How often should cats be wormed?

[dancecaller]

Our baby grandson often visits, and in a while he will be crawling.
The cat is a hunter, does this mean we should worm him more regularly? Up to now we've wormed when we see a tapeworm segment or when we think about it.
What should we do, and how often?

[eash]

My cat is wormed every three months.

[dancecaller]

What do you worm against?

[eash]

Worms? lol

I have no idea just know it needs to be done quite regularly as does flea treatment.

I found this by googling:

http://www.vetbase.co.uk/pet-faqs/how-often-sh ould-i-worm-my-cat.php

[dancecaller]

Thanks.

That isn't a lot more informative than the RSPCA site though.
I was hoping for a routine set out that I could write on the calendar and remember. There seem to be different pills for round worms and tapeworms and a flea treatment too.
Rspca says treat for fleas regularly as they cause tapeworm, but only for tapeworm if you see one.

[lankeela]

By the time you see evidence of a tapeworm (i.e. the segments) then the cat is seriously infected. You should worm regularly (every three months if the cat is known to hunt) with a dual wormer that does roundworm and tapeworm i.e. Drontal. There are other worms but they are very rarely encountered in this country.

Flea treatment is also important as this is what leads to tapeworm infection, when the cat ingests the fleas when grooming itself.

Whilst roundworm is not as serious and will not affect the baby, a serious infection can debilitate your cat as they take all the goodness out of their food. With the high cost of cat food, who wants to be feeding worms anyway?

You can order Drontal online from any of the veterinary online pharmacies such as petdispensary, vetmedic pharmacy or hyperdrug, and they will be cheaper than at the vets and no consultation fee either.

[kira000]

In the words of our vet (last week!) The cats should be wormed every 3months, against both tape worm and thread worm. Dont wait until you suspect infection to treat. Just start a regime, and repeat every 3months, likewise with flea treatment.
She warned against using Bob Martin treatments as she believes they cause Neurological problems for the cats.

Its best to take the cat to the vet the first time so she can weigh the cat and check which is the best treatment. You should then be able to get future doses without taking the cat to the vet.

[lankeela]

Threadworms cannot be caught by dogs or cats, only humans. The only way they can pass on infestation is if the eggs get on to their fur and humans catch them when stroking them.

[dancecaller]

Thanks everyone