How often should you worm your cat?

Whether your cat prefers the comfort of living indoors or loves exploring the outdoors, they will likely get worms at some point. The two main types of worms they can pick up are roundworms and tapeworms. If left untreated, worms in cats can do considerable damage. Hence, it is important to use a cat de-wormer regularly to ensure your cat stays fit, healthy and worm-free.

Curious about how cats pick up worms?

There are four primary ways:

Hunting and consuming rodents, birds, or other small animals carrying worm larvae.
Mother cats can pass roundworm larvae to kittens through their milk.
Ingesting fleas carrying tapeworm larvae while grooming. This is the most common way to get a tapeworm infection in cats.
Accidentally consuming roundworm eggs from the environment, such as soil in your garden. If your cat accidentally eats or licks some soil containing the eggs, the infection cycle begins.

Roundworms in cats

The two most common types of roundworms in cats are toxocara cati and toxascaris leonine. Your cat will become infected when they ingest roundworm eggs, via either a contaminated environment, such as soil, or by eating another creature that has roundworms themselves, such as a mouse. Toxocara cati can also be passed from the mother cat onto her kittens through her milk.

Tapeworms in cats

There are two main tapeworms in cats - dipylidium caninum and taenia taeniaeformis. They are picked up in two ways. Either by ingesting fleas infected with tapeworm eggs, which occurs during grooming, or by eating infected creatures they have hunted and killed.

What worm treatment for cats should I use and how often?
It’s not always obvious your cat has an infestation so, it is always best to use a good worm treatment for cats regularly, to be on the safe side.

Roundworms treatment

Kittens need to be treated every 2 weeks, from 3-8 weeks old and then every month until they are 6 months old.
Adult cats (6 months and older) need to be treated every 1-3 months.

Tapeworms treatment

These are not normally a problem in kittens unless they have got fleas. Treat adult cats (6 months and older) every 1-3 months.
There are many good worm treatments for cats on the market, and most treat both roundworms in cats and tapeworms in cats. They come in different forms – worm tablets, granules, drops applied to the skin and injections. Prescription cat de-wormers tend to be more effective than off-the-shelf brands found in pet shops and supermarkets. It’s always best to take advice from your vet about which worm treatment for cats you should use.

How often you should worm your cat?

Whether your cat enjoys indoor lounging or adventurous outdoor expeditions, the risk of worms lurks. From roundworms to tapeworms, untreated infestations can harm your cat's health. Regular use of cat dewormers is vital to keep your pet healthy and free from worms.

What is the best cat worm treatment is and how often to worm your cat?

It's crucial to treat your cat regularly to prevent infestations, even if symptoms aren't apparent.

For roundworms:

Kittens: Treat every 2 weeks from 3-8 weeks old, then monthly until 6 months old.
Adult cats: Treat every 1-3 months.

For tapeworms:

Treat adult cats every 1-3 months, especially if they have fleas.

Numerous effective worm treatments are available like cat worm tablets, granules, skin drops, and injections. Consult your vet for advice on the most suitable treatment for your cat.