Spot-on Cat Dewormer

Cat dewormer drugs come in different forms of application. Read how easy spot-on products for feline worms and other feline parasites can be applied and how effectively they work.

Find vet-recommended products and a description of their effectivity against different types of worms in cats.

Spot-on products were introduced to the pet medicine market a few years ago and are very popular due to the ease of application.

The struggle to convince a cat to take and swallow a cat dewormer tablet is well-known to a lot of pet parents, isn't it? :)))

Well, at least I had regularly clients with scratches on hands and arms coming into a consultation with their cat, who asked to administer that tablet to their feline pet, as they had tried already everything to convince her to take it...

So, by the way, a pill giver is a cheap, little gadget that will ease giving a tablet or capsule so much! It is a tool that saves you from being bitten into your fingers. A tablet is placed very quickly there, where it should go (into the back of the cat's mouth), the swallowing reflex usually does not give her time enough to refuse the tablet.

 

How to apply them safely ?

Spot-on cat dewormer are a fabulous invention! How do you apply them safely ?

Drop the content of the pipette onto the skin between the shoulder blades or onto the back of the neck. It needs to be a spot, where your feline pet cannot lick it off the fur, otherwise cats start to salivate profusely as the drug tastes very bitter.

Split the fur beforehand, so the content of the pipette does not only “wet” the hair coat there, but will be absorbed properly through the skin. Try not to touch the treated spot for a few hours and wash hands after applying the drug.

 

How does a Spot-on Cat Worm Medicine work?

After application the fluidy drug is being absorbed through the skin and enters the blood stream. The effective substances are transported within the blood vessels to the intestines where they actively destroy adult tape worms (they get detached from the gut lining, become paralysed and die) and round worms (they absorb the drug through their skin and die). Dead worms will be passed with the faeces.

See the demonstration of how a spot-on cat dewormer works in this video.

 

Products For Different Types Of Worms In Cats

There are different spot-ons for felines available. Make sure you use only drugs suitable for felines. Please, never use a spot-on designed for dogs on a cat!

• They can contain substances that are toxic to felines!
• It is not safe, because the dosage is too high for a cat.

Advocate Cat™ (Bayer)

This spot-on contains imidacloprid and moxidectin and is effective against round- and hook worms.

The manufacturer claims that it treats also larva 3 and 4 stages of Dirofilaria immitis, the canine heart worm, adult and immature forms of Toxocara cati and Ancylostomum tubaeforme.

Beside worms it is used to treat against cat ear mites and cat fleas.

Droncit Spot-on™ (Bayer)

Droncit for cats contains praziquantel which is effective against tape worms of the Taenia species and Dipylidium caninum. It is also effective against Echinococcus multilocularis, the fox tape worm.

Profender Spot-on™ (Bayer)

Profender contains praziquantel and emodepside, substances that are used to get rid off round worms (Toxocara cati, Toxascaris leonina) and hook worms (Ancylostoma spp.). It treats E. multilocularis as well.

Stronghold™ for Cats (UK), Revolution™ for Cats (US) (Pfizer)

Selamectin, the active ingredient, fights round- and hook worms effectively. Beside endoparasites, it is used as and ectoparasiticum and destroys fleas, lice and sarcoptes mange mites.