As a pet owner, you are responsible for taking care of your pet’s health and well-being. A prevalent issue that most pets struggle with are parasites like worms. To help you treat your cat, I will now look at the five of the best cat dewormer products of 2019.
First off let’s look at the reasons why your cat might need a dewormer and how they work.
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Top 8 - Editor's Picks
Editor's Picks | Product Name | Price |
|---|---|---|
Best Choices | HerbalVet 10 Pack Cat Intestinal Cleanse | |
The Best Dewormer for Tapeworms | Bayer Tapeworm Dewormer | |
The Best Value for Money Dewormer | Bayer Drontal Broad Spectrum Dewormer, 50 Tablets | |
Best Natural Liquid-Based Cat Dewormer | HomeoPet WRM Clear | |
Best MultiPurpose Budget Cat Dewormer | B2BOX Roundworm and Tapeworm Dewormer for Cats | |
Best Dewormer for Roundworms | Pro-Sense Liquid Dewormer Solutions For Cats | |
The Best Dewormer for Pregnant and Lactating Cats | Pyrantel Pamoate Suspension, 50mg / mL, 16 ounce | |
The Best Natural Ingredients | Alternative Animal Worm Free Naturally-Natural Wormer |
What Are Worms?
Most pet owners have probably heard the dreaded term worms before, but what are they?
Worms are a type of parasite that can infect any species of pet. No animal is immune, and neither are you. Humans are also commonly infected with these pests. There are a variety of different species of worms that can affect your cat in specific ways.
The majority of these nasty critters infect your pet internally, with the majority of them living in your pets gastrointestinal system. The most prevalent types of worms are tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms, and heartworms.
Even though it might seem like they are just nuisances, worm infestations can have severe effects on your cat’s health. Heartworm infection specifically can be life-threatening. These parasites can infect many essential organs in your cat like their pulmonary and respiratory systems.
All of these pests reproduce in your cat and spread through their feces and other bodily fluids.
How Do Worms Spread in Cats?
From this, it becomes apparent that there are a variety of ways in which your feline friend can become infected. Outdoor cats are especially vulnerable.
Does Your Cat Have Worms?
Depending on the type of worm, and the extent of the infestation the parasites can make your pet quite ill. You should always keep an eye open for possible signs that everything is not right.
Possible signs and symptoms of worms:
Below is a helpful youtube video that discusses more signs of tapeworm infestations.
You should take your cat or kitten to a vet if you suspect that there might be something wrong.
Remember that there won’t always be signs of the infection. Even if you can’t notice anything abnormal, you should still ask yourself when was the last time you had your cat dewormed. Your veterinarian would generally deworm your cat during their annual check-up.
As you can see, worms can cause a variety of adverse reactions in your pet and can even have fatal consequences. In addition to this, if your cat is infected, you can be exposed to these bugs too.
How Do Dewormers Work?
The drugs work by targeting the parasites themselves or by helping your pet to fight them off. Some wormers kill the parasites themselves while others get rid of their eggs and therefore stop the reproductive cycle.
Some of the products that are available only need to be administered once while others could require multiple does. So it is important to follow manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
Attributes That You Should Look for in a Cat Dewormer
1. Safe
Deworming treatment is supposed to make your cat feel better, not worse. You need to make sure that the medicine won’t harm your pet. Although all medications have potential side effects, these should not outweigh their benefits.
An essential part of assessing the drug’s safety is to check whether it is certified by the relevant medical and governmental boards in your country or state. This status should be visible on the packaging but if you are unsure you can consult your vet.
2. Effectiveness
Another priority when you buy a dewormer is to check whether the treatment is effective. The medicine should help you to eliminate these parasites. You need to keep in mind that there are multiple types of worms which need different medication to get rid of them.
So you should try to establish, possibly through the help of your vet, what worms your pet has. Because this is tricky broad-spectrum drugs which target more than one parasite is often the best option.
3. Form
Cats are known, picky eaters. Most OTC (over the counter) deworming treatments are made to be ingested orally by your pet. There are products in the form of powders, gels, pastes or tablets. The brands that produce these medications usually try to make them as tasty as possible. However, each cat will have their preferences so think about your cat before making a purchase.
4. Your Cat’s Size and Age
Senior, adult cats and kittens all have different tolerance levels. Worms can also affect each of them in different ways. The majority of products are tailored made for specific ages. Most treatments won’t be suitable for newborn kittens.
In addition to this, you should weigh your cat before purchasing or administering the drugs as this will affect the dosage that they need.
8 Best Cat Dewormer Treatments That You Can Buy Over the Counter
For: Senior, adult and kittens over 6 weeks
Herbalvet provides one of the best organic and natural dewormers that you can buy. The company is focused on using high-quality ingredients from 100% natural and GMO-free sources. They are also safe to use on any breed of cats over the age of 6 weeks.
The dewormer comes in breakable tablets that are easy to mix into any type of food for your cat. The holistic formula is a company secret but contains ingredients such as black walnut, clove buds, wormwood, marshmallow root, and chamomile. It works as a monthly cleanse, and is both preventative and excellent at treating a variety of parasite infestations, including worms.
As a broad-spectrum dewormer, it can treat help get rid of roundworms, whipworms, hookworms, and nematodes. Monthly use doesn’t only help get rid of worms but also revitalizes and strengthens your cat’s digestive and immune system. So it’s ideal if your cat is very active in the summer and spends the day outside of the house. Suitable for kittens, not pregnant cats.
The product is relatively new and is already flying off the shelves, even on Amazon! Most cat owners are pleased with this product as it’s relatively cheap for such a high-quality product. The cost comes out to about $2 per pill, or treatment, which is less expensive than most deworming alternatives.
Just make sure to crush the entire pill in the food, and don’t feed it to your cat on an empty stomach. It’s safe for kittens and cats in general, however, it’s not recommended for pregnant cats. Overall, a great product that is premium quality, affordable, and I would personally recommend as the best overall choice.
Pros
Cons
For: Senior, adult and kittens over 6 weeks
Bayer Tapeworm Dewormer is the second product that is made by Bayer on this list. The treatment is made specially to target two types of tapeworms. So, unfortunately, it won’t be adequate for addressing other worms and parasites.
The products active ingredient is Praziquantel which is often used in medication for treating parasitic infestations.
Bayer Tapeworm Dewormer comes in the form of tablets. You can feed the pills to your cat as is. In addition to this, you can easily crush or crumble them and mix them in their food which means that it is much easier to administer.
The tablets are scored so that they can conveniently be broken into pieces. Its doses are easy to work out and administer. For a cat under 4 lbs, you need half a tablet, for a cat of 5-11 it is one tablet, and for a cat over 11, it is one, and a half pills.
The dewormer is suitable for both cats and kittens as long as they are older than six weeks.
Each bottle contains one tablet which is usually enough for one or two regimes Wait a couple of months after the first treatment before deciding whether it helped or not. If there are still some worms present, wait a couple of months before readministration.
Pros
Cons
For: Senior, adult and kittens over 4 weeks
Bayer makes Drontal dewormer for cats. Bayer is a well-known manufacturer of high-quality health and supplemental products for pets. Like most of its other products, this is a high-quality and effective treatment.
The drug is broad spectrum as it is effective against tapeworms, hookworms, and roundworms.
One of the most useful features of the product is the fact that it is safe for younger kittens than many others on the list. It is suitable for cats who are older than four weeks and weigh more than 1.5 pounds.
Drontal Broad Spectrum Dewormer comes in the form of tablets which are scored so that you can easily break them. The two ways in which your cat can ingest them is by you feeding it directly to them or by crushing it and hiding it in their food if that doesn’t work.
The recommended dosage is based on the weight of your cat. Cats that weigh 1.5-1.9 lbs need to ingest a quarter of a tablet while a cat that weighs 2-3 needs half a pill. The dosage, therefore, more or less doubles as the weight of the cat doubles.
Overall, this product offers excellent value for money as each bottle comes with 50 tablets.
Pros
Cons
Looking for a natural solution for worms and parasites? Homeopet WRM Clear is a perfect choice. Their formula is homeopathic and free of chemicals. For this reason, it’s ideal for kittens and pregnant cats since it’s easy on their digestive system with no known side-effects.
What’s also great about HomeoPet WRM Clear is that it’s effective against all types of worms and parasites. It doesn’t kill the parasites the way other dewormers do but instead encourages the cat’s digestive and immune system to flush them out naturally. So if it’s working, you will see live worms and parasites in your cat's stool!
HomeoPet's formula is easy to administer as it comes in drops, and each bottle guarantees about 450 drops for about 5 dollars. It’s enough for a full two-week treatment.
However, you may consider using Homeopet for a longer period during the summer. Since it’s natural and homeopathic, it’s also safe to use as a supplement to prevent infestations of all types of worms and parasites.
The best part is that the taste is completely neutral, and cats seem to have no issues with it according to many satisfied customers.
Overall a great choice, as the product is natural and suitable for all types of cats. It has many positive reviews, but also many negative reviews centered on how long it takes to have an effect. Since it’s a non-toxic formula, I think it’s expected that it will take longer and the process is gentler on the digestive system of your cat.
Pros
Cons
If you are looking for no-frills, great value cat dewormer, B2BOX is the way to go. It serves as a basic cat dewormer for taking care of most common parasites and worms. No secret formulas or natural ingredients, B2BOX would be your “generic” or “no-name brand” version of the pricier Bayer dewormer.
So far, the reviews are great. The product actually originates from Germany and is made by Bayer. It is resold at a discount by B2BOX, and even the packaging is very basic. The formula contains about 18 mg of praziquantel and 72 mg of pyrantel base as pyrantel pamoate as its active ingredients. You can expect these to kill the parasitic worms efficiently and quickly compared to the more natural dewormers on the market.
As for the actual tablets, the B2BOX Roundworm and Tapeworm dewormer has received great reviews on major outlets, including Amazon. There are many happy cat owners, even from cat shelters vouching for the product. It’s cheap, and effective to get rid of tapeworms and roundworms, which are the most common type of parasites.
If you have many cats and need to deworm, B2BOX offers an affordable “bulk” solution to keeping your cats happy and healthy on a budget. Just make sure to check with your vet or calculate the weight of your cat to make sure to get the right dosage.
Overall, a great budget dewormer that will cost you about $2 per pill with excellent results. As long as you don’t mind that it’s packaged in Thailand and made in Germany. For the price, I think it’s the ideal multipurpose cat dewormer.
Pros
Cons
Pro-Sense has been around for a long time and produces one of the most popular cat dewormers. It’s specifically made to get rid of roundworms, which are commonly found in younger cats. As we know, cats like to explore and stick their heads where they aren’t supposed to!
With this dewormer, you can get rid of intestinal roundworms, which can cause your kitty to vomit and have diarrhea. Untreated roundworms can cause abdominal swelling and lead to more serious gastrointestinal issues. Pro-Sense uses Piperazine Citrate to target the parasitic worms to ensure none are left behind.
The Pro-Sense Liquid dewormer acts quickly, and you can see the roundworms in your cat’s stool in the same day. Within a week, your cat should start regaining weight and going back to being a completely normal and healthy cat.
The formula is easy to use and comes in liquid form. You can mix it into their food or put it in their mouth directly if they allow you. Pro-Sense’s Liquid Cat dewormer is suitable for all cats older than 6 weeks. It’s also recommended repeating the treatment for at least another month to make sure all the roundworms have been completely removed and to prevent reinfestation.
This is especially important in the summer, where your cat will wander around, and the weather is more suitable for the proliferation of bacteria. It even helps your family, especially kids, who can interact with the cat and become susceptible to roundworms too.
Pros
Cons
Pyrantel Pamoate Suspension, 50mg / mL, 16 ounce - The Best Dewormer for Pregnant and Lactating Cats
For: Senior, adult and kittens over 2 weeks and pregnant and lactating cats
Pyrantel Pamoate Suspension is a dewormer that comes in the form of a liquid suspension. It is the only liquid medication on the list. It should be administered orally. The suspension can be mixed into your pet’s food or otherwise, you can use a sterile syringe to drop it into your cat's mouth. However, this could be tricky.
Unlike most of the other products on the market, the suspension can be given to more than one species of pet. It is suitable for cats, dogs as well as horses.
The treatment is particularly gentle and as such is suitable for adult cats and kittens from two weeks old. It can also be given to pregnant and lactating cats. But it's recommended that you consult your vet before giving any medication to a pregnant cat.
The dosage needs to be worked out from your cat’s weight. You should administer 2.5 mg per pound that your cat weighs. Each bottle contains 50 mg, so you will be able to give your cat more than one dose.
The product only targets adult parasites, and therefore it has to be given to your cat several times to make sure that all the worms are killed once the eggs have hatched. As a result of this, it needs to be repeated every three weeks until there are no more signs of an infestation.
Pros
Cons
For: Senior, adult and kittens after weaning
Worm Free Naturally is a wormer by the brand Alternative Animals which focuses on producing homeopathic remedies and supplements for your pets. It is contains all natural ingredients with no harmful chemicals that can build up in your pet’s system over time.
This wormer treatment contains vitamins, kelp, and probiotics which means that this product not only gets rid of worms but can help to support your pet’s overall health.
The way in which it tackles parasites is different from any other product on the list. It acts mechanically and damages the coating of parasites in ways that are fatal to them. Because it works in this parasites won’t build up an immunity to the remedy as they would to other medication.
More Details
The product comes in the form of a powder that can be mixed in with your cat’s food. The food should hide the treatment nicely. However, if you cat is extra picky and discerning, this could be challenging.
Worm Free Naturally is made so that it can be used for adult and senior cats. You can also give it to kittens once they have been weaned. Its dosage instructions are less specific than that of other brands of dewormer as the package directs that large cats can eat one teaspoon with a meal while small cats and kittens can eat half a teaspoon.
Alternative Animal recommends that you feed the correct dosage to your cat once a day for three months and after that give them one dose three times a week for maintenance. The product has the most extended treatment time on this list. However, the benefits could outweigh the costs and the effort.
Pros
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So What Is the Best Cat Dewormer?
The products on the list are 8 of the best cat dewormer treatments that you can buy over the counter. Each of the products has their strengths and weaknesses and can be used to treat your beloved pet at home. It is crucial to remember that the treatments are more useful for certain worms than others and that your cat won’t respond similarly to all of them.
The following is summary of the products on the list:
Editor Pick
The winner, in my opinion, is the HerbalVet 10 Pack Cat Intestinal Cleanse as it gives the best bang for your buck. The price per treatment comes out to the same as the generic B2BOX Roundworm and Tapeworm Dewormer but using premium all-natural and GMO-Free ingredients. It’s also safe to use on kittens and helps bolster your cat’s digestive and immune system on top of getting rid of the worms.
Which product do you prefer? Tell us in the comments and share the article with all the proud cat owners that you know.
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Hey there, I’m Ruby Smith, founder of Pet So Fun, and I’m here to provide you with useful information about your precious pet. All pets deserve the best care, don’t they? But not all pet owners have access to the right products and tips for their pets. And the central core of my work here is to change that.