Seeing your feline companions suffer from worms is nowhere near a good experience. These worms cause all kinds of trouble to your furry family members making you wonder about these parasites and set you searching for the best possible prevention and care to protect the felines. Don’t worry! This blog will brief you on some common intestinal worms in cats and explore popular cat worm treatments. Let’s get started!
Types of Intestinal worms infestations in cats
Let’s dig into the four common worms in cats and kittens! Let’s dig into the common intestinal worms that affect cats and kittens!
Roundworms (Toxocara leonina and Toxocara cati)
Nearly all cats and kittens have had worms since birth or early kitten years. These worm larvae can pass through the placenta and even the mother’s milk. Roundworm infection can cause weight loss, vomiting, and diarrhea in cats.
Tapeworms
The next group is tapeworms that look like a long flat ribbon. Cats usually get tapeworms by ingesting infected fleas or small mammals. Furthermore, an itchy bottom indicates that your kitty may have tapeworms.
Hookworms
Hookworms enter the cat’s intestinal system when a feline directly ingests a hookworm larva or if they come in contact with any. These tiny creatures anchor themselves to the lining of the intestinal wall. Also, they are not visible in the cat’s feces from the naked eye.
Whipworms
Although whipworms are much less common in cats, they can still lead to various digestive issues. Eggs of whipworms are present in the environment which infects the cats once ingested by them. Whipworm-infected cats show symptoms like dehydration, inflammatory bowel syndrome, weight loss, etc. However, a mild whipworm infection in cats shows no evident signs.
Lungworms
As the name suggests, lungworms reside in the cat’s lungs and lay eggs. Lungworms are transmitted when a feline drinks lungworm-infected water or any infected prey. If the infestation is heavy in cats, it leads to coughing, mucus build-up in the chest, and occasional breathing difficulties.
Treatments of worms in cats and kittens
There is a wide range of dewormers available in the market, or you can place an order from BudgetPetWorld. However, here are 5 best dewormers for felines:
1. Bravecto Plus for Cats
Features – Bravecto Plus kills all the existing parasites within 24 to 48 hours and protects against flea infection from reoccurring.
Treatment Type – Topical Spot-On
Key Ingredients – Fluralaner, Moxidectin
Protects For – 60 Days
Parasites Covered – Roundworm, Hookworm, and Heartworm Prevention
2. Profender for Cats
Features – Profender treats and controls worm infections in cats. It is safe and easy to apply on felines, and pregnant and breeding cats.
Treatment Type – Topical Spot-On
Key Ingredients – Praziquantel, Emodepside
Protects For – 30 Days
Parasites Covered – Tapeworms, Hookworms, Roundworms
3. Triworm-C De-wormer for Cats
Features – Triworm-C Dewormer is formulated to work on different stages of various types of worms in cats.
Treatment Type – Chewables
Key Ingredients – Praziquantel, Pyrantel Pamoate
Protects For – 90 days
Parasites Covered – Ascarids, Hookworms, Whipworms and Tapeworms
4. Panacur Oral Suspension for Dogs and Cats
Features – Panacur liquid suspension acts on a wide range of worm infections in cats and dogs and is safe to administer on permanent pets.
Treatment Type – Liquid, Oral
Key Ingredients – Fenbendazole
Protects For – Complete course for 1 year
Parasites Covered – Roundworm, Lungworm, Hookworm, Whipworm, Tapeworm
5. Panacur Worming Paste for Cats and Dogs
Features – Panacur Worming Paste is a broad-spectrum treatment for cats and dogs. This oral paste comes with a syringe for a safe and easy administration.
Treatment Type – Oral, Paste form
Key Ingredients – Fenbendazole
Protects For – Daily Dosage
Parasites Covered – Roundworm, Hookworm, Whipworm, Tapeworm, Lungworm
All In All
From spot-ons to liquid suspensions, you can find the best treatment for your feline friend to keep those nasty worms at bay. It is recommended to pick any of the given dewormers, considering the most suitable and effective treatment for your cats and kittens. Do not forget to talk to your vet in case of any doubt or to decide on an accurate dosage.