How Long After Deworming A Cat Are The Worms Gone?

Digestive worms are tiny parasites that threaten your cat's health and well-being. Unfortunately, this danger also awaits your family, more vulnerable children. To fight against worms and avoid an infestation, it is essential to deworm your pet regularly. This treatment using appropriate medications eradicates the parasites in your four-legged friend's intestine and allows you to be calm all year round. At this stage, the question "How long after deworming a cat are the worms gone" is essential. Find out everything you need to know to deworm your cat.

How do you know if your cat needs deworming?

Of course, this is one of the questions we should ask before the question of how long after deworming a cat the worms go. The presence of worms is difficult to detect with the naked eye, as they live in your pet's digestive tract. However, it is possible to observe fragments of worms (tapeworm) and sometimes whole worms (Ascaris) in his stools, similar to small grains of rice. Other signs:

vomitings ;

diarrhea sometimes accompanied by bleeding;

a decrease in appetite, even a significant loss of weight if your cat is very parasitized;

an abnormal increase in hunger. It can also be a sign of a tapeworm.

These symptoms are common and can be the result of many other ailments. If the symptoms persist after deworming, take your cat to the veterinarian: only he can establish an accurate diagnosis (presence of worms or other illnesses that can cause vomiting or diarrhea).

 How Long After Deworming A Cat Are The Worms Gone

Deworming medications are effective within three days, but in severe cases, it may be necessary to wait for 9 days for the worms to disappear completely. How long after deworming a cat are the worms gone differs according to factors such as how bad the infection is, the type of infection, and the drug used.

Because recurrence of infection in cats after deworming is of concern, most veterinarians can prescribe a second deworming medication two weeks after the first dose.

Deworming the cat: why deworm, how, and how often?

Your cat has repeatedly shown the sled's sign: “he rubs his behind on the ground” frequently. In addition, he has also been eating a lot more and is getting exhausted and weak. So there is a good chance that worms have contaminated it!

Should you deworm your cat?

Yes, it is necessary, and many households tend to neglect it.

You must deworm your cat and start at an early age: this is both for the health of your hairball and to protect you from possible contamination by your pet's parasites.

A dewormer is a drug whose purpose is to fight worms and parasites in your pet. As such, it is prescribed by a veterinarian who, depending on the specificities of the parasite responsible for the infection, will choose the molecule adapted to the situation. For example, “The same dewormers do not destroy flat” type worms as those that target “round” type worms.

Your veterinarian will thus consider the spectrum of action of the dewormer, but also the age of your cat (is it a kitten? or an old cat?), its state of health, and its living conditions to determine the “right dewormer”.

How does the dewormer work?

The dewormer has an immediate action: it will kill the living parasites in your cat's body, but its effects are not persistent. This means that if your cat recontaminates a week later in contact with worm eggs in the environment, the larvae will hatch and then develop again in its body. This, even if the dewormer had made it possible to eliminate all the parasites present seven days ago!

Understand the interest of deworming your animal periodically, at a fixed and regular frequency.

And if you've only wormed your kitty once, that's not enough.

Why deworm your cat?

There are two main reasons for deworming your cat.

Protecting your cat from worm infection

Different types of worms can infect your cat. A cat can live without significant damage with a small number of worms in its body. But in the event of an infestation, it can run more severe risks and deteriorate. So, for the good of your pet, deworm it!

Protect your family and loved ones from contamination by parasites

We often hear the question: “Are cat parasites transmissible to humans?”. Unfortunately, the answer is: Yes!

To cite just two examples: among the ascarids, the eggs of the Toxocara, after they have hatched in the body of a human, can move wherever they wish. In particular, in the eyes or the brain, thus causing notorious neurological damage or loss of sight.

As for hookworms, in the larval state, they can pass through our skin and then wander wherever they want in our body.

Why deworm a kitten?

Very often, kittens are infected from birth with worms transmitted by their mother in the placenta. And if the mother becomes infected after birth, she can also transmit larvae to her kitten during breastfeeding.

The immune system of kittens is not as efficient as that of adult cats: contamination by parasites can have severe consequences, even death. It is, therefore, necessary to deworm your kitten!

Why deworm an apartment cat?

Even if your cat stays inside your home, he can still be subject to parasitic contamination, even without going outside!

It can be contaminated through fleas, either already present in your apartment or brought back to your home on clothing or by another animal. Some fleas carry tapeworms. If, while washing, he swallows it, he can become infected!

Another example with ascarid eggs scattered on the ground in the external environment. You can bring some back into your house after a walk, hanging from the soles of your shoes.

The different types of worms

Among the digestive worms, there are two main types: roundworms (nematodes), the most common in cats, and tapeworms or tapeworms in the broad sense (cestodes), rarer. Keep in mind that in the event of an infection, only your veterinarian can determine the species of worm responsible.

Roundworms

Roundworms are common, especially in felines with access to the outdoors. You will often hear about it under Ascaris's (incorrect) name. These parasites live in your cat's intestine: they give discreet signs of infestation but are dangerous for your animal, especially in kittens, where they can be fatal. In addition, these worms lay a massive number of eggs that are dispersed in the environment through your cat's stool. These eggs remain contaminated for a very long time: they can stay alive for more than two years in the background.

Hookworms

Hookworms are small, round-type digestive worms that feed on blood from the intestinal lining. Contamination can occur by ingestion and through the skin: their larvae then pass through the cat's epidermis at the level of the most delicate areas and then migrate in its body towards the intestine.

Heartworms

Dirofilaria -cardiopulmonary worms- are more dangerous for your cat because they are in his heart and feed on his blood plasma. 

Tapeworms

Among the tapeworms or Tapeworms in the broad sense are Echinococcus, Tapeworms in the strict sense (known as solitary worms), or even Dipylidium.

Tapeworms are ring-shaped worms that can sometimes be detected in the coat of the cat, at the level of the anus, similar in appearance to grains of rice. You can likely find a piece of it in the feces of your hairball.

Best Products for Cats

How often to deworm your cat?

In the kitten: every how many?

It is recommended to deworm your young cat for the first time at the age of 3 weeks, then a second time at the period of 5 weeks, and a third time at the age of 7 weeks. After these first three treatments, it will continue to be dewormed once a month until six months.

Deworming of adult cats: how many times a year?

After six months, the standard deworming rate is every three months, four times a year. The easiest way to remember is to deworm your adult cat at each change of season. Talk to your veterinarian because, depending on his living conditions, he may review his cat's annual frequency of deworming.

Frequency of deworming in case of a fragile person at home

If you live with a young child, an older adult, or a seriously ill person, you will need to increase the frequency of deworming. Your veterinarian may recommend that you deworm your animal once a month to protect these people with weakened immune systems as effectively as possible.

When to deworm your cat?

Recognize the symptoms of an infected cat to deworm it

In general, the symptoms of worm infection are nonspecific, which means that they are challenging to differentiate from other common conditions unrelated to parasites. And sometimes your cat may appear healthy, even though infected! And yes, it is not easy to recognize an infected cat.

Nevertheless, certain signs should put you on the alert: if you see eggs or larvae in his stool, if his fur has no shine, or if he is often in the grip of vomiting or diarrhea, go check it out. Worms can also cause loss of vitality or weight.

When to deworm your kitten?

As we have already mentioned in the previous paragraph, deworm him from an early age, as soon as he reaches the age of 3 weeks. Then every two weeks until he is two months old.

Also, if your kitten is less than six months old, and the last time you gave him a dewormer was more than a month ago, it's time to deworm him. Indeed, from two to six months, the rhythm of deworming is once a month.

When to deworm an adult cat?

Likewise, for an adult cat that you have not dewormed for more than three months, it is also time to deworm it!

If your cat returns from the South of France or from a Mediterranean country where he was on vacation with you, deworm him too! Some mosquitoes in these regions can transmit worm larvae to it, which can cause heartworm disease.

Have you left your pet in a cattery for the holidays? The risk of contamination is high in contact with many cats, some of which were potentially infected. You will also have to administer a dewormer: allow 3 to 4 weeks after his first day of boarding to give him his anti-parasitic treatment.

Which dewormer for cats?

Dewormer for cats: which one to choose?

Consult your veterinarian: he will prescribe a dewormer adapted to your cat's age (kitten? senior cat?), his state of health (chronic illness? under medical treatment?), his living conditions (the cat who goes out a lot and hunts outside? apartment cat? food and consumption of raw meat?), to its physiological state (pregnant cat?), to the people present in your household (children under three years old? elderly or under medical treatment?) as well as the profile of the parasites he is likely to contract, or with which he may already be infected!

Develop a tailor-made deworming plan with him.

Avoid choosing alone.

If you cannot see a veterinarian, choose a dewormer with the broadest possible spectrum of action, i.e., covering the maximum number of worm species. Be careful because some dewormers are not suitable for kittens or nursing cats!

Where to buy a cat dewormer?

As said in the previous chapter, the best solution is to buy them in pharmacies following the veterinarian's prescription, who will have established the deworming plan for your cat.

We do not recommend buying an over-the-counter dewormer online or at any pet store. You risk ending up with a molecule that is ineffective or not adapted to your cat's pathology, and in the worst case, administering a simple cat repellent or even poisoning it (in the case of kittens or nursing cats).

Pest prevention: some tips

To prevent contamination, there are some essential hygiene measures to follow:

Do not let your face be licked and, in no case, your mouth. This is the most direct route for infection!

Wash your hands before putting them in your mouth after petting your cat. Indeed, an infected cat can lay eggs on its fur by licking itself when grooming.

Don't sleep with your cat.

Do not leave your cat's droppings on the ground in the garden or outdoors, but pick them up and put them in the trash! The eggs of the worms are contained in their excrement, which is how the animals' waste contaminates the environment.

Do not put the cat's litter too close to its bowl to avoid any contact between its food and its excrement (where the eggs of the worms are)

The litter must be cleaned every day and the pieces of excrement therein thrown away: disinfect the litter box and pour boiling water into it to destroy any potential eggs that may have been deposited there

deworm all the animals in the house at the same time, to avoid any contamination between them

Also, treat your pets against fleas, as these can carry tapeworm larvae and contaminate them! Same for ticks.

And finally: respect the frequency of deworming prescribed by the veterinarian

Conclusion

Remember, in any case, that you must deworm your cat regularly and that a single deworming is anything but sufficient. Although he can recontaminate himself at any time, deworming is by no means a luxury: the more you do it, the less chance he has of recontaminating himself since the contamination of the environment will be contained.

In addition, do not forget to deworm your elderly cat: lowering the frequency would put him in danger because of his reduced immune defenses.

And remember: just because you can't see anything in their poop doesn't mean your pet isn't infected! There are many cases where the segments of worms or eggs are too small to be seen by the human eye. The main thing is again to deworm.