New kitten

[Whiskyfromsmallglasses]

Hi been years since I've owned a cat so just looking for some advice. I have a 9 week old kitten who I treated for fleas and worms. He has the vet this afternoon for his first set of jags and a general check up. I'm reading on the internet that even though he's an indoor cat he will still need wormed monthly (no other pets in the house) is this correct? What about flea treatment is that something that needs done routinely despite him being an indoor cat?

I have taken out the monthly pet plan at the vets and also he is insured. Will get him neutered and chipped when he is old enough

I’m unable to comment as you haven’t yet paid cat tax

Sorry what's cat tax?

Cat tax is a picture of your cat.

Most vets say worm/flea treatment every month for indoor cats but it's mostly because they want the regular income. I only treat mine when they actually have fleas and do a "just in case" worming treatment at the same time. They usually get them once every 2-3 years as indoor cats. Usually from a vet visit but sometimes from a visit from another cat owner who accidentally brings some.

I brush my cats every 2-3 days (they love it and scream at me if I forget) and always check the comb for fleas just in case - so I know I'll pick up on a problem and treat it quickly when it happens. If you have a cat that doesn't tolerate brushing to check then it may be worth doing more regular treatment so you don't unknowingly leave them suffering for a while.

Oh can tell I'm new here lol

There is no need for monthly flea treatments, especially for an indoor cat. I only treat fleas when I see them, once in the last 20 years with outdoor cats. Some places are worse for fleas than others, when I lived in the NW of England it was a constant battle.

Oh what an adorable tiny little void!

He looks just like my oldest girl did as a kitten, except she has a tiny white tip on the end of her tail.

No you really don't need to worm or flea treat an indoor cat every month.
Ours go outdoors, From memory one cat has had a tapeworm once in the last five years - one pill from the vet and it was gone. We have had no fleas at all since 2020. I only use flea and worming as a cure not a preventative. It's better for the evironment, I suspect better for your cat and saves loads of money.

I'm also convinced that vet plans are a complete waste of money.

Sorry - now seen the picture. He's gorgeous. 😻
We have three voids - love a black cat.

I want hiiiimmmm!

Vet’s will try to flog you all sorts of “services”. I buy flea treatment from Tesco. I only use it if the cat starts to lick his fur off with irritation. The vet told me that one flea can trigger an allergy then put us on a repeat prescription for very expensive treatment. I didn’t bother with forking out for that. As I said, I buy the stuff in Tesco when needed not as a regular thing. No pet plan. The cat has cost us thousands though. He had to have his cruciate ligament repaired. That was fun. I don’t think the pet plans cover something as costly as that although I could be wrong.

Oh ok I did wonder with him being an indoor cat and not having any other pets would he really need wormed all the time. The vet gave me a worming tablet take away cause she said the liquid I bought didn't quite have all the ingredients in it that they like. He had half and he's to get the other half after his next set of jags.

It's all very confusing when you haven't had a kitten for years and years! I want to do the best by him

When I first got mine, the vet recommended that a once a year spot on is plenty for indoor cats - that's mainly in case I brought them in having been chatting to other cats or dogs, or they picked them up at the vets.

I did do an extra dose of the spot on when I had an infestation of mice in the conservatory which the cats took great delight in hunting and killing (but oddly not eating).

I am sure I have read of a concern about prophylactic flea treatments adding pesticides in surprisingly large quantities to the environment, not good!
My Pud only roamed in my or next door's garden, like other posters, I groomed him regularly (much to his delight) and never saw any sign of infestation. He never hunted so I didn't worm him either. He was all but a house cat really 😻

Vets will suggest gold standard treatment, but an indoor cat won't need monthly flea and worm tablets. Check regularly for fleas, if you see any, then treat and spray the house/bedding too.

I stopped with flee and worming with mine for years, they did go out but only ventured a few yards away from the house.

I had insurance for all of 3 of them
i did read in the small print that if they were unwell say due to worms and hadn't had recomended / regular treatment the insurance would not pay out, but mine never once got flees / worms anyway.

I only have 1 cat now who has worm/ free treatment from vets which is included on the health plan which was taken out recently.

With a indoor cat i probarly wouldnt worry about flees but probarly still could still get worms ?

Maybe someone on here can confirm / say otherwise.
Edit as forgot to say what a cutie 💓