Should I need to worm my indoor cat?

Do I need to worm my indoor cat?

Even if your cat doesn’t go outside, there’s still a chance it can ingest or inhale worm eggs from other members of the household that come and go. Microscopic worm eggs can lay dormant for months, and can be picked up through a number of different scenarios, which is one reason why it’s important to keep up with a regular and effective de-worming routine.

Here are some of the common reasons for the need to worm your indoor cat and how your indoor cat may contract worms.

Eating Larvae and Eggs From Infected Fleas

Adult Fleas are easily picked up by your cat almost anywhere, even if your cat doesn’t go outside they can still enter their environment from other pets visiting your home or when you take your cat to the vets. If your cat does get infected with fleas then there’s a chance your cat could also get worms. Fleas can carry tapeworm, as can their eggs and larvae. If your cat ingests infected fleas or the eggs/larvae from infected fleas it can result in a tapeworm infestation.

How to Tackle It: An effective, year-round anti-flea treatment is the best way to protect against this possibility. If there are no fleas in your pet’s environment, there is no opportunity for your pet to pick up tapeworm from them. Don’t forget to also treat your home, as well as your pet(s) to fully eradicate the flea life cycle. Flea larvae and eggs can survive in carpets for weeks or months.

Living with multiple cats

If you have both indoor and outdoor cats, be prepared for parasites to spread between them. Your indoor cat can pick up a case of worms by sharing a litter box or food and water bowls with an infected cat.

How to tackle it: To reduce the risk of parasites spreading, regularly disinfect their food and water bowls, especially if they have been left outside for your outdoor cat. Similarly, you should wash any soft furnishings that your cats have access to at least 60 degrees to kill any worms and larvae that could be there.

How to treat and prevent worms

You should regularly give your cat a worming treatment specifically formulated for their size and weight (never give dog treatment to a cat or vice versa). Worm treatments like, Dronspot Spot-On  and Frontline Womer work fast to fight all types of intestinal worms in a single application. It’s spot-on formulation makes worming easy and reduces the risk of scratching!

It’s recommended that most adult cats are treated for intestinal worms at least four times a year, so around once every three months.

It is worth knowing that one treatment will not cover all types of potential worm infections, so you should speak to your vet about which types your pet is most at risk of catching.

If you have any questions as to how you should treat your cat and how often, seek veterinary advice – especially if your cat is pregnant or has any other underlying health issues.