Welcoming a new feline friend into your home is an exciting time, but it also comes with the responsibility of ensuring their health and well-being. One crucial aspect of cat care is protection against common parasites like fleas, ticks, heartworm, and intestinal worms. Navigating the array of available products can be daunting for any cat owner, from seasoned veterans to those new to the feline world. This guide aims to demystify these options, offering insights into the most respected and effective treatments available to help you make informed decisions for your beloved cat.
Parasitic protection is essential for all cats, regardless of their lifestyle. While the risk of some parasites may seem low in certain regions, the consequences of an infestation can be severe, impacting your cat’s overall health and comfort. Consulting with your veterinarian is always recommended to tailor a parasite prevention plan specific to your cat’s age, health status, and environment. Remember, consistent and correct application of preventative treatments is key to keeping your cat safe and healthy.
Understanding Cat Parasite Prevention
Parasitic threats to cats come in various forms, each requiring specific preventative measures. Fleas are a common nuisance, causing discomfort and potentially leading to allergic reactions or transmitting other diseases. Ticks, particularly in certain geographical areas, pose a risk of transmitting serious diseases like Lyme disease and can cause paralysis. Heartworm, transmitted by mosquitoes, is a serious and potentially fatal condition affecting the heart and lungs. Intestinal worms, such as roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms, can lead to malnutrition, anemia, and other health issues.
Essential Preventatives: Heartworm and Fleas
For comprehensive protection, many veterinarians recommend products that address both heartworm and fleas. Systemically absorbed treatments, including oral medications and certain topical applications, are often favored for their effectiveness and environmental considerations. These treatments work by entering the bloodstream, making them highly effective against internal and external parasites.
Revolution® Plus: This monthly topical treatment is a powerful ally against a broad spectrum of parasites. It effectively kills fleas and flea eggs, treats and controls paralysis ticks in relevant regions, and is beneficial for treating ear mites in kittens. Furthermore, Revolution Plus offers protection against heartworm, as well as active control of roundworm and hookworm. However, it’s important to note that it does not cover tapeworms, necessitating a separate intestinal worming treatment every 3-6 months. Revolution Plus is suitable for kittens from 8 weeks of age weighing at least 1.25kg.
Bravecto® Plus: Offering extended protection, Bravecto Plus is a spot-on treatment that provides fleas and ticks with protection for up to 3 months. It also combats paralysis ticks for 10 weeks and prevents heartworm disease when administered every three months. Additionally, it treats and prevents ear mites and is active against roundworms and hookworms. For fast-growing kittens, regular weight checks are advised to ensure continuous protection. Bravecto Plus can be used on kittens from 9 weeks of age, weighing at least 1.2kg. Similar to Revolution Plus, additional treatment for tapeworms is required.
Advocate®: This monthly topical solution provides a multifaceted approach to parasite control, targeting heartworm, fleas, and certain mites, including lungworm. It offers rapid flea control and is also effective in treating ear mites. Advocate is appropriate for use in kittens from 9 weeks of age. Care should be taken to avoid contact with clothing and painted surfaces after application, as the solvent may damage them. It is active against roundworm and hookworm only, so tapeworm treatment is still necessary.
Flea-Only Prevention (in Conjunction with Other Treatments)
In some cases, particularly when a cat is already on a separate heartworm preventative, products focused solely on flea control may be used. It’s crucial that all pets within a household are treated simultaneously to effectively manage flea infestations.
Bravecto® Spot-On: Similar to its Plus counterpart, Bravecto Spot-on provides protection against fleas and ticks for up to 3 months. It is also effective against ear mites. This product can be used on kittens from 9 weeks of age, weighing at least 1.2kg.
Advantage®: A long-standing and reliable option, Advantage is a monthly topical treatment specifically for flea control. It boasts over 20 years of proven performance and is safe for use during pregnancy and lactation. Advantage can be administered to kittens from weaning.
Seresto®: This innovative collar offers up to 8 months of continuous flea protection. It is an economical choice for multi-cat households. While highly effective, it may occasionally cause skin irritation at the contact site. Seresto can be used on cats from 10 weeks of age.
Frontline®: Another monthly topical treatment, Frontline is effective against fleas and can be used for tick control in areas requiring it, typically every two weeks. It is water-fast after 48 hours and is considered safe for breeding, pregnant, and lactating cats. Frontline can be used from 8 weeks of age, and it’s important to apply it where the cat cannot lick it off.
Addressing Intestinal Worms
Preventing and treating intestinal worms is a vital part of your cat’s healthcare regimen. A consistent worming schedule is essential, especially for kittens, as they are particularly vulnerable.
Kittens require frequent deworming: every two weeks until they are 12 weeks old, then monthly until they reach 6 months of age. Adult cats should be wormed every three months for life. Always ensure all adult cats in the household are treated simultaneously to prevent re-infestation.
Milpro® / Milbemax®: These are small, easily administered tablets containing milbemycin and praziquantel. They are highly effective against a range of intestinal worms, including roundworm, hookworm, and tapeworm, and can also be used for heartworm prevention if given monthly. Milpro is safe for pregnant queens.
Profender® Spot-On: This is a unique spot-on treatment that effectively eliminates all common intestinal worms and also targets lungworm, which can cause respiratory issues in cats, particularly in regions like Adelaide. It offers a convenient alternative to oral medication and is safe for kittens from 8 weeks of age (over 0.5kg). Profender is also safe for pregnant queens.
Drontal®: A well-established all-wormer, Drontal is available in tablet and drop forms and is highly effective at treating intestinal worms. While potent, it is known for its strong taste, which can make administration challenging. Drontal is safe for use during pregnancy.
Choosing the right parasite prevention for your cat is a collaborative effort between you and your veterinarian. By understanding the different types of parasites and the products available, you can ensure your feline companion remains healthy, happy, and protected against these common threats.
