Deworming

Regularly deworming your cat promotes good health and stops parasites from spreading.

Intestinal parasites are common in cats, especially cats who venture outdoors. Parasites can rob your cat of important nutrients and cause digestive upset. They are also transmissible to other animals and humans. We will talk with you about your cat’s risk level for parasitism and set up a schedule for deworming that is tailored to your cat’s needs.

What are some internal cat parasites?

Internal parasites in cats can include roundworm, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms.

What are worm infestation symptoms in cats?

Worm infestation symptoms can include weight loss, diarrhea, blood in the stool, vomiting and a bloated abdomen. These symptoms are not specific to worm infestation and can also be seen with many other disorders in cats.

Do worm affect humans?

Yes, humans can become infected with roundworms. The roundworm eggs are microscopic and are shed in the stool of infected cats. Humans come into contact with the eggs by contacting infected cats and inadvertently, ingesting the microscopic eggs.

What is the deworming schedule?

The deworming schedule will depend on your cat’s risk level for parasitism. In general, we recommend annual deworming for indoor cats and quarterly (every 3 months) deworming for outdoor cats who are actively hunting.

Any deworming medication side effects?

Deworming medication side effects are extremely rare. For oral deworming medications, there is a low chance of any gastrointestinal upset or allergic reaction. For topical deworming medications, there is a low chance of hair loss at the application site or allergic reaction.

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