Many times we hear the phrase..."But Fluffy is an indoor cat, why should I worry about parasites?".
While it's true that an indoor cat has less chance of encountering parasites than their outdoor counterparts, they are still at significant risk of exposure. The kitty may not venture outside, but their guardians surely do.
Parasites are evolutionary marvels. Their life cycle is entirely dependent upon the right host at the right time for each stage of development. It stands to reason then, that they have adapted to suit their needs. The eggs of many intestinal parasites can survive in the environment for weeks or months, even in extremes of temperature, until they find their host. Many times, this connection is made inadvertently - we walk in the grass where the microscopic eggs are lying and we are suddenly a parasite taxi service.
All it takes to infect Fluffy is for her to walk across the floor where you have stepped with your outdoor shoes and then lick those paws and the lifecycle of a parasite moves on to the next phase.
Apartment dwellers are at great risk for the transfer of ectoparasites such as fleas as eggs can live in the carpets of common hallways and the cracks of baseboard and doorways. Fleas themselves, are an intermediate host for tapeworms so come with a double risk of infestation.
Not convinced yet? Many common intestinal parasites of cats are considered zoonotic.
This means that an untreated infestation in your cat can become a very serious one for you and your loved ones.
In 2004, the Companion Animal Parasite Council published standard guidelines for parasite control in pets. These are reviewed and updated yearly and detailed information about parasite life cycles, disease, treatment and prevention can be found here.
Here are a few of the basic recommendations that we are following:
- Year-round treatment with broad-spectrum flea/deworming preventatives that have activity against parasites with zoonotic potential.
- Physical examination and complete history at least once yearly.
- Feeding only cooked/prepared (no raw) food and provide fresh, potable water.
- Fecal examinations 2-4 times during the first year of life, then 1-2 times annually (more if an outdoor cat or if not on year-round preventatives).
- Bi-weekly deworming beginning at three weeks of age until 12 weeks of age, then monthly until the kitten is 6 months old.
We don't want to scare you but.......
- Feline roundworm (Toxocara cati) can infect children and cause visceral larva migrans (VLM) and ocular larva migrans (OLM). Because the disease is related to accidental ingestion of infective eggs from the environment, young children are at the greatest risk due to their tendency to put things in their mouths. A recent survey done in the U.S by the CDC found a prevalence in children of 14%! Depending on infection levels and the extent of tissue damage and inflammation, infections can vary from mild or covert, to life-threatening.
- The feline tapeworm (Diplylidium caninum) can infect children if they ingest fleas containing the larva. The tapeworm then matures in them and causes mild gastrointestinal disease and perianal irritation along with associated itching and scratching. The small segments may be seen in the perianal area or the child's diaper or underwear and be misdiagnosed as pinworm infection.
And that is why we talk about flea prevention and deworming for ALL of our patients and their families.
©Melanie Leavey, 2009 - reprint with permission.
