What Should You Do 
About a Cat Parasite?

Even though cats are very clean and proud creatures, most cats fall victim to a cat parasite in one form or another.

Parasites can cause a lot of discomfort for the pet, and can also affect your home and even other pets or people in the household, so it is important to get your cat treated if it appears to have a parasite problem.

There are many different parasites that can affect cats, and the good news is that most of them are preventable through having appropriate vaccinations and treatments. However, if your cat does pick up a parasite – which is easily done if he or she goes out and about and is not properly protected – it can cause pain and discomfort, so it is important to get it sorted out as soon as possible.

Common cat parasites

There are a number of different parasites that can affect cats, and some are more common than others. Amongst the different parasites that are common amongst cats are:

Fleas: If your cat gets fleas it can be a nightmare, because your pet will be miserable, you will be miserable, and any other pets in the home could be at risk of infestation. Rather than having your cat constantly scratching, your home and furniture covered in fleas, and the rest of the household scratching and avoiding these mites as they bounce around the house you should make sure that your cat is on a good flea treatment and prevention program.

Ear mites: Setting up home inside the ear canal of your cat, ear mites can cause a lot of misery and discomfort to your pet. Severe irritation and itchiness can result from having ear mites, and in order to avoid your pet being put through the misery of sore, itchy ears you should get the ears checked out every year when your pet goes for vaccinations but also if your cat start scratching its ears a lot more than usual.

Cheyletiella mites: These parasites are quite common amongst cats, and they can cause irritation, itching, and dandruff on your pet's skin. The mites can also jump to humans, causing a rash and itching. Again, they can cause a lot of discomfort for your pet, so it is wise to ensure that your cat is looked at and treated if an infestation occurs.

Worms: Hookworm is the most common type of worm to affect cats, and this is an intestinal parasite that can also migrate within the skin of humans. The worms hook themselves onto the intestinal walls and feed of blood, tissue, and the nutrients of the cat's meals. Whilst not usually life threatening, they can prove fatal in kittens, as heavy infestations can cause fatal blood loss.

Treating cat parasite problems

When it comes to cat parasites your vet will be able to provide you plenty of information on protecting your cat, your family, and your home from the various infestations that can affect your pet. Some parasites can be treated through preventative measures, such as treatment against fleas, ticks, and worms, which can be quickly and easily administered by the vet or even at home.

Given the discomfort and irritation that many of these parasites can cause fore your cat it is definitely worth doing all you can to stop your cat from getting infested in the first place rather than waiting for an infestation before taking action, as otherwise you will have a very unhappy cat, a home that needs fumigating, and you could even end up being personally affected by the parasites.

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