New cat owner, question about worming/fleas

[SayraT]

I have never had a cat before and just wondered if anyone can tell me what the best practice for worming and treating cats for fleas is?

Although I have never had a cat I've had horses and livestock and I am actually a parasitologist.

The best practice for horses and livestock is to carry out targeted strategic worming. That is, testing animals for the presence of parasites and treating those animals for the specific parasite. This has many advantages but most importantly it can help to slow down the development of resistance (there is already widespread resistance to certain wormers used to treat cattle,sheep and horses) and you are not giving your animal(s) any unnecessary chemicals.

Anyway, with cats are you best to just do interval worming in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations since the environment the cat (if outdoor) is in is not as controlled as the environment which a herd or flock of cattle, sheep or horses would be in?

I am sure that I could look up some papers to find this out but I'll probably get a better answer from you cat experts out there

Usually you just give them what the vet suggests like Broadline or advocate or milbemax.

Have you got access to testing facilities for worms?.

Firstly there is no evidence of resistance in wormers used in pets and it is unlikely as they are not kept in large groups in confined areas so there is no build up of worm eggs.

Secondly dogs and cats don't eat grass as a main food source so are not ingesting the worm eggs they spread.
Next dogs and cats are rarely under dosed with wormers horses and farm animals often are due to weight guesstimation mean that not all the worms are killed in these species.
Finally the finances of doing worm egg counts don't work in dogs and cats. Worm egg count about £45 Milbemax tablet about £6.

The standard practice is like the worming programs used on horses that have been phased out by most yards now. Basicall once a month, no testing to see if there is a parasite burden.
The best treatments are available at the vets. In some areas the flees and works have resistance to certain drugs.

Thanks everyone

Yes fluffy I could potentially check for worms but not sure I want to I don't mind calf scour (my speciality) but not so much of a fan of cat poo!!

lonecat yes, that is what I expected. I hadn't thought about the cost aspect as I always do my own FEC for the horses and horse wormers are much more expensive than cat/dog wormers. I'm finding having a cat very cheap! I nearly fell over when I went to the vet with the cat and it only cost me £22 the vet wouldn't have even arrived at the yard for that price

I've got advocate and have been using it as recommended but was just interested

I would use a routine, monthly combined flea and worm treatment like Advocate but once a quarter worm with a solo wormer like Profender to cover off tapeworm which the combination treatments don't work against.

Catz Broadline is a combined wormer that does cover tapeworm.

My cat is nearly 5. I de flea her only when she gets itchy and prior to going to the Cattery. Maybe 10 times ever with the spot in stuff. I wormed her once when the vet put the frighteners on me, but probably not for a couple of years. She's got free access to our suburban garden, hunts a little and does come across other cats. Vet checks her when she does the annual jabs and is happy with her.

Thanks for that information lonecat

Lonecat, thanks I'll take a look at that.