Protect Your Cat or Kitten from Parasites

There are a large number of parasites that kittens or adult cats are vulnerable to, and can lead to more severe illnesses. Overall classification of parasites for cats, as with many other animals, comes in two forms: parasites on the skin called ectoparasites; or parasites that live in the body called endoparasites. Protecting against both forms of parasitic infections can be accomplished a number of ways and are essential to maintaining your pet’s health.

Protecting Your Kitten or Cat from External Parasites

 * 1) Apply topical insecticides. Use an effective, veterinarian recommended product that is appropriate for the age of your kitten. Be aware that different spot on products contain different active ingredients, not all of which are effective or safe.[[Image:Protect Your Cat or Kitten from Parasites Step 5.jpg|center]]
 * 2) *Apply the product to the back of the cat’s neck where they can’t reach it to rub off. This is usually a good method for any cat, but if it proves ineffective or the cat manages to get it off, then you should consider using another product--the flea collar method, spray, or shampoo.
 * 3) * This is a very common way to prevent flea infestations in your cat. These products usually last for a month. These products may kill combinations of external parasites like fleas and ticks or just one variety. Check the label to be sure.
 * 4) * Common ingredients in these products for cats include etofenprox, imidacloprid, selamectin, metaflumizone, or fipronil. Popular brands include Advantage II, Bio Spot-Spot On, Frontline, and Revolution. Avoid products containing permethrins.
 * 5) Spray your cat with flea and tick treatments once a month. You can use a spray can or pump bottle. Choose an effective product recommended by a vet that is safe for the age of your kitten. Keep in mind that these treatments contain different ingredients and they are not all safe or effective. [[Image:Protect Your Cat or Kitten from Parasites Step 1 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 6) *Do not spray the product on your cat's face. To apply the spray/pump product to the face you should spray the product first onto a standard cotton ball. Then dab the coated cotton ball around the cat’s eyes and ears.
 * 7) *Don’t soak the cat with the product, but make sure you coat all areas of the animal. This is a good method for cooperative cats, but if they don’t like it, you might try the collar or topical method.
 * 8) * The pump bottle may be a better idea as the spray can has a hissing sound that may alarm the kitten or cat.
 * 9) * Make sure you’re in a well ventilated area.
 * 10) Apply a flea and tick shampoo to your cat once a month. Choose your shampoo carefully. Some shampoos claim to kill external parasites but they do not actually do so - they just drown them! Also, some of the stronger shampoos may be toxic to young kittens or excessively drying on a cat's skin or coat.[[Image:Protect Your Cat or Kitten from Parasites Step 3 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 11) *To shampoo your cat, lather the shampoo over the entire body of the kitten or cat. Leave the shampoo to set for at least 10 minutes before rinsing it off. Avoid the eyes and ears of the cat.
 * 12) *Shampooing is good for cats that have a more extensive flea issue, and don’t mind bathing. If they resist, then you should try another method--the collar, shampoo, or topical treatment.
 * 13) * Shampoos usually are designed to get rid of existing external parasites, but the shampoo will not continue to work after it dries and therefore the cat may quickly become reinfected.
 * 14) Fasten on a flea and tick collar. To know if the collar is fitting correctly you should be able to slip in two fingers between the collar and cat’s neck. Use scissors to cut off any excess portion of the collar once it’s fitted correctly so the kitten or cat doesn’t chew it. Look at the area under and around the collar periodically for signs of irritation. If you notice a problem then you probably need to use another product such as the topical or shampoo. [[Image:Protect Your Cat or Kitten from Parasites Step 4 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 15) * These can be effective if your kitten or cat is cooperative and you can get the right fit. Usually these last several months.
 * 16) * Avoid collars with the following ingredients: amitraz; permethrin; organophosphates on cats.
 * 17) Feed or inject a long term product. The Program product contain an inhibitor to insect development. There is a tablet that can be given once a month (for dogs or cats), and an injection for cats that is good for six months. [[Image:Protect Your Cat or Kitten from Parasites Step 6.jpg|center]]
 * 18) * Program is only a preventative measure. It will not kill fleas already present and it will not kill internal parasites.
 * 19) Clean your environment thoroughly and often. Eliminating fleas from the surrounding area is essential to stopping them from bugging you and your kitten or cat. Clean the carpets, cushioned furniture, and cracks and crevices in the floor to suck up any eggs and live fleas. Throw away the vacuum’s bag and/or wash out its canister. Use cat-safe insecticides around the house, on furniture, and anywhere your cat may wander. Keep your cat away from sensitive areas like food preparation locations in the kitchen, baby cribs, and the outdoors. [[Image:Protect Your Cat or Kitten from Parasites Step 7.jpg|center]]
 * 20) * You need to do this in conjunction with any of the other preventative methods you may be trying.
 * 21) Rinse your cat with a dip treatment once a month. Apply the rinse in a well ventilated area and according to the specific directions given by the manufacturer and your veterinarian. These are a little less common and will involve soaking the entire cat. If your cat isn’t cooperative with bathing, then you probably want to avoid this method and try the collar or topical method. [[Image:Protect Your Cat or Kitten from Parasites Step 2 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 22) * Avoid getting the flea and tick rinse in the cat’s eyes or ears. You may want to put cotton balls in the cat’s ears and ophthalmic ointment (eye ointment) in the eyes for irritation just in case.
 * 23) * There may be excess residue from the rinse so clean your hands and surrounding area thoroughly.

Protecting Your Kitten or Cat from Internal Parasites

 * 1) Feed your cat commercial cat food. This will cut down on the chances of parasites getting into the diet. [[Image:Protect Your Cat or Kitten from Parasites Step 8.jpg|center]]
 * 2) * Most commercially prepared kitten or cat food will be balanced for nutrition to help the cat’s natural health. These foods are also more likely to be screened against parasite eggs in the mix. Using raw food, making the cat food yourself, or introducing foreign additives risks parasites or parasitic eggs being ingested. Raw food as a high risk of exposing the cat to intestinal parasites and toxoplasmosis.
 * 3) Apply or feed heartworm medication to your cat. Testing and preventative medicine are the only way to eliminate heartworms from occurring in cats. Have your veterinarian test your kitten or cat first to make sure they are not already infected before putting them on a preventative measure.  [[Image:Protect Your Cat or Kitten from Parasites Step 9.jpg|center]]
 * 4) * Once a heartworm infection occurs there is currently no way to eliminate their presence completely with treatment. There are a number of preventative medicines you can give to your cat orally or topically.
 * 5) * Invermectin (Heartgard) is given monthly by mouth to a cat starting at minimum aged 6 weeks. This medicine also treats some intestinal parasites. Milbemycin oxime (Interceptor) is also given monthly by mouth to a cat at least 6 weeks old and weighing at least 1.5 pounds. This medicine also treats some intestinal parasites. Selamectin (Revolution) can be applied topically once a month to the cat’s skin starting at age 8 weeks. This medicine also treats some intestinal parasites, and external parasites like fleas and ear mites. Moxidectin with Imidacloprid (Advantage) is applied once a month topically to a cat’s skin once the cat reaches 9 weeks of age and weighs at least 2 pounds. This medicine also treats some problems with intestinal parasites, and fleas and ear mites.
 * 6) Test your kitten’s or cat’s feces at a veterinarian’s office. A fecal test can determine if intestinal parasites like roundworm, cryptosporidium, or coccidia are present. [[Image:Protect Your Cat or Kitten from Parasites Step 10.jpg|center]]
 * 7) * Testing and medication can help control the spread of intestinal parasites like roundworms. But once they are present then treatment and isolation can take several courses to prevent spreading. If you have multiple cats or other pets then the infected kitten or cat needs to be completely isolated until the veterinarian tells you they are clear. Even then it can take several prescription treatments to thoroughly de-worm the kitten or cat. Quarantine should include the infected pet’s food, water, and litter box. Humans can be infected by these parasites so use caution and extreme care with cleanliness. The best prevention is to keep a clean environment for your kitten or cat. Check the cat’s water for cleanliness, inspect food for signs of spoiling, and make sure the cat isn’t eating fecal matter.
 * 8) * Many of the medicines in the previous step used for heartworms also may help control intestinal parasite infections. Check their packaging. There is no known prevention medication for intestinal parasites at this time.
 * 9) Clean litter boxes often. In addition to regular changing of litter material in boxes you want to make sure the fecal matter Is properly disposed of. Have the discarded litter material incinerated, flushed, or removed from the house quickly. Don’t let other pets use the litter box. Use boiling water to clean the litter box itself. [[Image:Protect Your Cat or Kitten from Parasites Step 11.jpg|center]]
 * 10) * Toxoplasma gondii (t. gondii) is mostly found in North America. It can infect almost any warm-blooded animal, birds, and even humans. Toxoplasmosis can be passed from a pregnant woman to her unborn child and result in a miscarriage or birth defects. Cats are the primary hosts of t. gondii. It tends to be transmitted through contact with the feces. The oocysts (immature eggs) of t. gondii can survive for years outside the body and resist many disinfectants. Initial infection of t. gondii in cats occurs often with ingestion of infected raw meat or prey (uncooked pork or a mouse). Kittens can be infected at birth or by drinking the milk of an infected mother.
 * 11) * This will help avoid exposure to toxoplasmosis and intestinal parasites.
 * 12) Protect your kitten or cat from toxoplasmosis by avoiding raw food. Feed it commercial cat food instead of raw ingredients or bones. Don’t let your cat scavenge in garbage, roam outside where they could eat or hunt items unsupervised, and/or drink unpasteurized milk. [[Image:Protect Your Cat or Kitten from Parasites Step 12.jpg|center]]
 * 13) * This also helps protect against intestinal parasites.
 * 14) Keep your pet inside. This is an overall protective measure for your kitten or cat to reduce the chances for internal parasitic infections.[[Image:Protect Your Cat or Kitten from Parasites Step 13.jpg|center]]
 * 15) * Keeping your cat an indoor cat will make it less likely your pet will hunt wild prey or eat something raw out of your supervision. Indoor kittens and cats can also be more easily kept away from other infected animals. If your cat needs treatment then they will be more used to staying inside. This will make treatment easier.

Tips

 * Consult your veterinarian for a more accurate diagnosis and advanced care of your kitten or cat.
 * Ask your veterinarian for information on what parasites are active in your region.
 * Take your kitten or cat in for regular exams by your veterinarian at least once a year.
 * A female flea can lay up to 50 eggs a day so cleaning the area around your cat is a must.

Warnings

 * There are numerous parasites that can infect cats just like many other mammals.
 * The most common cat parasites are fleas, ticks, heartworms, intestinal parasites (hookworms, roundworms), toxoplasmosis.
 * Fleas, ticks, intestinal parasites, toxoplasmosis, and in some cases heartworms can be transmitted to humans and pose serious and even fatal health consequences. See a doctor immediately if you suspect cross-contamination has occurred.
 * Make sure other pets are not around infected ones.
 * Some parasitic infections generate no visible symptoms before killing their host.
 * Don’t use products meant for dogs or other animals on cats.
 * Don’t use products containing permethrins.
 * Avoid flea and tick collars with the following ingredients: amitraz; permethrin; organophosphates on cats.

Related wikiHows

 * Keep a Cat Indoors

Sources and Citations
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