What Is Worming For Cats?

If you’re a new cat parent or thinking of adopting a cat you may be wondering “what is worming for cats?” Worming is a simple but necessary procedure for both dogs and cats.

Fortunately, it can be done at home using a variety of methods which you’ll discover here in this post. Keep reading as I explain all about worming for cats.

You’ll learn about the different types of worms your cat could potentially get, signs to watch for, and lots more. Also, how to treat worms in cats naturally, and how often you need to do this.

The type of worms your cat could become infected with

Worms commonly live in a cat’s intestines and in small numbers you wouldn’t be aware anything is wrong. It’s only if they multiply into large numbers your cat would start showing signs of poor health.

You may be asking how many types of worm could live inside a cat. You’ll be interested to know that 8 different species exist, but only 2 are most commonly found.

These are known as tapeworms and roundworms. Though similar to worms found in your garden, roundworms are much thinner and pointed at each end.

Both Roundworms and tapeworms are so tiny you may need a microscope to see them. However, tapeworms can be identified as they’re usually much longer. In addition, there is another type of worm known as heartworm.

How do cats get infected with worms

Now you know what type of worms your cat could become infected with, you need to know how they’re passed onto your feline friend.

Firstly, roundworms are often passed into kittens from the mother’s milk. In addition, larvae found inside birds or other small prey can be swallowed by your cat if she’s a hunter.

Eggs from the larvae will hatch inside your cat’s stomach resulting in an infection. As mentioned previously, much of the time these worms won’t cause any problem and will be passed out in your pet’s faeces.

Tapeworms are slightly different and need a host to develop. These hosts are commonly fleas found on your cat’s coat. If a flea eats tapeworm eggs they can continue to develop inside your cat’s intestines.

Larger roundworms and tapeworms may sometimes be visible as tiny white dots. You’d need to look carefully at your cat’s faeces or around the base of the tail if you want to spot them.

Can humans get worms from cats?

The answer to this question is yes it is possible to get worms from a cat. However, you’d need to come into direct contact with faeces for this to happen.

For this very reason it’s important to take care when removing soiled litter from a box. NEVER let children play near a sandpit if you think a cat has soiled nearby. This is because of the danger of toxoplasmosis, an unpleasant flu like illness caught from contact with cat faeces

Hygiene is very important in preventing infection from worms or other parasites. Make sure you clean the litter box regularly and use a mild disinfectant to kill any larvae.

This not only protects yourself and your family but stops your cat from becoming re-infected as well. Whatever type of cat litter you use you should always clean the box at least once a week.

While it’s quite rare for humans to get worms it’s always good to take precautions. If your any reason you were to swallow an infected flea, your immune system would probably take care of it.

How do you worm a cat?

Worming cat is very easy and can be done using a variety of methods and products. The most common and easiest way to worm your cat is using spot on drops.

These are applied onto your cats neck using a pipette. All you have to do is gently part the fur on the back of the neck and sprinkle the drops.

Of course, most cats hate getting wet so expect a rapid exit once you’ve applied the drops! Don’t worry though as your cat will forgive you after sulking for ten minutes!

Tablets are another option, but trying to get your cat to take a tablet can be tricky. Most worming tablets are easily crushed and can be hidden in your cat’s food, though you’d need to check your kitty doesn’t spit it out.

There are many different brands of worming treatments for cats, but you may find they’re more expensive if bought from your vet.

Of course, most pet stores sell them, as well as large supermarkets. It’s often a good idea though, to compare prices as they can vary.

How often should you worm your cat?

This can vary depending if your cat goes outside or spends most of her time indoors. For example, a cat with a strong hunting instinct should be wormed more frequently. Whereas an indoor cat could be wormed every three months.

If your cat isn’t a hunter but still goes outside, three months should be fine. However, if you’re unsure ask your vet for advice. Dosage will be clearly labeled on all worming treatments so make sure you read them first!

Also, if you have very young children you should consider worming your cat more often. This is because of the health risk involved. A disease known as toxacara can be spread from cats or dogs to humans through contact with soiled earth or faeces.

Can you treat worms in cats naturally?

Many pet owners prefer using natural solutions to health problems including those suffered by their pets. Personally, I’ve only ever used products containing known effective ingredients.

When it comes to worming my cat or treating fleas I buy well known brands. This is because I know they work and contain active ingredients that work.

You may have come across articles suggesting natural worming methods but these aren’t guaranteed to work. In fact, you could end up doing more harm than good.

However, you may be interested to learn there is a product on the market recommended by vets. Known as Feline WRM Clear it contains natural ingredients claimed to get rid of roundworm, tapeworm and several others as well.

WRM Clear comes in drops, making it easy to administer. Instead of pipettes though, you get a bottle with a dropper. The drops are either applied directly into your cat’s mouth or in her food or water.

I don’t know about you but whenever I break a pipette open my cat knows what’s coming next lol! Even if I do it secretly in another room he still knows and disappears fast!

The only way I’ve found it works is waiting until he’s in a deep sleep. Adding worming drops into your pet’s food on the other hand may be easier.

This natural product may be a good solution if you’ve found it hard giving your cat worming pills or wasted countless pipettes. In addition, it may also be a good alternative to regular dewormers.

One thing to bear in mind though, if your cat has a lot of worms you may be better off using it as a compliment to conventional medication rather than instead of.

How does Homeopet WRM Clear work?

Homeopet WRM Clear works by removing them as opposed to killing them. This is done by boosting your cat’s immune system which is a far better way.

If your cat has a strong immune system she’ll be able to fight off parasites much easier. This is often why older cats with lowered immune systems tend to be an easy target for worms.

In addition to safely removing worms from your cat’s intestines WRM Clear also detoxifys the system. This is great news as it may be able to remove toxins left from other worming medications.

Bear in mind any worms your cat excretes will be alive. However, they’ll die almost instantly so don’t worry about live worms invading your home!

Actually, seeing live worms in your cat’s faeces is a good thing as it shows the product is working. In some cases it’s possible to see worms up to a month after the last dose.

This is because it takes quite a while for the eggs to hatch. If you’re worried keep an eye on your cat’s stools and ask your vet for advice.

Since WRM Clear stays in the system for up to 8 weeks after the last dose the chances of reinfection are reduced. This means even if your cat comes into contact with larvae the chances of her getting worms are far lower.

One of the main benefits of using a natural product is it can be used alongside conventional medication. This means if your cat has a severe worm infection you may be able to give her WRM Clear in addition to a regular de-wormer. Although I’d always suggest talking to your vet first just in case.

Signs your cat may have worms

If your cat hasn’t been wormed in a long time it’s quite possible your cat may have a few in her intestines. There are numerous signs to be aware of, but common ones include vomiting and diarrhea.

While it’s quite normal for cats to vomit occasionally, if it becomes a regular occurrence you should seek advice. As mentioned previously, it’s possible to see worms although they’re very tiny.

If you notice any in your cat’s vomit or faeces you need to get her treated as soon as possible. Another sign of worms is weight loss. If your cat has an increased appetite but losing weight there could be a few reasons. Worms is a highly probable one though, especially if you’ve not wormed her in a long time.

In the case of worms though, your cat may develop a pot belly. If this is the case, you may have a major infection to deal with.

In conclusion

Now you know what is worming for cats I hope you have a better understanding of it. Worming is an important part of cat care and should never be neglected.

If you adopt a cat from a shelter or rescue centre, she should have been wormed. This is standard along with flea treatment and microchipping.

It’s then up to you as a responsible pet parent to keep up regular monthly flea and worming treatments. While side effects are rare allergies can occur.

If you notice any skin irritation or vomiting it’s important to see your vet for advice. Just as we can have allergic reactions to medications, so can our pets.

If you’ve enjoyed this post and found it useful please share. Feel free to share this pin on your “pets” board.

Also if you have any questions or want to share experiences please leave a comment below.

Wishing you a purrfect day:)

Kathy