Cat Deworming: When to Start & How to Do It

Part 1: External and Internal Deworming

1. External deworming primarily targets various parasites such as mites, ticks, fleas, and lice.

2. Internal deworming options are more diverse, encompassing worms like roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, heartworms, lungworms, tapeworms, and lung flukes. Notably, tapeworms and ticks are not only common but also pose a high risk. Tapeworms can lead to issues like diarrhea and anemia in cats, while ticks can cause dangerous tickborne diseases and even transmit infections to humans. Therefore, deworming is of utmost importance.

Part 2: When Can Cats Be Dewormed?

1. kittens can undergo their first external deworming treatment at around one and a half to two months of age, following which they should be dewormed monthly.

2. Typically, kittens can receive their first internal deworming at around six weeks of age, with treatments occurring approximately every three months. The deworming tablets will vary depending on the cat's weight, and it's crucial for owners to strictly follow the veterinarian's instructions.

Part 3: How to Choose the Right Deworming Medication?

1. The most common deworming methods include oral deworming tablets and spoton treatments. Tablets must be administered to the cat, whereas spoton treatments simply require a few drops behind the cat's neck, preventing them from ingesting the medication.

2. Each deworming medication has its strengths, so it's essential to choose the right one based on the cat's specific needs.

3. Cats have a highly sensitive sense of smell and dislike the taste of medicine. Therefore, spoton treatments that don't require ingestion are more convenient.

4. Since cats enjoy grooming themselves, the spoton treatment must be safe to avoid any risks if accidentally ingested.

5. Most deworming medications only kill adult worms and not worm eggs. Even if they have some effect on eggs, this does not guarantee their destruction. If a cat is infected with parasites, regular treatment is necessary to prevent the eggs from hatching into adult worms and causing a recurrence of the infestation.

Don't underestimate the cost of deworming your cat; if they become infected with parasites, it could lead to skin diseases or other health issues, resulting in much higher expenses. Therefore, it's vital to deworm your cat regularly both internally and externally. Should you have any further questions, don't hesitate to consult an online veterinary professional.