Why do kittens need to be wormed?
Kittens become infected with hookworms and roundworms via their mother when they are young kittens. Fleas spread tapeworm, even indoor cats can become infected.
Worms are more than a nuisance, they can cause gastrointestinal obstruction, anemia and malnutrition, especially in young kittens.
Kitten worming schedule
- Every 2 weeks from 2 weeks of age until 12 weeks of age.
- Every month from 12 weeks of age until 6 months.
- Every three months from 6 months.
The above schedule is a guide, once your cat has reached three months, timing between dosages can vary depending on the brand you are using. For example, if you are combining flea control with worming (such as Revolution), the schedule will be once a month. Always follow the directions on the packaging and never administer a flea or worming treatment for dogs to cats.
Not all products treat all parasites. Always check that the product you are using is also a heartworm preventative. If if is not, it will be necessary to use a second treatment to prevent heartworm. It is important to treat all cats for:
- Fleas
- Heartworm preventative
- Tapeworm
- Roundworm
- Hookworm
Which worming product should I use for my kitten?
We have outlined some of the more popular worming products on our quick guide to cat worming products page.
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Julia Wilson
Julia Wilson is a cat expert with over 20 years of experience writing about a wide range of cat topics, with a special interest in cat health, welfare and preventative care. Julia lives in Sydney with her family, four cats and two dogs. She enjoys photography, gardening and running in her spare time. Full author bio Contact Julia
How can Kittens get Worms from their mother if she is wormed as well?
Some worms migrate to tissues in the When a cat becomes infected with roundworm eggs, larvae (immature roundworms) hatch and some migrate through the tissues where they form a cyst and lie undetected in a dormant state and immune to worming products. During pregnancy, dormant cysts are reactivated, and migrate to the mammary glands where they go on to infect kittens when they nurse from their mother (lactogenic transmission.