Preventing Worm Infestation

It is important to limit the risk of infection from the time a kitten is born:- Queens should be treated with a dewormer fifteen days prior to and one month following delivery.- Kittens should be treated at the ages of one, three, and six months.- Cats should then be treated with a dewormer twice per year.- If toxocarosis is diagnosed within the cattery, kittens should be treated once per month until the age of six months.

Many dewormer treatments are currently on the market. They are available in paste or pill form. The choice is determined by the type of parasite to be eliminated and ease of administration.

In addition to medications, the cat's environment should be thoroughly cleaned to remove eggs. All cats should be monitored and the queens treated with a dewormer.

The risk of Dipylidium infection can be reduced by ridding living areas of fleas. Deworming should only be done if the cat is passing worm segments, is a regular hunter, or is infested with fleas.

Keep in mind that Toxocara cati, like ascarids in dogs (Toxocara canis), can be transmitted to humans and cause serious illness (zoonoses). This may occur if the owner or breeder ingests the larval eggs present in the environment.

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