Last updated 14/11/2023

• Do I need to treat my cat for worms?
• How do I treat my cat’s worms?
• How often should I treat my cat for worms?
• What should I use to treat my cat’s worms?
• What happens to the worms when I worm my cat?

Eugh, worms…definitely not something we want to associate with our fur-babies. But unfortunately, they are surprisingly common and easy for our cats to pick up in their everyday lives. Which is why it’s important for you to read on and learn all you need to know about treating your cat’s worms! We have more about which creepy critters can affect your cat in ‘What worms can my cat get’.

 

 

Do I need to treat my cat for worms?

This is an easy one – YES! Some cats may show symptoms of having worms such as tummy upsets, or you may even see worm segments crawling around your cat’s fur and bedding (the stuff of nightmares, we know!). More often than not though, you won’t even know that your cat has worms – this is why regular worming treatments are so important.

Regular worming doesn’t just protect your cat’s health but also your family’s, as some worms your cat may pick up can also affect people. You can read more about this in ‘Can I Catch Worms from my Pets?’.

 

 

 

How do I treat my cat’s worms?

Knowing that your cat does need worming is one thing, but how do you go about it? Well, there are a few things you need to consider – what worms do you need to treat your cat for? How often should you treat them? And, what should you use?

Luckily, we cover most of that in this blog, and you can find out which worms you need to treat for here.

It’s worth mentioning now though, if you don’t find the information you need here, or have any further questions about how to worm your cat, your vet should always be your first port of call.

 

 

How often should I treat my cat for worms?

The frequency of worming varies depending on your cat’s lifestyle – so this one is a bit tricky to answer!

All our recommendations are based on ESCCAP (European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites) guidelines. These guidelines are made using the latest scientific research by parasitology experts from across Europe and are reviewed regularly – in other words, they are based on science and written by people who really know what they are talking about. Most vets and vet practices also follow these guidelines, so yes, they are seen as being pretty darn good!

 

 

What is ESCCAP?

The European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation, made up of parasitology and public health experts from across Europe. ESCCAP provides free, independent and scientifically-robust advice on the control of parasites in pets to veterinary professionals. You can find out more about ESCCAP on their website.

So, let’s get to these guidelines…ESCCAP recommends that cats (and dogs, but that is covered in ‘Dog worms – all you need to know about treating them!’) should be wormed according to their lifestyle and individual risk.

In general, they recommend:

• Indoor cats – worm 1-2 times per year
• Cat with outdoor access (and an opportunity to hunt) – worm at least 4 times per year

However, if your cat lives with children under five, the elderly, or immunocompromised individuals (who are at greater risk of the nasty effects of worms in people), is a known hunter or eats a raw meat/offal diet, then it’s sensible to worm them monthly.

Kittens, and pregnant and lactating cats will also have different worming requirements which your vet can advise on. We have some more information specifically for kittens here.

 

 

What should I use to treat my cat’s worms?

We’d always recommend choosing an authorised veterinary medicinal product It’s also important to check which worms are covered to ensure you’re getting complete cover for your pet. Some products, such as Prazitel tablets for cats, are a tasty grilled-meat flavour, and kill both roundworms and tapeworms (the two major culprits when it comes to intestinal worms in UK cats). They can be given with or without food and are suitable for kittens as young as 6 weeks of age.

 

 

How do I give my cat a tablet?

This can be a daunting task, but with a few top tips you’ll soon be a pro and worming your cat will be easy-peasy:

• Weigh your cat to make sure you are giving the right number of tablets for their size.
• Try offering the tablet (or tablets, depending on the dose your cat needs) directly to your cat. As Prazitel tablets are meat flavoured, your feline friend may eat them voluntarily from your hand.
• If that doesn’t work, then don’t worry, as the tablets are just as effective given in food! A small morsel of your cat’s favourite soft food works best (e.g. jelly from cat food, or a soft piece of fish or chicken), as you can hide the tablet inside.
• Feed the food/tablet combo directly to your purring pal, then keep a beady eye on her for a few minutes; if no tablet comes flying out of her mouth, then your work is done!
• Some cats become masters of eating the tasty food and then spitting out the tablet, and if this sounds like your feisty feline, you might need to administer the tablet directly into the back of her mouth to make sure she swallows it. A pill-giver can help with this, and your vet practice can demonstrate how to do this safely and effectively if you need extra help. 

If you or your cat isn’t a fan of tablets, spot-on products are also available, although some are only available from your vet.

 

 

What happens to the worms when I worm my cat?

Thankfully, most wormers get to work pretty quickly to rid your feline friend of their unwanted beasties. You may occasionally see worms in your cat’s poop – don’t worry, this is normal and may mean your cat had lots of worms, but rest assured that the treatment is working and clearing those blighters out! Sometimes they may come out twitching – again don’t worry, this is them just waving their final goodbyes. Equally, if you don’t see worms in your cat’s poop after treatment, it doesn’t mean they didn’t have any worms, it just means they’ve been digested (yum!).

It’s important to remember that no wormer prevents intestinal worms, it just treats the worms that are already there. This means reinfection is possible and why regular worming is so important for your cat.