Parasites and Deworming Your New Kitten
There are many intestinal parasites that kittens can catch from their environment or from their mother. These parasites are very common in kittens and some of them can infect humans. Routine deworming kills roundworms and hookworms. Other common parasites include giardia, coccidia and tapeworms, and can only be treated when diagnosed on a fecal examination.
Roundworms are transmitted to kittens by nursing on their mother, through coming into contact with parasite eggs in the environment or by hunting. Hookworms are transmitted by burrowing into the skin, environmental contamination with eggs, or by hunting. Giardia and coccidia are spread through environmental contamination. Tapeworms are spread through hunting or ingestion of fleas.
If your kitten has worms, you may not be able to identify the parasite by looking at it. Sometimes roundworms will be evident in the stool as long, spaghetti-like strands. Tapeworm segments (small, white, rectangular) may be seen around the rectum.
The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) sets the guidelines that many veterinarians use. They recommend that your veterinarian deworm your kitten at three, five, seven and nine weeks of age, and then place her on a monthly heartworm preventative product that also kills roundworms and hookworms. Every kitten should also adhere to a monthly flea preventative (some products do all of this). ONLY use products that are recommended by your veterinarian. Just because it is sold in a reputable store does not mean it is safe!
Fecal samples should be checked for parasites two to four times in your kitten's first year and then one to two times per year thereafter. If your kitten is indoor-only, aim for two negative fecal examinations during kittenhood, and then annual fecal exams as an adult. This is important because fleas can transmit tapeworms to your indoor-only cat. If your kitten becomes an indoor-outdoor cat, err on the side of performing fecal examinations twice per year.
Why would indoor-only cats need to adhere to these deworming and fecal examination guidelines? We bring roundworm and hookworm eggs, as well as fleas, into the house on our shoes. Remember that fleas are a source of tapeworms. Few houses are completely free of rodents or insects, which act as carriers for many parasites. Also, raw food diets and raw meat out of the trash can are possible sources of infection.
Why would a kitten need both routine fecal exams and routine deworming? A fecal examination could result in a false-negative and deworming may not be 100 percent effective, but the combination of both decreases the potential for misdiagnosis.
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Comments (12)
shannon November 8, 2009 11:42 AM
you know that picture you have used,what type of cat is that ?
ray pena November 8, 2009 7:19 PM
my kitten has his nails to longs
Anonymous November 8, 2009 7:22 PM
can i cut mykitten nails
Sue November 10, 2009 10:58 PM
Cat's lips, eyelids are getting black spots (yellow cat) and now seems to be spreading to chin area. Any ideas?
adam November 12, 2009 11:33 PM
Kitten has a black build up just under his nostrils and on bridge of his nose. Also blood in his stool. Going to the vet soon, but any ideas for now?
maryarice@sbcglobal.net November 14, 2009 12:49 PM
can i treat my kitten for round worms over the counter
Selena November 25, 2009 10:13 AM
What do Roundworms look like?
RAY November 27, 2009 8:52 PM
WE JUST BROUGHT A YOUNG STRAY CATINTO OUR HOME AND IT HAS SOME BLOOD IN IT'S POOP. THE POOP LOKS A LITTLE LIKE DIAHREA BUT SOMEWHAT TOGETER. I'VE READ ABOUT SYMTOMS ON YOUR WEB SITE AND IT SEEMS THE KITTEN MAY HAVE COCCIDIOSIS
Anonymous November 28, 2009 2:49 PM
wheres the answers to these questions?
bobojojo1 November 28, 2009 8:58 PM
my kitten is afraid of going outside what should i do about that.
kat November 29, 2009 7:21 PM
lol well 1 its better that your cat is an indoor cat anyways it helps with treatments and prevention 2 the kitten shown is a Curl and about the blood sorry my kittens have never gotten that :(
kjn iojenq njnernchrjnejfni November 29, 2009 7:25 PM
that is thw cutest kitten ever seen!:)
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