Worms

[staceyloobug]

My cat has effing worms AGAIN. He does NOT go outside. I have NO idea how he is getting worms. I have to call the vet tomorrow and get some MORE medicine. He's not a dog. I shouldn't have to worm him every year. You don't DO this with cats. I mean, not indoor cats. HE NEVER GOES OUTSIDE. He goes onto my patio, which is on the 2nd floor balcony with

Comments

[virtualannette]

You might have to give worming medicine to both cats, and completely replace and/or sterilize the litterbox. You also might have to do 2 doses of worming medicine a week apart--did your vet have you do that last time? I think it's so that in case the first dose doesn't kill everything the second dose will, but I'm not sure.

When my cat had tapeworms they also made me give her flea prevention stuff, because apparently they can get tapeworms from eating flea eggs. To my knowledge I didn't have fleas in my place, but I gave it to her anyway.

Maybe they just treated him for the wrong kind of worms? I think different kinds of worms take different kinds of treatments?

[staceyloobug]

Ok, but if all of the above is true - and they treated him for the wrong kind of worms - he's had worms for 1.5 YEARS. How is he still alive? Plus, they said what they gave me treated ALL worms, so no matter what, it would be fine (I didn't bring him in, so they clearly didn't see the worm).

I don't understand. I don't THINK I did two doses last time...And I know I didn't give them to my female at the time. But they do share litterboxes and foodbowls. She's never shown signs, but at this point, I'll treat her, too.

I'm calling the vet in the morning - I'm just disgusted and angry right now. I can't even look at him.

[frumiousb]

Aw, it isn't his fault-- there isn't anything one cat's doing that puts the other cat at risk. Most likely you've got a low level of fleas in the apartment and they're reinfecting him (or them) with worms. Fleas are the most common vector of tapeworms. The medicine probably got it the first time, but since fleas are cyclical and hatch from the eggs with the better weather, he's got it again.

If it isn't tapeworms, then you just have bad luck. Worm eggs can be brought in by someone walking outside in the grass.

Definitely get them both wormed, since if one has 'em, good chance that they both have 'em.

Unfortunately, worms and fleas are a normal part of cat ownership. It's bad luck to have to treat two years in a row, but it doesn't imply that you, your vet, or your cat have done anything wrong.

[frumiousb]

adding that apartment buildings can be particularly bad-- you may get rid of the fleas, but does your neighbor?

[tiamat]

If it's tapeworms, that means your cat has had access to either fleas (adult fleas, not the eggs)or rodents as there is a type of tapeworm that likes to live in rodent livers.

A indoor only cat can easily get fleas. They can hitch a ride on your clothes. They can come from a neighbor. Indoor-only cats are also still capable of getting heartworms so you should have your cat on a flea control medication AND a heartworm preventative.

[dizzydezzy]

my vet insists that all cats should be wormed twice a year, regardless of being indoors or out. I usually just do it once a year when I take oliver in for his shots, since he's never had worms..

[richghettogyrl]

If your vet refuses to see him, refuses to do a fecal test, refuses to test to find out which kinds of worms, then you NEED to see a different vet.

I'm pretty sure our vet would insist on doing a fecal to begin with, then treatment, then another fecal after treatment to make sure everything was taken care of. If they didn't insist on that, I'd be seeing another vet, especially if you've been having trouble for over a year.

[staceyloobug]

My vet's not refusing - they just aren't saying it's necessary. I just got off of the phone with them. They said they can see the cats if I wanted, but it's not necessary. They're going to just give me the meds again. She said it's not possible that this is from a year ago, that he just got them AGAIN from a flea (that we DO NOT HAVE in the house). I don't know.

[richghettogyrl]

How are they determining what kind of worm he's got? Are you dropping off a sample for them to test?

[staceyloobug]

I told them what I saw. What they say it is confirms what I keep seeing/reading on the internet and matches the photos, so I think it's ok. Plus, their medication treats three different kinds of worms (I think? I forget).

[thenuddpants]

I don't get why you are so frustrated? Worm are not all that uncommon - my roommate dealt with them 3 times in 6 months with a kitten who's flea treatment wasn't effective. My cat had them once as a result, and it really is just a pill or topical treatment and then the worms (hopefully) go away. And my cat hadn't had flea issues in months prior to this, and had been presumptively wormed when my roommates cat had worms.

There are all kinds of outdoor germs your cat is exposed to via your clothing, and especially your shoes. You step on dirt, on grass, in animal poop (even if you dont step in a fresh pile) and worms can easily be transmitted that way.

Dealing with stuff like fleas and worms is part of being a pet owner.

[staceyloobug]

I've just never had to deal with it in all my 28 years of owning cats. I thought cats weren't as wormy as dogs.