Various parasites live in a cats fur or even in it's body. Don't wait until your cat is infected to act. External parasites cling to the cats skin and feeds on it's blood; internal parasites live in the cats intestines. A certain number between them can also be transmitted to humans and could become a danger to the family. Also preventative treatments are part of the regular care provided to your cat. Certain conditions, like the climate and the environment are favourite conditions for the parasites. Fleas reproduce during the warm of hot season, however with the central heat in the house, they become a permanent plaque. Ask your veterinarian to prescribe a preventative treatment for your cat.
External Parasites
If your cat has fleas, see the website pertaining to this Advantage an execellent preventative measure.Fleas
Fleas live in your cats fur and feeds on his blood. An infestation can provoke weakness, eczema and other health problem's. The female flea can lay 20 to 50 eggs per day, which fall from the cats fur everywhere in the house. In warm temperatures, the eggs hatch approximately 10 days later. After the larval stage, the adult flea, immediately starts sucking the blood of its host to live. She dies after 3 weeks, however the larva is capable of sleeping during the cold season, for almost one year. Regularly administer anti-flea treatments, this prevents the eggs hatching and stops the reproduction. There is a variety of treatments that exist: aerosol, lotion and capsules that can be mixed into their food. If your cat is infested with fleas, you should scrupulously treat all the layer of the cats fur and also areas of your house where your cat normally goes.
Lice
Lice are little insects that are brown in colour, and move slowly along your cats fur and skin. They live on the cat and slowly lay their eggs. Anti-flea treatments also fight against fleas
Ticks
Ticks are tiny parasites which belong to the spider family. They usually affect cats that live in rural areas. Ticks attach them seldes to the cats fur a couple of day. They do not cause any local irritation, it's best to remove them since they can transmit diseases. When you see one, put them to sleep with a bit of ether and remove them with a pair of tweezers; plucking the hair to prevent the rostrum attached, it could provoke an abscess.
Ringworm
Ringworm or scabies are provoked by arthropods which are invisible to the naked eye and are transmitted simply by contact. They feed on the animals skin or in auricular canal, causing serious irritations. Scabies can be treated with the proper products.
What is the best way to determine if my cat has fleas
The fleas excrement is easier to see than the flea itself. Fleas are shaped like little black dots, which are easily spotted on white fur. Their excrement consists of digested blood, and are recognisable by their brownish-red colour. If your cat is not white, place him on a white towel and carefully brush his fur, you will see the fleas and the excrement falling. Use a sponge or damp cloth to pick then up.
How to get rid of ticks
Never try to remove a live tick you must first kill it by rubbing it with ether. Then gently pull the tick that is attached to your cat with a pair of tweezers or a special tool you can find at your veterinarian. Never press down on a tick that is still attached to your cat. The ticks rostrum can stay attached, and provoke on abscess.
What about anti-flea collars
Their effectiveness is insufficient and does not guarantee the elimination of the fleas. They can also cause dermatological allergies in certain cats.
Interna parasites
They are usually worms. A cat that hunts can eat an infected prey, like a rodent, insects or a bird. The worms live in the cats intestines and cause abdominal pains, diarrhoea, anaemia and weight loss. It is very important to protect your cat by regular dowering treatments. This will permit him to discard any eggs and even the worms in the stools. To avoid the parasites scatter, flush the excrements down the toilet.
Earth worm
A earth worm is a small white worm measuring for 5 to 13 cm long. It lives in the cats intestines, and can be discarded by coughing or spitting it up or it could move into the cats stools. The lava are present in the female cats milk, and most kittens are infected at around 3 or 4 weeks. They become very ill, they have diarrhoea and their stomach becomes swollen. It's recommended to provide preventative treatments at regular intervals to kittens, starting form 3 weeks old until 6 months to cats that are often every 6 mounts to cats that are often outside and once a year to cats that remain in doors. Ask your veterinarian for advice. It's imperative to treat the female during the gestation period and during the nursing period.
Tapeworm
A tapeworm is a flat segment. It develops in the cats intestine where the head is attached. The most common, the dipylidium, can measure up to 50 cm long. As they go along they become longer. The ring part that holds the eggs detaches and are rejected in the stools. When they dry out or wither (resembles grains of rice) and open to liberate the eggs which can be eaten by larva and fleas. The cat is contaminated by swallowing the adult flea, by voiding or by eating an infested prey. Eliminating the fleas go hand in hand with antitenia treatment, administered orally or by injections right from the start your cat should receive regular treatments. It's also not advised to feed your cat raw meat.
Toxoplasmonis
Toxoplasmonis is a parasitical illness provoked by a microscopy protozoon, which live in the cats intestines, however it can also be transmitted to humans. By eating infected prey raw meat, or even from an infected animals stools, a cat can suffer with intestine problems. To avoid contamination, wear gloves to clean the litter box and leave this chore to another family member if your are pregnant. A coccid is a microscopic protozoon that lives in the cats intestines. But does not cause any serious internal injuries, except in the case of over populated cages. The symptoms are: intermittent diarrhoea, weight loss and sometime signs of blood in the stools. Your veterinarian will prescribe a specific treatment. Furthermore daily hygiene of the litter box is essential to get rid of them.
White worm
The white worm is a parasite that is common in certain regions in the United States and Australia. They lay their eggs in the grass or on the ground, and the cat ingests them by eating the grass, the larva is then placed on the cats paws, which causes itching. Kittens can also become infested from the mothers milk. If you travel to these countries, it's essential to administer a preventive treatment to your cat.
Heart worm
Heart worm is a tiny parasite like the name indicates, installs itself in the animals heart, usually cats and dogs. It's a certain Mosquito's bite that contaminates the animal. The infected blood then circulates, and the parasite develops in the heart or it obstructs the bloods oxygen to the lungs, causing certain death of the animal by a heart attack. The symptoms are respiratory problems and weight loss. Also, a parasite is especially found in certain regions of the United State and Canada. Your cat must be preventively treated with a pill that is mixed in with the food daily or once a month.
Lung worm
The lung worm attacks the cats lungs. An infection provokes a cough and the cat will have difficulty breathing. The lava is transmitted by the stools of an infected when hunting for prey. Your veterinarian can prescribe a treatment for this.
© Chatterie Jovisca
