Parasite Prevention Care

Intestinal Worms

Worming your cat for roundworm, hookworm, lungworm, tapeworm and whipworms should be done on a regular basis. There are many products available with some requiring monthly application and others requiring application only every 3 months. We recommend using a monthly application of Nexgard Spectra or a three-monthly application of Bravecto Plus. If you are wanting to treat intestinal worms only, a dose of Milbemax is recommended every three months.

Heartworm

Heartworm is a parasitic infection transmitted by mosquitoes therefore all animals are at risk of infection, even if they don’t go outdoors. Whilst the rate of this disease has not been studied in Townsville, extrapolation from the canine rate using AHS guidelines would suggest that approximately 2-4% of unprotected cats in Townsville have the disease. The easiest method to prevent heartworm is to use a spot-on application on the skin of your cat. Only some preventative products protect against heartworm so be sure to check the packaging!

Spirometra Tapeworm

Cats that hunt and feed on small animals such as geckos, lizards, frogs or rodents have a high chance of developing a specific type of tapeworm called Spirometra. These long, flat worms attach to the wall of the intestine and over time segments of its body are shed and passed in the cat faeces which look like grains of rice. There is no current preventative product for this tapeworm however a giving praziquantel at an extra dose (1 tablet/2.5kg) will help clear these wrigglies out your cat’s system. This medication is only available for purchase over the counter at veterinary practices. 

Fleas & Ticks

A common misconception is that indoor cats cannot get fleas or ticks, however we can carry these parasites inside from our shoes or other animals such as your dog. Most flea and tick treatments are given every 1-3 months depending on your choice of product. We recommend using a monthly spot on application of Nexgard Spectra or a three-monthly spot on application of Bravecto Plus.