How to Cure Worms in Cats

Your feline friend may have a long battle ahead to get rid of worms. The reinfection rate is high when it comes to tape worms, one of the most common intestinal parasites that affect cats. Mature tape worms often leave larvae and eggs inside the tissue of your pet's intestine which may survive de-worming attempts. Hook worms or round worms may resist initial treatment too. The good news is this doesn't have to equal a trip to the vet each time a reinfection occurs. If your cat suffers a reinfection of the same worms, you can administer medication at home.

Things You'll Need

  • Stool sample
  • Medication for de-worming
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine the type of worm infecting your cat. For first-time infections, take the stool sample to the vet to have them examine it to determine what type of worm it is. Hook worm infections can only be diagnosed by a vet as they are invisible to the naked eye. Tape worm and round worm infections are normally detected by seeing the mature worms in the fecal sample.

    • 2

      Begin the prescribed medication to remove the type of worm bothering your cat. Give tape worm tablets orally. You can obtain these over the counter at a local pet store or through an online pet pharmacy. Your vet can also give the cat an injection for tape worms. To treat hook or round worms, your vet prescribes a topical once-a-month treatment that kills and prevents these worms and protects against heart worms, fleas and ear mites.

    • 3

      Monitor the progress of your feline friend. Re-administer tape worm tablets as needed. For hook and round worms, continue to use the topical ointment once a month as the medication penetrates your cat's skin into its bloodstream. This kills (eventually) any mature parasite that depends on the cat's blood for food.