Cat Deworming Medication: Avoid These Common Misuses!

Part 1: Common Misconceptions About Using Cat Deworming Medication

1. Deworming Cats Right After a Bath

It's widely known that cats should not be dewormed immediately after a bath. However, many pet owners overlook the fact that administering deworming medication to a cat that has just been bathed can also be harmful. Here's why:

Firstly, certain topical deworming treatments are designed to be stored in the cat's sebaceous glands. The medication then gradually spreads throughout the cat's body via the sebum secreted by these glands, ensuring a comprehensive deworming effect. Since a freshly bathed cat has very little sebum, this can hinder the medication's distribution. Therefore, it's generally recommended to wait at least 23 days after a bath before deworming.

Secondly, cats often dislike baths, and some may exhibit mild stress responses during the process. Additionally, cats with low immunity are more susceptible to catching a cold after a bath. These factors can weaken the cat's immune system, making it more sensitive to the effects of deworming medications, especially oral dewormers. For safety, it's usually advised to avoid bathing cats for a week before and after deworming.

2. Sharing Deworming Medication Among Multiple Cats

Deworming medications are typically dosed according to the cat's weight. Sometimes, a single dose may not be fully used, leading some owners to think it's okay to share the remaining medication with another cat to prevent waste. However, accurately dividing the amount of topical deworming treatments can be challenging, and the active ingredients in oral deworming tablets may not be evenly distributed. Both scenarios can result in suboptimal deworming results.

3. Not Deworming a Cat Because No Worms Are Visible

Some owners might not see any signs of worms on their cat and assume the cat is healthy, thus not requiring deworming. However, deworming medications are available for both internal and external parasites. Internal parasites, like tapeworms, are not visible to the naked eye, and external parasites, such as mites, are also not detectable without a microscope. Therefore, the presence or absence of visible parasites should not be the sole basis for deciding whether a cat needs deworming.

Part 2: The Correct Way to Deworm Your Cat

1. Regular Deworming Schedule: Cats should be dewormed internally every 3 months, but if they consume raw food frequently, this interval should be shortened to every 2 months. External deworming should be done monthly.

2. Administration: Oral deworming tablets should be given after fasting for a few hours, as indicated on the medication's instructions. Topical deworming treatments should be applied directly to the cat's skin along the spine, not on the fur, to ensure effectiveness.

3. Proper Disposal: After using deworming treatments, the packaging should be disposed of promptly to prevent the cat from ingesting it and potentially becoming poisoned.

Remember, some less common parasites, such as hookworms, toxoplasmosis, and heartworms, may not be eliminated by routine deworming medications. If your cat is infected with these parasites, it's essential to seek veterinary treatment immediately.