How To Protect your Cat from Parasites

Parasites like fleas, tapeworms, and ear mites are unfortunately common in cats. They can not only irritate your cat, but also cause health problems. A few can even be transmitted to people. Some are internal, like worms, while others are external, like fleas. Protect your cat from parasites using preventive measures and use treatments to get rid of them if your cat does get parasites. Here’s how to protect your cat from parasites:

1. Schedule yearly vet visits. Take your cat to the veterinarian for a physical exam once per year, even if they seem healthy. Many internal parasites may not be caught otherwise. Your vet can test for a wide range of parasites, especially those that are common to your area.
2. Physically inspect your cat. Periodically comb your cat’s fur, checking for fleas. They most often show up behind the ears and at the base of the tail. You may see live fleas or “flea dirt,” which looks like dark specks of sand. The inside of your cat’s ears should look clean and pink; if you notice changes in their ears, it may be a sign of ear mites.
3. Use flea prevention and treatment products. There is a wide range of ways to protect your cat from fleas. These range from a topical ointment meant to be applied on cats’ necks to flea collars to shampoos and combs. Flea prevention products are a good idea even if you haven’t spotted any signs of them yet. If your cat does have fleas, bathe them frequently and comb their fur to get rid of the fleas and their eggs.
4. Follow your vet’s advice. If your cat tests positive for parasites, your vet will recommend the appropriate treatment. The most common parasite treatment plans include de-worming products or prescription parasite medications. Some must be applied several times in order to be effective, so don’t forget to give your cat the second and third doses as required.
5. Isolate your cats from each other. If you suspect that one of your cats may have parasites, isolate them from your other pets until you’re certain that they are parasite-free. Cats can pass many parasites to each other, and you don’t want all of your other pets to be infected with parasites.
6. Keep cats indoors. For the best chance of protecting your cat from parasites, keep your cat inside to avoid contact with contaminated water or soil, or wild animals that may have parasites. Your cat will have a much harder time picking up parasites inside your home.

Responsible pet owners must take steps to protect their cats from parasites like worms and fleas. These parasites pose a serious health risk. Though they can be hard to detect, the treatments for most types of parasites are fairly straightforward.