog or cat.
Internal parasites
Also called endoparasites, they are mainly worms and protozoa located inside the animal’s body, in the intestine, and other organs such as the heart. Some of these parasites are:
Intestinal worms:
There are different types of this worm such as:
- Roundworms, measuring about 10 cm, can be transmitted to humans as well. They can cause a serious infection which, if it gets into the eyes, causes blindness (also in humans). Affected cats may experience vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or loss of appetite.
- Ancylostomas are smaller worms than the previous ones, measuring less than 1.5 cm. They can crawl through the skin and are also contagious to humans. They can cause skin wounds, swelling, enteritis (which is an intestinal inflammation), diarrhea, anemia, and weight loss.
- Tapeworms can measure up to 60 cm and can be transmitted to humans. They can be asymptomatic infections, but some symptoms that the feline may present are: vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, pain in the abdominal area, weight loss, and growth problems in puppies.
Heartworms:
These parasites aren’t spread by having contact with another cat or animal but are transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. There are more than 30 species of mosquitoes that can infect a feline with heartworms.
Heartworms cause damage to the blood vessels of the heart and also lesions in the lungs, and can be a fatal disease. They are difficult to detect, but some clinical symptoms are: lethargy, lack of energy, loss of appetite and therefore weight loss, coughing and difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, tachycardia and fainting.
Since they are difficult to detect, it is recommended to visit the veterinarian periodically for general health check-ups to detect problems or diseases that may develop and treat them in time.
Symptoms of internal parasites
Internal parasites in cats can cause these symptoms:
- Coughing
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Anemia
- Dull, dry, brittle coat
- Diarrhea
- Mucus
- Blood in the feces.
Products to treat internal parasites
In the market there are several products in different presentations to deworm your feline, some of them are:
Topical medicines
- Antiparasitic pipettes: they serve as dewormers for internal and external parasites. You must make sure to apply a pipette for cats because if you apply one for dogs it can be intoxicated; you must also take into account the weight of your pet because it can be toxic if you give it a dose for a heavier animal.
Oral medications
- Tablets: tablets are administered orally, always remember to consult your veterinarian before giving your pet any type of medication.
- Syrups: these can be given using a syringe, take the recommended amount and give it orally.
When to deworm my cat?
You can deworm your cat from 6 weeks of age. After the 3 months of age, it is advisable to deworm them at least 2 times a year or every 3 or 4 months depending on their lifestyle and general health.
As for pregnant cats, consult your veterinarian because there are some products or activities that could harm them.
However, the veterinarian will tell you how often you should deworm your pet and which product works best for her. Although if you detect a specific parasite, you may have to change the usual product for one that attacks the problem directly.
Tips for deworming a cat
To successfully deworm your cat, whether you have decided to buy a pipette or a pill, follow the steps below.
1. Select the medication
Choose the medication that best suits your pet’s needs, whether they are pills, sprays or pipettes. Make sure they are specifically for the parasite you want to prevent or attack.
How to know? The product label indicates whether it is an internal or external antiparasitic (or both) and what parasites it targets; it also indicates what weight of pet it is recommended for and whether it is for dogs or cats.
Pipettes and sprays act as a repellent, whereas in the case of pills, the parasite has to bite the animal to get intoxicated since the medicine acts only in the blood. As for oral medications, such as pills, many of them are specific for roundworms, flatworms, mites, fleas, or ticks, some of them have several functions, so you must choose the right one.
2. Make them stay still
Maybe your cat will try to run away, scratch, or bite you when you apply or administer the dewormer. That’s why it’s recommended to wrap him/her in a towel or ask someone to hold him/her while you administer the pill, or syrup or apply the pipette.
Regarding the spray, apply it all over the cat’s body at a certain distance, avoiding the eyes. Preferably do it in a ventilated place.
3. Get them to swallow
For example, in the case of pills, after introducing them into your cat’s mouth, close it for a moment and give it a little massage going down from the jaw to the throat to force it to swallow the pill.
In contrast, giving them the syrup will be easier since they will have to swallow it and will probably lick it until there is no trace of it.
4. Wait a few minutes
To make sure they have swallowed, wait a few minutes holding the feline in your lap, then you can let them go, but make sure they haven’t spit out the medicine.
5. Congratulate them
They will probably hate this situation, so to make it more pleasant you can pamper them and give them compliments to calm them down.
