Worming

[Foxton]

Hello

We have two lovely 10-month old kittens and one of them likes to sleep on DD's bed - sometimes on her pillow. I am paranoid about worms since a vet told me horror stories about babies going blind from eating worm eggs, but I've found it almost impossible to get them to reliably take worm pills. Trying to mix them in with food has put them off three brands of kitten food so far - I don't dare try it with the one variety they still eat! Has anyone used the stuff you put on their necks? Any ideas or tips?

Thanks.

hi i have four cats and i use milbamax from the vets may have to order them (about £3.50 per tablet) half a tablet per cat, and how i get mine to take them is i sit the cat on my lap facing away from me, lift thier head and open thier mouth put the tablet as far as i can drop it into thier mouth quickly, shut thier mouth and keep it shut till the cat swallows, you have to watch them though because cats are crafty will retain it and spit it back out, not sure about the spot ons as ive never used them

I used to use Milbemax, but the cats decided he doesnt do tablets except antibiotics.

I use advocate now, it kills fleas, worms, ticks and ear mites.

I got a private prescription off my vets for £8.05 and I will order it off vetsuk.co.uk. 6 months supply is £25 so even with the prescription it is half what the vet was charging me.

Just realised petmedic.co.uk is cheaper!

Advocate and stronghold spot on both kill roundworms which are the ones you need to worry about with children. The risk of blindness is very small and most cases have been linked to children being exposed directly to faeces. The benefit your children get from having a strong bond with their pets is IMO much greater than the risks.

Oh meant to say at my clinic 6 months worth of advocate is £27 so not all vets are as expensive as fluffy's.

Thanks for the reassurance Lizcat - I am a cat obsessive and I do really want my children to experience that bond and not be constantly shooing them off etc.

Just looked up advocate - it seems it kills fleas and all worms except for tapeworms? So I could save the additional cost and hassle of the Frontline which would be good... Not clear if you can buy it without a prescription though?

You need a prescription. Mine cost £8.05.

I have to use a tail comb to part our cats fur, he's a bengal with a dense coat. All the time he's turning around to look at me "what ya doin".

Advocate was £8 a dose at my vet's. I think it was less if you took 3 at a time but I live miles away from them so I had to factor in petrol etc.

We get the Bob Martin (which we buy from the supermarket) worming drops that go on the back of the neck. Ours are now about 4 and they have never had worms.

Rebecklet the Bob Martins products contain only praziquantel that is felt to be not as effective now hence being a GSL product. Often you never see worms in cats till you actually kill them. Plus the Bob Martins spot on products only kill tapeworm and it is roundworm that you need to concern yourself with regards to blindness in children. You can buy drontal tablets over the counter from Pet shops with an SQP which is much much more effective than Bob Martins.

Thanks for the advice - we get them checked at the vets every year and they haven't ever had any problems but I will consider changing.

We also use the Bob Martin Flea drops - are there any issues around those that I should know about?

Some Bob Martins flea spot on products contain permethrin which kills some cats so it is one I would steer well clear off. Over the counter Frontline is the best of a poor choice.

So your recommendations for fleas and worms would be advocate? I'm not sure my vet has it, but if I ask for a prescription would they give me one do you think?

Advocate will kill fleas and roundworms you should use frontal or milbemax every 6 months for tapeworm. Legally they have to give a prescription, but can charge for it.