WORM! This four-letter word can be trouble for cat parents. Intestinal worms are very common in felines and silently harm them from the inside. Moreover, they can also infect humans.
If your cat has worms, it is of the utmost importance to get rid of those nasty moving threads from their delicate digestive system. Luckily, there is help available—dewormers for cats!
Deworming medications kill the parasitic worms in your cat's digestive system and also prevent future infections, so that you don't have to worry about worms again.
Want to know about the best dewormers for cats? Keep reading!
A Glance at the Top 6 Dewormers for Cats
- The Best All-Rounder Dewormer for Cats: Milbemax For Cats
- The Best Budget Dewormer for Cats: Triworm-C Dewormer For Cats
- The Best Multi-Spectrum Dewormer for Cats: Drontal Allwormer for Cats
- The Best Oral Paste Dewormer for Kitties: Antezole Paste For Cats and Dogs
- The Best Topical Spot-On Dewormer for Cats: Profender For Cats
- The Best Granular Dewormer for Cats: Panacur Granules For Cats
Now, before we discuss the details of these dewormers, it is crucial for you to understand some important aspects of worm infection in cats.
Sources of Worm Infection in Cats
There are different ways a cat can get worms. Some of which include:
- Hunting and Eating Prey: Animals like rabbits and rodents are common hosts for worms. So, if your cats frequently go on hunting expeditions, they are at higher risk of catching worms.
- Fleas: Fleas often carry the larvae of tapeworms, which may infect your cat.
- Food: Cats can also get worms through contaminated food. If the food they consume is contaminated with worm eggs or larvae, they can become infected.
- Environment: Worm eggs are often present in soil, sand, or grass where other infected animals have defecated. If your cats come into contact with the contaminated environment, they may catch the worm infection.
- Eating Feces: It is the most common factor that leads pets to contract worms. The feces of an infected cat contain eggs and larvae of the worms. When ingested by healthy cats, they develop worm infections.
Types of Worms that Cause Infection in Cats
Type of Worm |
Species |
Signs and Symptoms |
Roundworm |
♦ Toxocara cati
♦ Toxoscaris leonina |
♦ Diarrhea
♦ Sickness
♦ Dull coat
♦ Weight loss, despite an increased or usual appetite
♦ Lack of energy
♦ A swollen stomach (especially in kittens |
Hookworm |
♦ Ancylostoma tubaeforme
♦ Ancylostoma braziliense
♦ Uncinaria stenocephia |
♦ Blood in your kitty’s stool
♦ Abdominal pain
♦ Diarrhea
♦ Constipation
♦ Poor appetite
♦ Anemia
♦ Paleness in the lips, nose, and mouth areas |
Tapeworm |
♦ Dipylidium caninum |
♦ Increased appetite
♦ Your cat will overly clean the area beneath the tail
♦ You will notice small pieces of rice-like worms in the fur near the tail |
Lungworm |
♦ Aelurostrongylus abstrusus
♦ Eucoleus aerophilus |
♦ Coughing
♦ Wheezing
♦ Difficulty in breathing
♦ Fluids build up in one or both lungs |
Common Ingredients to Look for in a Dewormer for Cats
Ingredient |
Activity |
Praziquantel |
Paralyzes and kills tapeworms |
Pyrantel Pamoate |
Paralyzes and kills roundworms and hookworms |
Piperazine |
Paralyzes and kills roundworms |
Fenbendazole |
Paralyzes and kills roundworms, hookworms, whipworms |
Ivermectin |
Heartworm prevention |
Top 6 Dewormers for Cats
1. The Best All-Rounder Dewormer for Cats: Milbemax For Cats
Dosage Type: Tablet
Active Ingredients: Praziquantel and Milbemycin Oxime
Suitable For: Kittens and Cats of 6 weeks of age and older, weighing 1.1 lbs (0.5Kg) or more
Worms Targeted: Roundworm, Tapeworm, Hookworm, and Heartworm (prevents heartworm disease)
Milbemax is an excellent dewormer that treats and controls gastrointestinal worms. The beef-flavored tablets are easy to administer and are suitable for both kittens and adult cats. The active ingredients, praziquantel and milbemycin oxime, effectively target and eliminate roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms and even prevent heartworm disease.
2. The Best Budget Dewormer for Cats: Triworm-C Dewormer For Cats
Dosage Type: Tablet
Active Ingredients: Praziquantel and Pyrantel Pamoate
Suitable For: Kittens and Cats from 4.4 lbs. body weight
Worms Targeted: Roundworm, Tapeworm, and Hookworm
Triworm C is the most affordable deformers for cats. It contains praziquantel and pyrantel pamoate, which are effective in treating and controlling tapeworms, hookworm, and roundworms.
3. The Best Multi-Spectrum Dewormer for Cats: Drontal Allwormer for Cats
Dosage Type: Tablet
Active Ingredients: Praziquantel and Pyrantel Embonate
Suitable For: Kittens and Cats of 6 weeks of age or more
Worms Targeted: Roundworm, Tapeworm (including the Common Flea Tapeworm), and Hookworm
Drontal is the best multi-spectrum dewormer for cats, effective in treating tapeworms, hookworms, and roundworms. These tablets are highly efficacious in treating heavy worm infections in cats and prevent gastrointestinal worm infections.
4. The Best Oral Paste Dewormer for Kitties: Antezole Paste For Cats and Dogs
Dosage Type: Oral Paste
Active Ingredients: Praziquantel, Pyrantel Pamoate, and Fenbendazole
Suitable For: Kittens and Cats of 2 weeks of age or more
Worms Targeted: Roundworm, Tapeworm, and Hookworm
Antezole deworming paste is suited for both kitties and puppies over 2 weeks of age and helps treat roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms. It comes in a convenient and easy-to-use dose syringe, making it easy to administer to young kitties.
5. The Best Topical Spot-On Dewormer for Cats: Profender For Cats
Dosage Type: Topical Spot-On
Active Ingredients: Praziquantel and Emodepside
Suitable For: Kittens and Cats of 8 weeks of age, or weighing 2.2 lbs (1Kg) or more
Worms Targeted: Roundworm, Tapeworm, and Hookworm
Profender is the best topical spot-on dewormer for cats containing emodepside and praziquantel. This powerful combination treats and controls hookworms, tapeworms, and roundworms in cats. It is safe on feline skin and shows quick action, eliminating gastrointestinal worms.
6. The Best Granular Dewormer for Cats: Panacur Granules For Cats
Dosage Type: Granules or Powder
Active Ingredients: Fenbendazole
Suitable For: Kittens and Cats of 2 weeks of age or more
Worms Targeted: Roundworm, Tapeworm, and Hookworm
Panacur worming granules feature an advanced formula that treats gastrointestinal infections. This fenbendazole-containing dewormer kills roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms. It also reduces prenatal Toxocara canis infections in pregnant cats.
Conclusion
That's it! These are the top 6 dewormers for your cats. These dewormers have proven to be effective in treating various types of worms commonly found in kittens and cats. They are specifically formulated to target and eliminate gastrointestinal worms in cats.
If you are looking for the best dewormer for your cat at an affordable price, consider visiting PetCareClub. At PetCareClub, we offer the best discounts and deals on all petcare products!