Do I need to worm my indoor cat?

[AyeAyeFishyPie]

She does not step outside. I give her Advocate a few times a year just in case of fleas though we have never seen any. Do I need to worm her?

[Toddlerteaplease]

Mine get done every 3 months or so, I’m a bit lax about it as they are indoors as well. But they do go in the garden.

[Allergictoironing]

I was recommended that I flea and worm my indoor cats once a year just in case, as you never know what might come in on shoes etc. Otherwise to just keep an eye out for fleas, as I know & stroke a lot of cats who DO go out (not seen a single flea in the nearly 18 months since I got them).

[AyeAyeFishyPie]

Thanks both - could you recommend a wormer? Should it be done separately from flea treatment?

[AyeAyeFishyPie]

Sorry - I'm being enormously thick. Advocate is both a wormer and a flea treatment. I'm an embarrassment!

[Allergictoironing]

Advocate from the vet covers both; I got mine when they had their annual jabs in the spring. Bonus that it's spot on, as the very thought of having to give mine a pill brings me out in cold sweats (ex-feral, VERY nervous about things like being picked up).

[Want2beme]

I don't worm or de-flea my indoor cat. My vet doesn't object to this.

[Allergictoironing]

In my case it was the rescue who recommended it, partly because I see so many other cats & partly in case there was ever an accident with an open door/window. Plus in case they ever have to go into a cattery.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Advocate only covers roundworm, not tapeworm. It is worth giving a tapeworm treatment once per year.

[user1471464472]

Advocate does have a worker in it but it doesn't cover tape worms, so you need to give a separate tape wormer. Our indoor cat got fleas and as a result got tape worms...yuk! So make sure you don't just reply on Advocate.

[AyeAyeFishyPie]

Lovely, thanks. Any recommendations? Ive never had her vaccinated as she is solely indoor (co dition when I rescued her) but since we have moved she is very intersted in the outdoors so I may just in case she makes a dash for it...

[dementedpixie]

Mine get milbemax for worms - every 3 months

[ineedamoreadultieradult]

I have an indoor cat who is never flead, wormed or vaccinated. The other indoor cat is on long term foster due to her medical issues and her treatment is paid for by a charity so she is flead, wormed and vaccinated. Apart from the pre existing medical condition in DCat2 they are both as healthy as each other so I don't really see it as a necessary requirement for an indoor cat.

[dementedpixie]

Although mine aren't indoor so that's why I treat mine

[Allergictoironing]

I'm just worried in case something happens & they need to go into a cattery as most won't take them if their vaccinations aren't up to date. It costs me little to have them wormed & flea treated once a year, worth it for peace of mind "just in case".

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Cat flu virus can be carried on clothes so indoor cats are at risk from you bringing it home to them or any other visitors to your home. So I always recommend indoor cats are vaccinated for flu.

[cozietoesie]

Yes - but you don’t need to do it very often. (Certainly not as often as an outdoor going cat.) Houses aren’t closed environments.

[Lanaorana2]

Acc my vet you notice pretty quickly if you do have to - my indoor cat doesn't get wormed except as a precaution, annually,