The 5 Best Cat Dewormers of 2024 - Business Insider
The 5 best cat dewormers of 2024
- Best broad-spectrum
- Best oral tapeworm dewormer
- Best topical tapeworm dewormer
- Best oral parasite preventive
- Best topical parasite preventive
- What to look for
- How we selected
- FAQs
- Types of worms
Bayer Drontal Broad Spectrum Dewormer effectively eliminates several types of intestinal parasites including tapeworms, hookworms, and roundworms.
- Veterinarian recommended
- Kills several types of worms
- Safe and reliable
- Kills all parasites within seven days
- Low risk for side effects
- Not for kittens younger than 8 weeks old or less than 2 pounds
- Can be hidden in food but may be difficult to administer if cat doesn't easily take pills
A broad-spectrum dewormer can knock out multiple types of parasites at the same time. We recommend Bayer Drontal Broad Spectrum Dewormer because it is safe, effective, and eliminates all parasites within seven days. No other cat dewormer kills as many different types of worms as Drontal. This dewormer features two powerful active ingredients, pyrantel pamoate and praziquantel, which together cover tapeworms, hookworms, and roundworms.
To give your cat this medicine, place the tablet far back in their mouth until they swallow it or crumble and mix it into a small amount of wet food. Drontal has a very low risk for side effects and is safe for kittens and cats more than 8 weeks old and ranging from 2 to 16 pounds.
Bayer Drontal Broad Spectrum Dewormer requires a prescription from your veterinarian. Don't skip this step because cats may have other parasites that even broad-spectrum dewormers can't eliminate.
When using a broad-spectrum dewormer like Drontal, your cat may require one or more follow-up treatments to make sure all the worms are eliminated. If your cat has fleas, you should also use one of the best flea treatments for cats to prevent future tapeworm infections.
One Droncit tablet quickly and safely kills tapeworms in cats and can be given mixed with food.
- Kills tapeworms within 24 hours
- Easy-to-administer tablet
- Powerful active ingredient
- Long-trusted brand name
- Affordable
- Single pills available for purchase
- Some cats may experience salivation or diarrhea after taking
- Not for kittens under than 6 weeks old
Droncit Tablets tackle tapeworm infestations quickly and safely in cats and kittens 6 weeks of age and older. They are conveniently sold per pill, unlike the other tapeworm dewormer we considered, Bayer Tapeworm Dewormer Tablets, which are sold in a three-pack and at a slightly higher cost per pill.
Each tablet contains 23 milligrams of the active ingredient praziquantel, which works to paralyze and eliminate tapeworms within 24 hours. This ingredient is effective against the most common species of tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum and Taenia taeniaeformis), eliminating them in a single dose. You can feed the tablet to your cat whole or crumbled and mixed with food.
Because cats can become reinfected by ingesting another flea, effectively eliminating tapeworms requires treating your cat for fleas as well.
One dose of Centragard Topical Solution quickly and safely kills tapeworms in cats, treats hookworms and roundworms, and prevents heartworms when given monthly.
- Kills tapeworms with one dose
- Easy-to-administer topical solution
- Treats and prevents roundworms and hookworms
- Prevents heartworms when given every 30 days
- Not for kittens less than 7 weeks old or weighing less than 1.8 pounds
- Not for use in pregnant or nursing cats
Centragard quickly and safely treats tapeworms and two other intestinal parasites (hookworms and roundworms) in cats and kittens 7 weeks of age and older. It is a great option for cats that won't take pills. Simply squeeze the liquid in one spot on the back of your cat's neck and allow it to dry. You can use Centragard one time to treat an infestation of tapeworms, hookworms, or roundworms, or give it monthly to keep your cat free from intestinal parasites and also prevent deadly heartworms.
Centragard contains the active ingredients eprinomectin and praziquantel, which work to kill worms and prevent future infections. These ingredients are effective against the two most common species of tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum and Taenia taeniaeformis), two species of hookworms (Ancylostoma tubaeforme and Ancylostoma braziliense), one species of roundworm (Toxocara cati), and heartworms.
Because cats can become reinfected by ingesting another flea, effectively eliminating tapeworms requires treating your cat for fleas as well.
Given monthly, Interceptor Flavor Tabs prevent heartworms and treat and control roundworms, adult hookworms, and adult whipworms.
- Prevents heartworms
- Treats and controls roundworms, adult hookworms, and adult whipworms
- Easy-to-administer flavored tablet
- Protects for 30 days
- Safe for kittens as young as 6 weeks of age
- Can be difficult to give some cats oral medications
- Some cats don't like the taste
- Doesn't protect against fleas, which transmit tapeworms
Interceptor is a great choice for pet owners who wish to give an oral preventive rather than a topical product because of the many parasites it protects against. In addition to preventing deadly heartworm disease, Interceptor Flavor Tabs treat and control roundworms, adult hookworms, and adult whipworms with the active ingredient milbemycin oxime. Each pill protects for 30 days, and it's safe for kittens as young as 6 weeks of age.
Interceptor is one of only two chewable parasite preventives available for cats, Heartgard being the other option. Unlike Interceptor, Heartgard only treats and controls one other parasite (hookworms) in addition to heartworms.
You can give your cat an Interceptor Flavor Tab as a treat or hide it in a small amount of wet food. You'll need a prescription from your veterinarian to purchase Interceptor. As with all heartworm medications, your cat needs a heartworm test prior to starting this preventive and once a year thereafter.
Safe for use in kittens as young as 8 weeks, Revolution Plus Topical Solution treats, controls, and prevents more parasites than any other topical product, including roundworms, hookworms, heartworms, fleas, ticks, and mites.
- Kills and prevents six types of parasites
- Once-monthly treatment
- Easy to administer
- Does not kill tapeworms
- Caution required in cats with a history of neurologic disorders
- Not labeled for use in breeding, pregnant, or nursing cats
Our pick for best topical parasite preventive is Revolution Plus Topical Solution because it protects cats against six different parasites — more than any other topical preventive. Revolution Plus beat out the other topical preventive we considered, Bravecto Plus Topical Solution, because it is safe for kittens 8 weeks and older. Bravecto cannot be used for kittens younger than 6 months old. Revolution Plus also kills ear mites, while Bravecto does not.
Revolution Plus treats and controls two intestinal worms: roundworms and hookworms. It also prevents heartworms, treats and prevents flea infestations (killing adult fleas before they can lay eggs), and treats and controls ear mites and three different tick species (black-legged or deer tick, Gulf Coast tick, and American dog tick). It does not kill tapeworms.
Given every 30 days, this monthly spot-on treatment is simple to apply in one spot to your cat's skin between the shoulder blades. The medication, a small amount of liquid, is absorbed through the skin and dries quickly, leaving nothing behind. Unlike some other topical products like Advantage Multi and Bravecto, you do not need to wear gloves to apply Revolution Plus and you can touch your cat after application, even if the product has not completely dried. If you get the medication on your hands, simply wash them with soap and water.
Before choosing a broad-spectrum parasite preventive for your cat, have a conversation with your veterinarian who can advise you on what might be best depending on your cat's lifestyle and what parasites are most common in your area.
You must obtain a prescription from your veterinarian to purchase Revolution Plus. As with all heartworm medications, your cat needs a heartworm test prior to starting this medication and once every year after. Revolution Plus should be used with caution in cats with a history of neurologic disorders such as seizures.
Comments
Post a Comment