How to Worm a Cat

Intestinal parasites found in cats include roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms and hookworms. These pests live in your cat's intestines and cause an array of symptoms, including diarrhea, anemia, vomiting and skin lesions. Cats acquire these parasites by ingesting their microscopic eggs or an intermediate host, such as a rabbit, rodent or flea. Prevent health issues in your cat, and the contamination of the environment with the parasitic eggs, by worming your cat to kill the parasites in its system with an anthelmintic, or antiparasitic drug.

Things You'll Need

  • Deworming medication for cats
  • Canned cat food
  • Medication syringe or dropper
  • Vacuum
  • Bleach
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Instructions

    • 1

      Contact a veterinarian if you suspect your cat has worms. Collect a stool sample from your cat's litter box and bring it to the appointment. The doctor will inspect the stool under the microscope for signs of worms or their parasitic eggs. He will prescribe a medication that specifically targets the type of worm your cat suffers from. Worm kittens regardless of stool sample results to prevent the spread of roundworms to humans and other animals.

    • 2

      Obtain the deworming medication from your veterinarian. Medications containing pyrantel pamoate kill roundworms and hookworms, febendazole kills whipworms and praziquantel kills tapeworms. Some deworming medicines contain a combination of ingredients to kill several types of gastrointestinal parasites. Use these only if your cat suffers from multiple types of parasites.

    • 3

      Mix the liquid deworming medication into a small amount of your cat's favorite canned food. Feed it to the cat in a confined space, away from other pets. Make sure the cat eats all the food so it ingests the entire dose of medication. Alternatively, give your cat the liquid medication directly in its mouth. Use a medication syringe or dropper to measure the correct dosage. Tip back the cat's head slightly and place the tip of the syringe in the side of the cat's mouth. Slowly push the plunger so the liquid dispenses slowly into the cat's mouth. Hold the cat's mouth closed and massage its throat to encourage the cat to swallow. Never squirt liquid medicine directly or forcefully down the cat's throat because it could accidentally enter the lungs.

    • 4

      Feed deworming tablets or pills directly to your cat. The tablets come in flavors that appeal to cats. If you prefer, you can crush the tablet and mix it into your cat's canned food. For cats that refuse to ingest the medication, administer the medication in pill form. Use your index finger to tip back your cat's head and open the cat's mouth with one hand. Put the pill as far back into its mouth, on top of its tongue, with your dominant hand as you can. Close the cat's mouth and rub its throat to encourage it to swallow the pill.

    • 5

      Follow the directions for the deworming medication, administering it to your cat at the specific intervals listed on the label or as instructed by your veterinarian for prescription products. You give one dose of most dewormers, such as pyrantel pamoate, then repeat the treatment in three weeks. Give a kitten a deworming medication every three weeks, starting at 6 weeks old, until they reach 4 months old, then administer the treatment every three months.

    • 6

      Clean the cat's environment by washing its bedding and blankets, vacuuming carpets and scooping its litter box daily. After your cat's worming treatment, wash the litter box in a diluted solution of one part bleach to 10 parts water. Keep the cat indoors to prevent re-infestation with intestinal worms and prevent it from shedding the worms outdoors in its feces.