Opinions please on treatments

[MaySunflowers]

When my cat was at the vet's she advised regular flea (combined round worm) treatment and worming tablets. I asked if that was necessary if there was no sign so far that my cat is even brave enough to go outside, and she said yes but no info.

What do you think? Does my cat need the monthly flea-worm treatment and three monthly worming tablets as an indoor cat?

[cbmk4]

Is your cat around any other animals? My vet told me that even though our cat is strictly indoors, she lives with our dog who does go outdoors.

[MaySunflowers]

No other animals (cuz our fish doesn't count lol). He ius just so nervous he doesn't even like the door open or us wearing winter coats when we come or go.

[domesticzookeeper]

I've had indoor cats for 12+ years and fleas once - right after my aunt and uncle visited with their dog Treatment wasn't honestly that big a deal and we haven't had any issues since. I personally don't worry about preventative treatment for fleas when their risk of exposure is so low

I've never had a vet advise regular worming treatments

[MaySunflowers]

I thought worms is something cats catch from eating things outside and killing things... I could be wrong, of course, so... I was figuring if he is eating cat food only maybe that isn't risk.

[HadassahSukkot]

you may find this site helpful: http://icatcare.org/advice/worming-your-cat

Cats are pretty much infested with worms/parasites from the time they start nursing (just like most mammals ) due to the types of parasites that are found in queens before birth and are transmitted through milk, feces, blood or other bodily fluids. There's also that fun teething stage all kittens have where they get into all kinds of crazy things.

If you've gotten a cat from a breeder, they've been dewormed 2 or 3 times before they come home with you, and your vet will ask if they're indoor only or in+outdoor and recommend flea prevention and worm prevention + treatment from there.

I don't recall ever deworming our other cats often, but my mom could answer to that one better than I can. We were really young (11 and under) when we first had cats and I didn't have any again until I was in my 20s and 30s. We deworm every 6 months for both the cat and dog as they eat commercial food, sometimes get into raw food or each other's food, and with our dog being indoor/outdoor - it just makes sense to do both at the same time.

[ReedleBeetle]

We have chickens (outside), 3 dogs (inside/outside), 1 cat (mostly indoor except the rare escape) and tanks upon tanks of gerbils (indoor).

Everyone except the gerbils get worming for intestinal worms about 1-2 times a year. We only do flea treatment once a year or less. If we get hit, we treat all furry, non-caged animals for fleas....once. And have never had a problem in regards to that not being enough. The only vaccine we do is rabies as it is required by law.

[Amber]

For an indoor only cat with no exposure to other animals I would not do routine worming or flea treatments. You can take in a fecal sample for them to teat for intestinal parasites if you are worried about it.

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[MaySunflowers]

Ok... I think I've made a decision for the moment. We've not wormed our cat since getting it (other than it came with fleas and so we bought the three month treatment which was for fleas/roundworm then).... so, I think I will go with the option of getting only the worming tablet for the moment. The idea of maybe every 6 months seems to make more sense to me as long as he is an indoor cat.... which could change if he musters any courage at some point.