As a responsible pet owner, keeping your cat healthy is your number one priority. Intestinal worms are a severe health problem for domestic cats, especially if your ferocious furball enjoys hunting.
While vet-prescribed dewormers are fantastic for eliminating worms as quickly as possible, they can also be expensive. Fortunately, there are several effective dewormers that you can buy over the counter.
After reading this post, you’ll know what the best cat dewormers are and how they work, plus you’ll discover some natural dewormer options.
You’ll also probably learn way more than you wanted to about worms, including how cats can get worm infested how dangerous worms are, how long they last, and whether or not you can get them from your kitty.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Elanco Tapeworm Dewormer For Cats
Elanco Tapeworm Dewormer (praziquantel tablets) for Cats
Elanco is a well-established brand that offers at-home treatments for four-legged babies, including their Tapeworm Dewormer for Cats. This dewormer comes in tablet form and specifically targets tapeworm infestations. While this treatment is effective, it’s important to note that it should not be used as a broad-spectrum dewormer.
The bottle has three tablets, so you can easily repeat the treatment if necessary. Each tablet contains praziquantel as the active ingredient, removing the most common tapeworms in cats – Dipylidium caninum and Taenia taeniaeformis.
Unlike expensive vet-prescribed dewormers, Elanco’s Tapeworm Dewormer is affordable for pet parents on a budget. Although while you won’t need a prescription for these tablets, you may need to ensure that your kitty has been checked and diagnosed by a professional veterinarian.
Once your vet has given your cat a fecal test and confirmed a tapeworm infestation, you may safely administer a tablet to adult cats and kittens over six weeks of age. The tablets can then be given orally to your cat to help eradicate tapeworms and the resulting intestinal blockage and discomfort. If your cat is fussy with medication, you can crush it and serve it over your pet’s food.
This reviewer says cat owners should buy this dewormer as soon as possible:
I have 2 cats that had worms coming out of their butt. One more often then the other. They always left “rice” looking residue all over the sofa and everywhere else they would lay. It was gross seeing all that “rice” everywhere and frustrating needing to vacuum the sofa everyday especially if we wanted to sit down.
Discovered this product and let me tell you… IT WORKED MIRACLES!!! Ordered it and received it within 2 days! I crushed the pill and sprinkled it on wet food (they normally eat dry food so this was like a treat for them) and mixed it in so they couldn’t notice the sprinkled pill … I cleaned the house thoroughly and vacuumed the sofa to put the product to the test. The next day I came home from work and for the first time in a long time… I DIDN’T SEE “RICE” ON THE SOFA OR ON ANY OF THE OTHER AREAS I USED TO SEE THEM ON!!! I was amazed and happy!!! Also happy my fur babies don’t have any worms coming out of their butt since they ate the pill! If you want to see instant results… BUY THIS NOW!!! You won’t regret it!
Pros:
• Affordable
• Available without a prescription
• Safe for cats over six weeks
• Effective against tapeworms
Cons:
• Not a broad-spectrum dewormer
• It May have mild side effects like vomiting, diarrhea, and excessive salivation.
Hartz UltraGuard Rid Worm Liquid
Hartz UltraGuard Rid Worm Liquid for Cats
Hartz UltraGuard Rid Worm is a another great over-the-counter liquid dewormer you can get for your kitty. The bottle comes with four ounces of dewormer syrup, designed to target and remove roundworms like Toxocara cati and Toxocara leonina.
Unlike other dewormers, UltraGuard is not effective against tapeworms or hookworms. The syrup contains the active ingredient piperazine citrate, which is known to eradicate roundworms in pets.
If your kitty has been diagnosed with roundworms by a veterinarian, you should be able to treat it with this inexpensive syrup.
You can give it to cats that are over eight weeks of age and it can be given orally. Alternatively, you can mix it with food for a more palatable taste. Most cat owners prefer giving this syrup to their pets with wet food to mask the sweeter taste.
You’ll need to repeat the treatment two weeks after the first dose. Luckily, this tube of deworming syrup has a long shelf life and can be used multiple times in the case of re-infestation. The dosage instructions recommend giving your cat around one teaspoon of liquid per five pounds of body weight. However, you may need to consult a veterinarian for younger cats.
Pros:
• Affordable
• Available without prescription
• Safe for cats over eight weeks
• Effective against roundworms
Cons:
• Not effective against tapeworms
• Some cats may not enjoy the taste
Bayer Tapeworm Dewormer For Cats
Bayer Expert Care Tapeworm Dewormer for Cats and Kittens
Bayer is a well-established brand, and their Tapeworm Dewormer for cats is one of the best products for treating tapeworms. Like Elanco’s dewormer, this medication treats tapeworms and won’t work on other worm infestations in cats.
The main ingredient in Bayer’s dewormer is praziquantel, a well-known ingredient in eradicating intestinal tapeworms. Four-legged pet parents can give this dewormer to cats and kittens over six weeks. But it may be important to consult a veterinarian before giving your kitty this medication.
You can give Bayer dewormer to your cats orally. But for skittish kitties that avoid taking tablets, you can crush it up and mix it with their food. Unlike gel or liquid-based dewormers, Bayer’s tablets have no taste. So even the fussiest of felines shouldn’t turn their nose to these tablets.
This reviewer had a little trick to get their cats to take these pills:
Expensive but IT WORKS!
We tried a 2 different liquid products that did not work. I read the reviews and decided to purchase this product to deworm a kitten and two adolescent cats. The larger cats each received one pill & the kitten had 1/2 a pill.
I soaked the pills separately in a tiny bit of warm water until they dissolved and then mixed each dose into their wet food. Worked perfectly! Worms were gone the next day and I did not have to shove it down their throats to administer the dose.
Pros:
• Affordable
• Available without a prescription
• Safe for cats over six weeks
• Produced and distributed by a reputable company
• Effective treatment for tapeworms
Cons:
• Not effective against other worm infestations
• A low number of customer reviews
Durvet WormEze Liquid Canine & Feline Anthelmintic
Durvet WormEze Liquid Canine & Feline Antihelmintic
Roundworms are the most common parasites found in domestic animals, and Durvet WormEze is an affordable roundworm dewormer medication for both cats and dogs.
One of the best features of this liquid is that it can be given directly to your pet, mixed with food, or you can add it to their water. For fussy animals, adding WormEze to their water may be the easiest way to get them to ingest it.
WormEze can be given to puppies and to kittens over six weeks old. The dosage instructions caution pet owners to give their pets one teaspoon of liquid per five pounds of body weight. Still, it would help if you didn’t give it more than twice a year without consulting a veterinarian. A single dosage includes the initial treatment and a repeat dose ten days later.
The active ingredient in WormEze is piperazine citrate, which is an effective roundworm treatment. However, this ingredient may cause mild side effects like vomiting, salivation, and diarrhea.
Because roundworms are difficult to diagnose at home, it may be best if a vet diagnoses your cat before administering the medication.
Pros:
• Affordable
• Available without a prescription
• Effective against roundworms
• You can use it for dogs and cats
• Safe for puppies and kittens over six weeks
Cons:
• It may cause mild side effects like vomiting and diarrhea.
Drontal Broad Spectrum Dewormer
Drontal Broad Spectrum Dewormer
If you’re unsure of the type of worms your cat has, using a broad-spectrum dewormer is a great idea. The Drontal Dewormer is designed to eradicate all three of the most common worm infestations, including tapeworms, hookworms, and roundworms.
Because worms can be difficult to diagnose and differentiate, it’s a good idea to use broad-spectrum dewormers when your cat shows signs and symptoms of worm infestation.
The Drontal Dewormer bottle comes with fifty tablets, although it’s important to note that your cat will only require a single dose. A single dose is one tablet per four to eight pounds of body weight. Although Drontal is available over-the-counter, it is only freely available in bulk bottles. You may require a vet prescription to acquire one or two tablets.
This dewormer can be given orally or crumbled over your cat’s dinner. You should only give it to cats and kittens over four weeks with a body weight of at least 1.5 pounds. Once you have given your cat the correct dosage, the infestation should clear up within as little as seven days. In the case of reinfestation, however, you may need to consult a vet before readministering this medication.
Pros:
• Affordable
• Available without prescription
• Broad-spectrum dewormer targets three types of worms
• Safe for kittens over four weeks
Cons:
• Only available in bulk bottles, so it may be expensive for a once-off use.
Can You Deworm A Cat Without Going To The Vet?
While you can buy over-the-counter worm medicine for cats, it’s always best to consult your vet before giving your cat any medication. Your local vet can run tests and accurately diagnose your cat with worms. It’s essential to get an official diagnosis before deworming your cat. Some cats may need particular medication to treat their illness or repeat worm infestations.
You may want to give your kitty regular preventative care to avoid shelling out for expensive deworming medications. The medication will usually depend on your cat’s risk of contracting worms and their age. You may need to consult your vet on the best preventative medications for your cat.
The best preventative care is to use tick and flea medication flea regularly or a broad-spectrum dewormer every few months throughout the year. Broad-spectrum dewormers target tapeworms, hookworms, and roundworms. So, if your cat has the beginning stages of an infestation, you may be able to nip it in the bud early!
✅ Does Over-The-Counter Worm Medicine Work For Cats?
Over-the-counter medications may not be as potent as prescribed meds. Most dewormers that are freely available to pet parents may need to be readministered to treat your cat successfully. If you constantly need to treat your pet, it can become expensive. So, using prescription medication for better results may be a good idea.
Similarly, while some over-the-counter worm medications work well for worms in cats, others may not be as effective. It’s important to consult your local veterinarian on the best medications to give your pet. Some over-the-counter dewormers only target specific types of worms. If your cat becomes ill, you may unknowingly give them the wrong treatment.
How do I know if my cat has worms?
According to PetMd, common signs of worms in cats include:
- Vomiting (sometimes with worms in the vomit)
- Diarrhea (with or without blood)
- Tarry feces
- Weight loss
- Distended abdomen
- Skin lesions
- Generally poor body condition and a dull coat
✅ Can indoor cats have worms?
You might think that you don’t have to worry about worms if your cat never sets food outside.
But unfortunately, you would be wrong.
Indoor cats can become infected with tapeworms by eating infected insects or rodents that might make their way inside your house.
Also, roundworm eggs can be brought indoors on shoes or clothes. (Sorry, I know that’s pretty gross. But yet another good reason to adopt the custom of taking off your shoes and wearing your slippers when you’re inside.) If your cat accidentally eats these eggs, he could become infected
✅ What kind of worms do outdoor cats get?
The most worms in outdoor cats are roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms. Cats may contract tapeworms from fleas or rodents. There are also two types of tapeworms, namely Dipylidium caninum, and Taenia taeniaeformis.
✅ Can I get worms from my cat licking me?
Since cats don’t eat feces, it’s [thankfully] very unlikely that you would get worm from your cat licking you.
✅ Can I get worms from my cat sleeping in my bed?
According to Ask My Cats, yes, you can get hookworms, roundworms, or tapeworms from your cat if they sleep in your bed. The oocytes (parasite eggs) may very well be in your cat’s fur, and they can be transmitted to you if your cat rubs against your face while you’re lying in bed.
✅ How do you get rid of worms in cats naturally?
According to Pet Partners, pumpkin seeds are an extremely effective natural wormer. They contain an amino acid called cucurbitacin, which paralyzes the worms and makes them easily eliminated from the intestine. You can give them to your cat whole as a treat, or grind them up and add them to your cat’s food.
Make sure you use raw pumpkin seeds, not the salted snack kind. One teaspoon per 10 pounds of cat per day is a good amount. If you have a 15 pound cat, make it a teaspoon and a half.
✅ Does apple cider vinegar get rid of worms in cats?
Yes. According to Oxford Pets, apple cider vinegar is an effective treatment for worms in both dogs and cats. Basically, the high alkaline levels coat the worms, which loosens their grip on the intestinal wall and causes them to be flushed down with the stool.
✅ How often should I give my cat apple cider vinegar for worms?
Mix 1/4 to 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with your cat’s food or water once a day. Be careful not to give them any more than that, because the alkaline taste could make them vomit. Also, be sure you use apple cider vinegar that is organic, unpasteurized (raw), unfiltered, and naturally fermented. Avoid using concentrated apple cider, which could irritate your cat’s skin.
✅ What happens if worms are left untreated in cats?
According to PetMD, untreated worm infestations can be dangerous, and possibly fatal, for your cat due to the ongoing loss of blood and vital nutrients not being able to be absorbed by the intestines.
✅ How long after deworming a cat are the worms gone?
Depending on the worm infection and the type of medication used, the worms should be gone between 3 to 9 days.
More Posts About Your Cat’s Health
Resources: