Home Remedy for Deworming Kittens

The most common way that a cat can acquire an intestinal parasite such as worms is by ingestion. There are several situations where a cat can become infected with worms: when they rifle through garbage, eat other animals' feces, or eat dead or live animals and insects that commonly carry parasites, such as mice and fleas. Kittens can often have worms passed on to them from their mother at birth; being so young, they are particularly susceptible to health risks posed by these parasites.

  1. Nutrition and Environment

    • Take a preventive approach to pet care. Keep your cats on a healthy diet, scrupulously ensuring the nutritive value of what you feed them. Kittens and young cats may need to get vaccinations to improve their immune system. A healthy and well-fed cat is less likely to eat garbage or dead animals and insects. Make sure your house and the immediately surrounding area are clean. Keeping your trash bin tightly closed and cleaning out the kitty litter box on a daily basis are some concrete steps you can take.

    Seek Professional Advice

    • Never assume that what's safe for humans is also safe for cats. This is a common misconception when planning to use home remedies. Ordinary human food ingredients such as onions and garlic are actually toxic to cats. You may have read about some naturopathic or alternative cure for parasitic infection in animals, but you should correlate such information with references that list poisonous substances for cats. The best source is still the veterinarian. Seek her advice before you attempt any home remedy. The vet can give you more detailed instructions and explanation on how to prepare and administer a home remedy.

    Diatomaceous Earth

    • Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a white powdery substance composed of finely ground sedimentary rock and microscopic fossilized shells of an algae called diatoms. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved a food-grade form of DE for supplementary feeding to livestock. It is an effective deworming cure because the shells can scrub clean the intestinal lining and crack open the protective covers of parasites thereby dehydrating and killing them. This substance is readily available in any feed store.

    DE Preparation

    • Although primarily used for livestock, DE can also be fed within appropriate amounts to household pets. Mature cats can safely consume 1 teaspoon of DE every feeding time, while kittens should only be given 1/4 of a teaspoon. Mix it with your cat's food to make sure he ingests all of it. Wet preparations are better because DE powder can be dissolved. The length of time it will take to deworm your kitten will depend on the severity of the parasitic infection.

    Warnings

    • Don't make the mistake of buying diatomaceous earth from gardening supply stores. The substance is also used for soil enhancement, but this type of DE is not safe for animal consumption.