Our kitten’s health requires attention from a very early age, so we must incorporate its observation into the pet’s care and cleaning routine. One of the most important issues is deworming. Take note!
Why is it important to carry out antiparasitic control on kittens?
In the first months of age, the immune system of puppies is still developing. This makes them more vulnerable to infections and diseases, including those transmitted by parasites. The lives of kittens can be at risk if they suffer from parasitic infections.
When to deworm a baby cat?
It is recommended to deworm baby cats between one and a half months of age ( six weeks ) and four months. To do this, the normal thing is to choose a quality deworming product and give the cat four doses as follows:
- The first dose will be given at six weeks of age.
- The second is at eight weeks.
- The third is at three months (twelve weeks).
- Finally, the fourth dose will be given at four months (sixteen weeks).
What products exist to deworm baby cats?
The market for pet health products has been specializing, allowing you to choose the treatments that each species and breed needs.
The most common products for deworming baby kittens are deworming pills, pipettes, and collars. Sprays, tick tweezers, flea combs, and specialized shampoos are also used. Each of these means is adapted to the early age of baby cats by modifying their doses and sizes.
Internal antiparasitics for baby cats
Internal parasites are more dangerous than external ones. We can detect them when the animal begins to show some symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, tiredness, lack of appetite).
Internal parasites can attack the cat’s digestive system, but also its heart and some other internal organs. The most common are worms and worms that live in the cat’s intestine and infect between 25% and 75% of domestic cats, but they attack young kittens in a higher percentage.
To combat these annoying and dangerous organisms, it is common to give the cat several doses of the same drug. These products come in various formats: pipettes, liquids, granules, injections, tablets, and pastes.
External antiparasitics for baby cats
The most common external parasites are ticks, fleas, lice, and mites. They can transmit diseases and even attack humans who live with the cat.
The best antiparasitics against these annoying uninvited guests are aerosols or sprays, antiparasitic collars, and pipettes. To remove parasites mechanically, flea combs and tick tweezers can also be used.
Pipettes for baby kittens
Pipettes are a very simple method to use, which is why they are very popular and are recommended for their great effectiveness. They are applied to the cat’s skin and the deworming substance is filtered subcutaneously. On the market, there are pipettes of different sizes depending on the weight of the cat, so the veterinarian will tell us the appropriate one for kittens since weight and age are two factors to take into account.
Flea collars for baby cats
You have to be careful with this method since some collars can carry a dose of toxin against parasites that harm the kitten’s health. However, in cases of serious parasitic infections and under veterinary supervision, it is possible to use flea collars if the cat is more than 12 weeks old.
Tablets to deworm baby cats
Like any other treatment, it must be provided under the supervision of the veterinarian. There are meat-flavored pills. We can also mix the pills with the cat’s food (even delaying its mealtime so that hunger makes it not reject the pill). The pills are usually given every three months.
Flea Sprays for Baby Cats
The best flea sprays can be used from the kitten’s second day of life. This is a great advantage over other products. They eliminate parasites in 24 hours and must be applied in the opposite direction to hair growth, soaking the entire coat with the product, but not exceeding the dose recommended by the veterinarian.
How to choose the most suitable antiparasitic for baby cats?
The idea is to observe the kittens and know the most common parasites in their breeds. The veterinarian will be the one who makes the best recommendation.
We can combine several products under the supervision of the specialist. The idea is to choose one external and one internal. The time of year will also be important since parasites can change from cold to warm seasons.
We must know the geographical scope since there are more severe infections in some areas. Of course, the weight of the cat, its age, and whether it suffers from any genetic predisposition to a disease will impact our decision advised by the veterinarian.
