Deworming Kittens: How to Prevent a Worm Infestation
For a healthy life for your kitten, you can do a lot: pay attention to the →right and healthy nutrition, provide plenty of opportunities for physical activity, and give them love. However, some →diseases cannot always be completely avoided, and good prevention is important in this case - such as with worms.
While adult cats can survive a worm infestation without symptoms due to their intact and fully developed immune system, infection with parasites is problematic for kittens and young cats. Their bodies are still in the growth phase and cannot defend themselves as well, making such an infestation potentially dangerous for your young cat. Therefore, you should know the necessary facts and ideally prevent a worm infestation in time.
How do Kittens Get Infected with Worms?
Whether tapeworm or roundworm: The myth that only outdoor cats can get infected with worms is not entirely true. While worm eggs can be transmitted here, for example, by sniffing grass blades or the feces of other cats, your kitten is not completely safe even indoors.
To understand why transmission can also occur indoors, it requires a →look at the possibilities of infection with worms: Depending on the type of worm, the eggs can be transmitted through parasites like fleas (→cucumber tapeworm), through birds and mice (lung tapeworm), through dirt on the street that sticks to shoes and thus enters the home, or even through maternal milk (→roundworms) or placenta. Even food like →raw, spoiled fish and →ground meat or other raw meats can transmit worms to your cat. Perhaps an already existing cat in the household has worms and unknowingly infects your young kitten.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Vor allem Freigänger-Katzen können sich schnell mit Würmern infizieren, wobei auch Hauskatzen befallen werden können.
Because house cats can also get worms from raw meat or spoiled food, always pay attention to good hygiene with your cat's water and food bowls and feed fresh, high-quality cat food. You don't have to resort to raw supermarket meat if you want it fresh for your four-legged friend, because we at Pets Deli focus on natural, fresh ingredients that provide a special and healthy taste experience.
Unser Futter für Katzen: ehrlich, gesund, lecker.
Symptoms: How to Recognize That Your Cat Has Worms
Different worms also infest different areas of the body. Those who have to consider that a worm does not always settle classically in the intestine but can directly infest organs like the lungs need strong nerves. Early detection of worms is especially important in young cats because they extract nutrients from the food mass, preventing your cat from gaining weight properly. The missing nutrients can disrupt healthy growth and lead to serious issues.
But don't worry - if noticed in time, you can quickly eliminate the worm. Pay attention to the following symptoms that can indicate a worm infestation:
- Worm belly: A strong bloated belly can be a sign of a worm infestation.
- Digestive disorders: →Diarrhea and other →problems with digestion are not uncommon with a worm infestation. Although your little cat may already be →litter trained, it may suddenly start going beside the litter box. Also, although it is not particularly pleasant: Your cat's feces can provide clues for a worm infestation. For example, you may see individual segments, white, rice-sized pieces, or whole worms. If you suspect an infestation, collect a fecal sample for the veterinarian.
- Vomiting and coughing: Some worms are coughed up or vomited and are visible in the vomit as a whole. Here, it is also important to secure a sample for examination at the practice immediately.
- Itching: Is your cat struggling with diarrhea? This can lead to severe itching in the anal region, which kittens may try to relieve by constantly licking or sliding on the floor.
- Weight loss and →loss of appetite: This is life-threatening for young cats. If you notice that your kitten is getting thinner, seek veterinary care immediately. Due to the nutrients taken away by the worms, your cat can no longer sustain its own body. Quick action is important here.
Treatment: How is a Worm Infestation Treated in Kittens?
If you suspect a worm infestation, you should not hesitate. In the practice, veterinarians will examine the feces or vomit for worms. Young cats can get infected with worms from the mother, which is why you should pay attention to breeders or previous owners who regularly deworm their cats.
And what will my cat receive against the worms? In the case of an acute worm infestation, the veterinary practice will provide you with a medication. This can be tablets or pastes that contain a deworming agent (anthelmintic) and are given as a course over a specific period.
Does your four-legged friend refuse to eat the tablets voluntarily? Thanks to our →Cream Snack as a loyal assistant, you can easily hide the tablet and administer it to your cat.
Befördere Tabletten & Medikamente auf schmackhafte Weise in deine Katze - dank unserer Snacks!
Prevention: When and How Often Should Kittens and Young Cats Be Dewormed?
For prevention, it is important that worms do not even get the chance to multiply in large numbers. Since your cat can theoretically get infected at any time, regular deworming is important - this also applies to the mother during →pregnancy. It is good to know that this does not generally prevent infection but rather kills any worms in various developmental stages directly.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Regelmäßige Wurmkuren können deine Katze vor Bandwürmern und anderen Würmern schützen. Sprich die Behandlung am besten mit Tierärzt*innen ab!
The first deworming occurs when your young cat is still with its mother at the age of 3-4 weeks. Until the 7th week of life, there will then be a deworming every 14 days - depending on the risk of infection. Here, you can trust that suitable breeders will fulfill their duty of deworming. It is different with unreliable breeding and "village kittens," where reproduction occurs uncontrollably. If you adopt such a kitten, you should immediately take it for deworming to the veterinarian.
Even when your kitten arrives in its new home, regular deworming is important. At 16 weeks, the next deworming occurs, and it will be refreshed at six months, nine months, and finally one year. In connection with a →vaccination, it is important that this is always given a few days after the deworming. This ensures that your cat is worm-free and that the body can concentrate optimally on the formation of antibodies after vaccination. After one year, your cat should continue to be dewormed in consultation with veterinarians. For outdoor cats, a rhythm of four dewormings is recommended, while for indoor cats, once or twice a year is sufficient.
In addition to deworming, prevention against parasites like →fleas is also very important. There are suitable preparations that can effectively protect your cat.
Are Deworming Treatments Harmful to Kittens and Cats?
A medication that destroys other organisms in my cat's body - is that safe for my four-legged friend? Yes - you can trust that the deworming treatment specifically targets the worms. Depending on weight, your young cat will receive the exact right amount, so it usually does not experience side effects.
As an alternative, regular fecal sample examinations can also be offered, where you simply collect some feces from your cat and have it examined at the veterinary practice. This way, worms can be targeted more effectively if there is a reason to do so. Note that with kittens and young cats, the plan for administering deworming treatments should still be followed, as otherwise, a serious symptom can be expected more quickly in the event of an infestation.
