Cats are constantly at risk of becoming infected with worms. How often a cat should be given a worming treatment depends primarily on its living conditions. Some animals need worming much more frequently than others.
How can cats become infected with worms?
There are various ways in which a cat can become infected with worms. These include age, living conditions and the different types of worms. Outdoor cats are particularly at risk, as they often meet other cats, sniff all kinds of things and also eat prey that may be infected with worms.
The following forms of transmission are particularly common:
Cats are not only infested by one type of worm, but by different ones: Roundworms are the most common. They can reach a length of up to ten centimetres and are often transmitted by sniffing faeces or carrion. Cat tapeworms are also common and are ingested through the consumption of prey. They can be up to 60 centimeters in size. Cucumber tapeworms are less common. These develop in fleas and can enter the cat's body when it is groomed. There they can grow to a length of up to 80 centimeters. Infestation with the fox tapeworm, which is only a few millimeters in size, is rather rare. Transmission usually occurs through infected prey.
Vets estimate that around 25 percent of all cats are infected with worms. As long as they have a strong immune system and the infestation is limited, cats can live well with it. However, especially in young kittens, sick cats and older cats, there is an increased risk of the worms multiplying considerably and endangering the health of the animal. A possible infection should therefore be examined by a vet.
The following symptoms may indicate a worm infestation in cats:
Although you can order a worming treatment online, you should not give your cat any medication that it may not need until there is a clear diagnosis. As the symptoms are very varied, there could easily be another illness behind them. If you suspect something is wrong, you should always schedule a visit to the vet first. He will examine the cat and if he also suspects something, he will give you three tubes for a stool sample. Over a period of three consecutive days, you must collect your cat's feces and bring the samples back to the vet. The feces will then be examined to detect possible parasites.
If your cat has been diagnosed with worms, the vet will select a suitable product. The average cost for this is between ten and twenty euros. Most worming products are effective against several types of worms. These are usually tablets or a paste. They can simply be administered to the cat via the food. It is important to ensure the correct dosage. It should neither be too low nor too high. As soon as the cat has swallowed the product, its effect unfolds in the intestine. Both wormsand their developmental stages are killed. This usually takes place within a period of 24 to 72 hours. The cat is then worm-free until further notice.
Unfortunately, a worming treatment does not work like a vaccination and offers protection for one or more years. A cat can become re-infected with worms a few days after a worming treatment. However, it takes a few weeks for any eggs or larvae ingested to develop into worms again and for these to multiply to such an extent that they could again become a problem for the cat. In order to find an interim solution, regular worming treatments every three months are therefore recommended for outdoor cats or cats with an increased risk of worms. For indoor cats, an interval of six months is sufficient. Alternatively, a worm test can also be carried out. If the results are negative, the worming treatment can be dispensed with, as it can always have certain effects on the intestinal flora.