When It Comes to Cat Care, Should You Be Worried About Parasites? 

Owners of indoor cats come in all shapes and sizes, but they have at least one thing in common. The majority of these dedicated pet owners fall for the misconception that, because their cat doesn’t go outside, parasites aren’t a real threat. 

Sure, with fewer chances of exposure to bugs, indoor cats are at less risk for potential diseases spread by parasites. But, sadly, cats aren’t immune to parasites, no matter their lifestyle. When it comes to cat care best practices, creating a buffer between all pet cats and the world of creepy crawlies is the answer. 

Common Threat, Common Sense

Most people don’t love the topic of intestinal parasites, but because we share our homes with potential hosts it’s a worthwhile discussion.

A huge component of cat care is keeping their annual wellness exam, when we stress the importance of year round parasite prevention methods. We typically prescribe Revolution Plus because it’s monthly topical dose protects cats from the following intestinal parasites:

• Heartworms – Transmitted by mosquitoes, microscopic heartworms are directly deposited into the bloodstream. More than a quarter of all feline heartworm cases belong to cats that are strictly indoor. This means that the only way to protect them from heartworm disease is to maintain monthly parasite prevention. This disease is incurable in cats, may cause lasting respiratory damage, and can be fatal. 
• Roundworms – Found in contaminated soil or infected prey (rodents or bugs), roundworms and their eggs are commonly found in feline feces.
• Hookworms – This intestinal parasite feeds on blood while attached to the lining of a cat’s intestines. They are found in soil, but can also penetrate a cat’s skin. Known to cause weight loss and diarrhea, hookworms are no fun. 

Most cats are born with intestinal worms, making deworming a common practice among kittens. However, it remains a critical practice to continue ongoing preventive practices throughout life.

A Word On Zoonoses

A zoonotic disease can be passed directly or indirectly from animals to people. Intestinal worms are the perfect example of zoonoses, with roundworms leading the pack as the most likely to infect people. Eggs hatch in the intestinal tract and spread throughout the body, damaging the eyes and brain tissue.

Giardia and toxoplasmosis are also commonly shared between pets and their people, but not if an animal is regularly screened and dosed for parasites. 

Wait! There’s More

Additionally, Revolution Plus helps to repel: 

• Fleas
• Ticks
• Ear mites

This is great news for cat care because, let’s face it, nobody likes fleas, ticks or mites. They are dangerous to feline and human health. Cats can also get tapeworms from swallowing infected adult fleas if/when they self-groom and pick up a hitchhiker.

Lyme disease is a vector-borne illness, meaning it’s spread by a tick. It’s also a zoonotic disease because it can infect an animal, and then a human. 

Let’s Get Together

The bottom line? Prevention. 

Parasite-proof every animal that lives in your home to eliminate the chances of them sharing bugs among themselves – and the rest of your human family. For cats, this means providing them with Revolution Plus. 

We also recommend cleaning up animal waste without delay, washing hands frequently, staying current with all vaccinations, and otherwise doing your best to ensure parasites aren’t coming inside the house.

The Best In Cat Care

If we can assist you with further questions about cat care and keeping them safe from parasites, please let us know.