How to Choose the Right Dewormer for Your Cat
š Summary
A cat's hygiene is not the same as a human's. Cats pick up parasites indirectly from the environment ā through the owner's shoes and clothes, the air conditioner, balcony flowerpots, unclean water sources and more.
1 Overview
Risks of Skipping Deworming
Various parasites cause differing degrees of harm, seriously affecting a cat’s health and even threatening the owner’s safety.
ā Abdominal pain and diarrhea, lethargy
ā They steal intestinal nutrients, and the cat gradually wastes away.
ā They cause diarrhea, vomiting and even bloody stool.
ā Skin diseases appear, causing hair loss and allergies.
ā Heavy parasite loads can cause serious disease or even death.
Common Parasites
Common internal parasites: tapeworms, hookworms, heartworms, roundworms, whipworms, etc.
Common external parasites: sarcoptic mites, ear mites, demodex, ticks, lice, fleas, etc.
Therefore deworming is an essential part of a pet’s growth and is very necessary for cats.
Types of Deworming Medication
Cat dewormers are generally divided into oral internal dewormers and topical external dewormers. Common products include spot-on treatments and oral tablets (always choose products formulated specifically for cats).
Recommended Combinations:
ā A topical spot-on plus an oral internal dewormer
ā A topical spot-on plus an oral deworming tablet
ā A topical spot-on plus an oral deworming tablet
ā A topical spot-on plus an oral deworming tablet
ā A topical external dewormer plus an oral deworming tablet
Deworming Method and Dosage
Start monthly deworming at two months of age, using cat-specific products.
ā» Do not give human dewormers, as the dosage is hard to control and may be excessive or insufficient.
If the cat does not go outside, hunt, or eat raw meat, deworming every three months is fine.
For cats that go out often or eat raw meat, deworm monthly. Routine fecal exams also help track parasite status.
Dewormers are somewhat toxic. Always follow the label, weigh the cat before dosing, and calculate the amount by body weight.
While treating internal and external parasites, also clean the indoor environment. Bugs on the skin fall off after dying or being stunned by the medication; keep a disinfectant at home for environmental cleaning.
With so many dewormers available, owners should check which parasites a product targets and choose accordingly.
Regular deworming is essential ā don’t slack off and let your cat get infested!
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