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These pages are for guidance only, if you are in any doubt over your pet's health please consult your veterinary surgeon.
One of the disadvantages of having pets is the parasites that they carry, both internally and externally. Fleas and worms are the major problems in cats and these will be dealt with separately below.
Fleas are small insects which live on mammalian blood. There are several different species, but the main one of concern is the cat flea (latin name is Ctenocephalides felis). This flea is not fussy about who it bites and is quite happy on humans and other animals as well as cats. Another flea that may be found on cats is the rabbit flea, but this is mainly of concern in cats which hunt rabbits. It is found on the ear.
As with any insect bite, a flea bite causes itchiness. Some cats are allergic to the flea saliva and produce a huge reaction called Flea Allergic Dermatitis (FAD). If you have a cat with FAD in your household, flea control will have to be extremely rigorous as a single bite can cause a flare-up. Fleas can also transmit disease, such as one species of tapeworm (Dipylidium) and myxomatosis in rabbits.
In order to control fleas in your household, a basic knowledge of the flea life-cycle is required:
The adult flea emerges from its cocoon and uses warmth and carbon dioxide to find its host. It is therefore more likely to choose an animal than a human as they are breathing closer to the floor. The flea will start to feed within 15 minutes of jumping on to the cat and will start laying eggs after 1 or 2 days. Fleas will tend to stay on the same animal for the whole of their life. The flea will produce large volumes of flea dirt which falls off the animal onto the floor. A flea will live for about a week on an animal.
The eggs laid by the female flea will fall off the animal onto the ground. They hatch in 1 to 6 days depending on the temperature and humidity of the environment. The larvae which hatch crawl into carpets and under furniture as they do not like light. They feed on the flea dirt and flakes of skin falling off the cat. They grow for about 1 to 7 weeks depending on the temperature and humidity before spinning a cocoon.
The pupae are surrounded by a cocoon which is camouflaged with bits of dirt. The pupae are very resistant to chemicals and nothing can kill them. Once they have become adults, they may wait several months before emerging.
Because of this life cycle, the fleas actually on the animal only represent about 5% of the total flea population in the house! Environmental control is therefore very important.
Your vet will advise you on the best way to control fleas depending on your situation. Please do not buy flea products from the supermarket as they are not very effective and may also not be as safe as the prescription medication. The most common treatments used for fleas are listed below and are provided for your interest but follow your vet's recommendation as to which to use and how to use it.
| Product | Flea life stage | Other activity | Application | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advantage | Adults | N/A | Spot-on | Monthly |
| Advocate | Adults | Ear mites, Heartworm, Roundworm, Hookworm | Spot-on | Monthly |
| Frontline Combo | Adults, larvae | Ticks, Lice | Spot-on | 4-6 weeks |
| Frontline Spot-On | Adults | Ticks, Lice | Spot-on | Monthly |
| Frontline Spray | Adults | Ticks, Lice | Whole body spray | Two monthly |
| Program injection | Larvae | N/A | Injection by vet | Six monthly |
| Program suspension | Larvae | N/A | By mouth | Monthly |
| Pro-Meris | Adults | N/A | Spot-on | 4-6 weekly |
| Stronghold | Adults, larvae and eggs | Ear mites, Heartworm, Roundworm, Hookworm, Lice | Spot-on | Monthly |
Cats carry various different types of worms, the most common being the tapeworm and the roundworm. The cat tapeworm (Taenia taeniaeformis)is found in small mammals and mainly affects cats which hunt. Hunting cats will be continually reinfected with this worm and will need regular treatment although it is unlikely to cause any problem to the cat. The other tapeworm that affects cats in called Dipylidium caninum. It is transmitted by fleas so as long as fleas are kept under control, it is unlikely to be a problem. This tapeworm may cause diarrhoea and the packets of eggs can be seen with the naked eye.
Roundworms may be a risk to human health, particularly small children. This is predominantly the case with the dog roundworm but, as the cat roundworm is similar, this may also be a problem. For this reason, it is recommended that cats are treated at least once every three months. It is unlikely to cause a problem to the cat.
Lungworm can also be a problem in cats and is mainly an issue in animals with a poor immune system (for example FeLV/FIV sufferers).
A worming regime should be discussed with your vet. The products below are the most common products used in worm control but your vet will know which is best to use for your cat.
| Product | Roundworm | Tapeworm | Hookworm | Other | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advocate | YES | YES | Surface parasites, heartworm | Spot-on | |
| Droncit injection | YES | Injection by vet | |||
| Droncit Spot-On | YES | Spot-On | |||
| Droncit Tablet | YES | Tablet | |||
| Drontal | YES | YES | Tablet | ||
| Milbemax | YES | YES | YES | Heartworm | Tablet |
| Panacur paste | YES | YES | YES | Lungworm | Paste by mouth |
| Panacur granules | YES | YES | YES | Lungworm | Granules on food |
| Panacur suspension | YES | YES | YES | Lungworm | Liquid by mouth |
| Profender | YES | YES | YES | Spot-on | |
| Stronghold | YES | YES | External parasites, heartworm | Spot-on |
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