How to Treat a Cat's Worms

Worms are a common parasite that many cats contract. Worms can wreak havoc on your cat's system and can cause serious health problems if left untreated. You can offer certain worm treatments at home while other worms will warrant a visit to the vet.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Look for the signs of worms. Most cat owners will notice worms in their cat's stools. For example, roundworms look like thin spaghetti while tapeworms resemble rice.
2. Examine the cat for other signs of worms. Only tapeworms and roundworms can be seen by the naked eye. Other signs of worms include weight loss, bloody diarrhea, vomiting and a distended belly.
3. Offer a monthly treatment. Since roundworms are so common, many owners give their pets a monthly dose of worm treatment. Aristopet manufactures a puppy and kitten wormer syrup.
4. Get wormer tablets. Wormer tablets treat tapeworm, roundworm and hookworm. You crush the tablets and place the residue in the cat's food. Most pet stores carry these tablets.
5. Give the cat a wormer paste. These pastes are effective against all types of worms. You place the nozzle inside of the cat's mouth and squirt it inside. A popular brand used is Valucat All Wormer Paste.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have any questions about the best treatment for your cat, contact your vet. Your vet may wish to run some tests on the cat including stool and blood samples.
• None of these treatments will work for heartworm. Heartworm is a serious condition that needs to be treated by a vet.