Fleas and worms in cats

When owning a cat, we must provide ongoing care to keep them as happy and healthy as possible. Fleas and worms are among the most common health issues in cats but, fortunately, we can protect our feline friends from these parasites.

Most pets will come into contact with fleas and worms at some point in their lifetime but preventative treatment can help keep your cat and home free of these nasty critters.

Here’s what you need to know about regular health treatments in cats.

Fleas

If you don’t protect your feline friend against fleas, it can be easy for them to pick them up at any time of year. These tiny, reddish-brown, wingless parasites will bite your pet, can carry viral, and bacterial diseases and quickly infest your home. Preventative treatment usually works out cheaper than the cost of fumigation and pest control products.

Flea prevention for cats

Fleas are not only hard to spot, but they’re resilient too. They can’t simply be avoided by grooming or bathing your pet. Using preventative treatment year-round is more likely to effectively protect your pet.

• Speak to your vet about suitable preventative treatment options for your cat.
• Treat all of the pets in your home regularly or as the product recommends.
• Wash your cat’s bedding regularly on a hot wash.
• Never use dog flea treatments on cats as this can be fatal.

Symptoms of fleas in cats

Some signs help indicate that fleas have decided to make a home on your cat. These include:

• Excessive itching, chewing or licking
• Red, itchy or inflamed patches of skin
• Fur loss as a result of scratching
• Sores or scabs on your cat’s skin
• Flea dirt (black pepper-like specks) on your cat’s skin, bedding or carpets
• You, or another member of the household, is bitten
• Your cat starts showing signs of depression

Worms

Many different types of worms can affect our feline friends, and some types can even spread between pets and people. Luckily, these parasites are preventable.

Worm prevention

While you might not be able to stop your cat from picking up worms, you can help prevent them from causing any problems by using regular worming treatment.

• Use the correct worming treatment for your pet; your vet will be able to advise the right product and dose.
• Clean their food and water bowls regularly.
• Carefully dispose of your cat’s litter every day and keep it clean.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after handling it to prevent the spread of parasites.
• Don’t let your cat hunt and consume small prey that might carry parasites.
• If they bring any “gifts” home, dispose of them immediately.
• Limit exposure to infected animals including other household pets or wildlife.

Symptoms of worms in cats

Unfortunately, our cats won’t always show any signs of worms and even when they do, the symptoms might vary depending on the type of worms. Here are some common signs of worms in pets:

• Weight loss
• Ravenous appetite
• A potbelly
• Diarrhoea and vomiting
• Lethargy
• Dehydration

Different preventative treatments will provide cover for a variety of different parasites, and there are different options to consider. If at any point, you’re not sure which treatment is best for your cat then speak to your vet for guidance. This will ensure you’re given the right product and dosage for your cat’s breed, size and age.