“Is it true that my Siamese cat needs deworming?” Good question! Because, yes, Siamese cats do need to be dewormed. If you feel your cat needs treatment for worms, you are right about that. Every cat owner dreads discovering worms in their adorable little companion. Deworming is an essential part of making sure your Siamese cat stays healthy.
I’ve put up a simple guide to help you decide if you should deworm your Siamese cat buddy at home. It’s worth a read!
Can I deworm my cat myself?
It is possible to deworm your cat at home. But you should only use medications prescribed by a veterinarian. If you suspect your Siamese cat has worms, take your furry friend to the vet for immediate treatment. Bring a little sample of your cat’s stool in a plastic bag. Your local vet will determine what type of worm your Siamese cat has and specify what medication may be best.
Three months after your cat’s first dose from the vet, you can deworm your cat yourself. Go slow when you approach your cat for deworming to reduce the likelihood of overt aggression.
Be sure to follow your vet’s instructions and the label on the deworming product. Also, strictly obey the suggested dosage or number of pills for your Siamese cat. Doses are measured based on your cat’s weight, which is essential to keep in mind.
There is a wide variety of choices for dewormers. Knowing first what parasites your Siamese cat has is imperative to guarantee appropriate medication. Each of these treatments is effective only for a limited number of parasites.
Before you try to deworm your Siamese cat on your own, a visit to the vet is necessary. When handling the deworming process at home, always take proper hygienic precautions.
How often should I deworm my Siamese cat?
It would be best to deworm your Siamese cat at least four times yearly or every three months. Regular deworming can help keep your Siamese cat healthy and free of diseases and parasites.
Kittens are usually treated for worms every two weeks until they are two months old. Worming should be performed monthly on Siamese kittens between two to six months. After they have reached the age of six months, you can begin giving them worm medication once every three months.
Is it okay to deworm a pregnant cat?
You can deworm your pregnant cat, but be aware that not all deworming products are suitable for them. Remember to consult your veterinarian before deworming. Check if the product you intend to use is safe for pregnant cats and cats nursing their young.
Before breeding, parasite treatment is necessary for Siamese cats. During pregnancy, Siamese cats should get dewormed every three weeks. Another treatment for worms should follow immediately after the delivery of their kittens. Lactating cats should receive another round of worming medication during lactation.
What to expect after deworming a cat?
After deworming, it is not unusual for some cats to have transient sickness. Don’t panic because this is somewhat usual. Some cats may experience excessive salivation and vomiting. Other cats experience loss or lack of appetite and diarrhea. At the same time, few may have all these symptoms.
Does deworming make cats sleepy?
Dewormers will likely make your cat sleepy. After getting worm medicine, your cat may appear sluggish and tired, but this is often not a concern. Let your cats rest, recharge as much as they need, and refrain from strenuous activity for a few days. If drowsiness and other symptoms last longer than five days, you should talk to your vet as soon as possible.
How long does it take for a dewormer to work on cats?
Two to six hours following administration, the dewormer will start to work. Depending on the kind of medicine, there are different ways and lengths of time to get rid of your cat worms. Some dewormers will have full effect one to three days after being given. The results will take longer to happen for cats with more severe infections.
What are the symptoms of worms in Siamese cats?
You may observe one or more of the following symptoms if your Siamese cat has a worm infection or infestation:
Which worms are most common in cats?
Hookworm is one of the cats’ most frequent types of intestinal parasites. Cats are susceptible to hookworm infection when grooming their feet after being outside. Hookworms get into your cat from contaminated soil.
Cats get hookworms by brushing their paws after using a litter box with infected feces. These parasites are capable of causing severe anemia in cats because they feed on blood. Eczema is another common side effect of hookworms.
Hookworms tunnel their way through your cat’s skin. Lesions may appear on the bottom of your cat’s paws and between the toes. These are the areas where the hookworm had already penetrated the skin.
Hookworms enter your cat’s small intestine. The parasites make their home there, wreaking havoc on the digestive system. Because of this, you may find that your cat appears distressed, has diarrhea, and has a poorer appetite.
Cats are home to various parasitic worms, the most prevalent of which are roundworms. Roundworms can invade your cat through different entry points. These parasitic worms live in the digestive systems of cats. For your cats, having roundworms can be very uncomfortable.
There are two types of roundworms. The first kind, known as Toxocara cati, is prevalent in kittens. This kind is commonplace in the kitten’s mother’s milk. The second type, Toxascara leonina, is more found in elderly cats. This kind spreads through the consumption of cat litter.
Ingestion of the feces of other cats facilitates the frequent transmission of roundworms. Cats infected with roundworms usually don’t show any symptoms. Cats with serious roundworm infections exhibit symptoms such as coughing and weight loss. Cats may vomit and have intestinal obstructions.
Kittens with roundworms experience slow growth. Kittens also appear to have a pot-bellied posture because of an enlarged abdomen.
Tapeworms can only spread to cats if they get them from an intermediate host such as a bird or flea. A cat infected with tapeworms cannot pass the parasite on to another cat.
In most cases, tapeworms will make their home in your cat’s small intestine. If your cat has tapeworms, they may not show any symptoms. You may notice worm segments like white or cream-colored grains around your cat’s anus. You may also see these worm segments on the feces in the litter box.
Tapeworm infection in cats can cause various signs. Symptoms may include seizures, digestive issues, and an inconsistent appetite. Adult cats become infected with taenia, a type of tapeworm that rodents carry. Dipylidium caninum is a tapeworm that is very common in kittens. It can slow their growth and cause problems with their digestive systems.
Whipworms can spread to cats if they eat or drink something infected or contaminated. A minor infestation of whipworms will not display any apparent symptoms. But, as the worms grow, the load of these parasites will begin to take a severe toll on your cat’s body.
In severe cases of infection, whipworms can cause anemia, dehydration, and weight loss. Whipworms can also cause watery or bloody diarrhea. The bright red blood in your cat’s poop is a sign that whipworms have caused bleeding in your cat’s colon.
Can worms in cats be fatal?
Worms pose a significant risk to your cat’s health; in severe cases, they can even be fatal. Worms such as bladder worms, heartworms, liver flukes, and lungworms can all lead to significant complications in cats.
Bladder worms (Capillaria) are parasites that infect cats’ urinary bladder and urinary tract. A Siamese cat can become infected with Capillaria after ingesting an earthworm. Cats with heavy Capillaria infection experience straining and frequent and painful urination.
A Siamese cat bitten by a mosquito is at risk of heartworm infection, which can be fatal. Heartworms are pretty dangerous. Infection with heartworms can cause symptoms such as rapid breathing and frequent vomiting. It appears that cats who have heartworms lose weight as well.
There are many liver flukes ( Opisthochis felineus ) in cats that do not manifest symptoms. The risk of infection with liver flukes is higher for Siamese cats that spend most of their time outside. Your cat may develop jaundice, an enlarged liver, and a swollen abdomen if they have cat liver fluke. If your cat also has a liver fluke infestation, you may notice that it has lost a significant amount of weight.
Lungworm spreads to cats when they drink water or eat food source that has the worm’s larval stage. An infection of the lungworm can result in chronic cough and hard breathing. The condition may lead to respiratory failure in your Siamese cat too. Lungworm can also cause skin sores. In like manner, your cat may suffer from diarrhea and a significant decline in overall condition.
Untreated worm infections in your Siamese cat can lead to serious health complications. Potential risks include blindness, severe skin infection, convulsions, or pneumonia.
What do vets give cats for deworming?
The following are a few examples of deworming medications that veterinarians often recommend:
Drontal Plus (Pyrantel pamoate) is an effective and risk-free deworming product. This dewormer helps in treating tapeworms, hookworms, and roundworms in yourcat. Drontal Plus is available in an ellipsoid presentation. Its new shape means the dewormer will be quicker and simpler to administer to cats.
Droncit is a dewormer consisting of praziquantel. It’s straightforward to administer because it’s a single-dose solution. Giving it to your cat won’t be difficult at all. The Droncit deworming product is effective against tapeworms.
Fenbendazole helps treat intestinal parasites. This deworming product is effective against specific tapeworms, hookworms, and roundworms.
Strongid is a deworming medicine that veterinarians often choose. It is a two-dose formula made of pyrantel pamoate. Strongid is effective against hookworms and roundworms.
How to help prevent worms in cats?
- Make sure your cat’s litter box is always clean. Sanitize the litter box daily and scrub it regularly. If you keep the litter box clean, your Siamese cat will have a better chance of avoiding contact with infected feces and matter.
- Remove trash and fecal matter in your yard consistently. Clean up the feces left on the lawn and the flower beds. Keeping the areas outside of your home clean is vital to prevent the spread of parasites. Always wear gloves when gardening in places where your cat may have defecated.
- Keep your home tidy. But wait, how am I supposed to keep my home neat and clean if I have cats that are so active and playful? Yup. That is something that has crossed my mind as well. To begin, use a mop to clean your floors. Clean the area where your Siamese cat eats and sleeps by wiping it down with a damp cloth. Don’t forget to keep the stain remover close.
- As often as you can, wash your cat’s pillow and bed. This step may need you to take a deep breath and remind yourself that this may be tiring, but you adore and love your cuddly kitty. If the bedding is very soiled, wash it all two times. The thought that our feline friend’s bedding is freshly clean will come as a relief to them.
- Regularly treat your cat for fleas and ticks. Regular flea and tick solutions for your Siamese cat are necessary. It will be of great benefit in preventing the development of tapeworms.
- Follow simple hygienic measures to keep your Siamese cat clean and healthy. Committing to some simple hygiene habits can help ensure that your furry friend stays clean and in good health.
- When bringing in new pets, make sure to deworm them. Giving worm treatments to your new furry companions will help prevent the spread of parasites and the development of worm infestations.
- Maintain a regular schedule of deworming treatment for your Siamese cat. Regularly deworming your cat is the best option to protect your cat from contracting worm infections.
Before treating your cat for worms, get a definitive diagnosis from the veterinarian. Prior knowledge about your Siamese cat parasites is key to ensuring that you can administer the correct deworming medication. It’s about time we free our precious felines from these parasites!
We gathered all the health tips tailored towards maintaining your Siamese cat’s optimal well-being. Check it out here: Siamese Cat Health: A Complete Guide
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