Best Cat Dewormers – Keep Your Kitty Happy And Healthy

Keeping our precious kitties happy and healthy is not easy. We all know how fickle cats can be. It can be hard to figure out if they’re happy, grumpy, or anywhere in between. Which makes finding out whether they’re sick or not quite difficult. Now, according to veterinarians from Cornell University, intestinal parasites can be found in 45% of cats at any given time. And this can lead to serious health complications. Fortunately, getting rid of these parasites isn’t that difficult. You just have to get the right dewormer for your kitty. If you think your cat may be infected (and not just feeling grumpy), we’ve got a list of the best cat dewormers in the market today:

Top 5 Cat Dewormers Of 2020 Reviewed

1. Bayer Tapeworm Dewormer for Cats

Best Cat Dewormer For Tapeworms

Yes, as the name already states, this dewormer is specifically for tapeworms only. However, it is number one on our list because you only administer one dose to your cat and you’re good. It contains praziquantel which enables it to kill common species of tapeworms within 24 hours of dosing. The tablet can be administered as is or crushed and mixed with food or treats. This medication is safe for kittens as young as 6 weeks. Plus, there’s no prescription required. However, cats really dislike the strong taste so you need to be creative in hiding it. Also, this may cause diarrhea in your kitty.

2. Excel Roundworm Liquid Cat De-Wormer

The Excel Roundworm Liquid Cat De-Wormer is similar to the Pro-Sense Liquid Dewormer. It contains the same active ingredient, piperazine citrate, which targets roundworms. It is also easy to administer as it is in liquid form. And it is quite effective even when dealing with large roundworms. However, it does cost a little bit more (around $2 more on Amazon as of this review) and it doesn’t taste as appealing to cats. We recommend this option if the Pro-Sense is unavailable where you are.

3. Bayer Drontal Broad Spectrum Dewormer

Best Cat Wormer For All Worms

The Bayer Drontal Broad Spectrum Dewormer is a pet owner favorite and for good reason. It is perfect for cats who have more than one type of worm. Or, if you aren’t sure exactly what type of worm your pet has. It is one of the most recommended by vets because it uses two powerful ingredients – pyrantel pamoate and praziquantel – which can treat roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms.

The medication is in tablet form (50 tablets per bottle) and can be administered to kittens (older than a month) and cats weighing 2 to 16 lbs. However, it is very expensive. Not all cats like the taste. And you can’t use this for kittens younger than a month.

4. Pro-Sense Liquid Dewormer Solutions For Cats

Best Cat Dewormer For Roundworms

Like our first pick, this dewormer is also for a specific type of worm – roundworms. The Pro-Sense Liquid Dewormer Solution contains 250mg of the active ingredient piperazine citrate which targets the nervous system of roundworms, causing them to become paralyzed which forces them to detach from the intestinal wall and flushed out of the body. It is effective even when dealing with large roundworms.

This medication is quite easy to administer since you don’t have to force a pill down your cat’s throat. In addition, most cats seem to like the taste. However, you need to be careful about dosage as high doses can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Also, you cannot use this for kittens younger than 6 weeks old or weighing 2.5 lbs. Plus, it doesn’t come with a dropper.

5. Pet Products Dron@tal Cat 16 Tablets

Best Dewormer for Cats and Kittens

The Pet Products Dron@tal Cat 16 Tablets are the best when it comes to getting rid of the most common worms that could affect your feline friends. Examples of worms you may target using this product include roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms. Once the worms are removed, complications such as severe malnutrition, anemia, and vomiting will be well taken care of. Also, the working of the cat’s digestive system will greatly improve when there are no worms on the gastrointestinal tract.

This drug has FDA approval for use in cats with a weight of 2 pounds and more. It is available in the form of scored tablets and is considered generally safe for use by cats and kittens. The active ingredients in each tablet are praziquantel (18.2mg) and pyrantel pamoate (72.6mg). It is mostly safe but shouldn’t be used unless with a prescription from a vet. That’s because pregnant cats might be adversely affected by the chemicals in this drug.

How to Choose the Best Cat Dewormer: The Ultimate Buying Guide

Cats are naturally born roamers. A lot of cats like venturing outdoors, rolling around in the grass, etc. which makes them vulnerable to parasites. Now, you may think that your precious kitty can’t possibly get worms because he/she stays indoors. Well, we’ve got news for you. Even an indoor cat can be exposed to parasites. Parasites, unfortunately, can get everywhere. Infected fleas that get on your clothes, visitors, or other pets can get on your cat. And if you cat eats those infected fleas in his/her coat while grooming, then there’s a chance he or she will become infected with a worm in the process.

That’s just one way to get infected. In short, the chances are high that your cat is bound to get worms at least once in a while. Fortunately, deworming your cat isn’t complicated. You just have to make sure that you get the right dewormer. This guide should help you learn everything there is to know about dewormers and how you can prevent these parasites from worming into your pet’s life.

When Should You Buy a Cat Dewormer?

There are many symptoms associated with infections caused by intestinal parasites. These include a dull haircoat, bloating/distended abdomen/pot-belly appearance, vomiting, chronic coughing, diarrhea, mucoid or bloody feces, weight loss with a marked increase or loss of appetite, rubbing or dragging hindquarters on the floor, and pale mucous membranes. Take note that some infected cats may not show any symptoms at all. Also, prevention is better than cure when it comes to cats who are prone to worms. If you suspect that your cat may have worms, it’s best to consult with your vet to determine which parasites are infecting your kitty.

Specifically, you should deworm any newly born kittens or those that you’ve newly adopted as soon as they reach 6 weeks of age. It doesn’t matter if they have symptoms or not. For kittens, you will need to administer the medication every 2 weeks until they reach 3 months of age. Then, you can deworm them once a month until they reach 6 months of age. Afterward, deworming your cat every 3 months should be sufficient. For cats who hunt rodents, you may want to do the deworming every 2 months.

What Types of Worms are There?

There are 5 types of worms found in cats. It is important that you find out which one/s is in your pet so that you can administer the correct medication.

Hookworms

These worms are the smallest worms and can be found primarily in the cat’s small intestine. These can grow to around 1 inch in length and feed on blood. Hookworms can cause life-threatening anemia.

Roundworms

These worms are the most common intestinal parasite in cats and, as their name suggests, round. They can reach up to 4 inches long and are often described as looking similar to spaghetti noodles. These worms can be transmitted through ingestion, contact with infected feces, or via nursing.

Whipworms

These are around ¼-inch long and can be found in the cecum and colon of a cat. Considered to be one of the most harmful parasites in cats, these can cause severe damage to a cat’s organs.

Tapeworms

These worms are also common in cats. They have long and flat segmented bodies which grow up to 8 inches in length. The segments look like grains of rice which you can sometimes see in the feces and around the anus of the cat.

Heartworms

Unlike most other worms, these are not in the cat’s digestive system. Instead, they can be found in the heart and pulmonary arteries. These worms can be fatal but they are preventable and treatable as long as it is diagnosed early before the advanced stages of infestation.

How Does Dewormer Work?

The oral medication typically paralyzes or dissolves the worm and then causes it to be ejected from the body through the stool. Most cat dewormers only target adult worms which require continuous treatment in order to eliminate any larvae that mature.

Important Features to Consider:

There are a few things you need to keep in mind when looking for the best cat dewormer for your kitty.

Effectiveness: as we’ve already mentioned, there are several types of worms that can infect your cat. You will need to make sure that the dewormer you choose is specifically designed to treat the type of worm currently in your cat for it to be effective. Read the label carefully. You might want to consult with your vet to find out which ingredients are best at treating your cat. For example, the Bayer Tapeworm Dewormer for Cats is only effective for tapeworms while the Excel Roundworm Liquid Cat De-Wormer is for roundworms only.

Ease of use: this is a matter of preference. Cat dewormers come in two forms – tablets and liquid. You (and your cat) will need to decide which dewormer is easier to administer. Taste is another factor that also needs to be taken into account. Giving your kitty his medication won’t be a problem at all if he likes it. The Pro-Sense Liquid Dewormer Solutions For Cats is one of the few dewormers that are very tasty according to most cats.

Safety: not all cat dewormers are safe for consumption for cats of all ages. Some can only be taken by cats of a certain age and weight. Others cannot be administered if the cat is nursing or pregnant. Make sure to read the label carefully before making your purchase so that you don’t end up dosing your cat with medication that’s dangerous for him/her.