Even if your cat never leaves home, it is not protected from worm infestation. It can catch the infection in different ways. Luckily, there are effective and affordable meds, which help to get rid of annoying worms without visiting a vet. In the framework of our research, we’ve figured out the best cat dewormer options that are currently available over the counter.
Table of Contents:
What Are over the Counter Cat Dewormers and When Should I Use Them?
The Best over the Counter Cat Dewormers in (2024): a Comparative Chart
The Best over the Counter Cat Dewormers: Our Choice
1. Bayer Drontal Broad Spectrum Dewormer
2. LUCICO 10 Tablet Cat Intestinal Cleanse
3. Bayer Tapeworm Dewormer
4. Excel Roundworm Liquid Cat De-Wormer
5. Bob Martin Spot on Dewormer for Cats and Kittens
Preventing Parasite Infections in Cats
Symptoms of Parasite Infections in Cats
Verdict and Recommendations
What Are over the Counter Cat Dewormers and When Should I Use Them?
An over the counter medication is the one that can be bought without a doctor’s prescription. All OTC dewormers are safe for pet health; they don’t cause severe side effect and can be used by non-specialists at home. Commonly, over the counter dewormers are effective in the cases of mild and average infestation. If a cat suffers severely; if it is too weak to struggle or its condition is getting worse quickly, you should take it to a vet immediately.
There are several types of OTC dewormers. Some of them are broad-spectrum drugs effective against various parasites. Others fight against particular types of worms, such as tapeworms or roundworms. Finally, some meds (primarily, natural dewormers) are mainly used for prevention. The most popular active ingredients of OTC deworming meds are the following:
- Praziquantel – tapeworms;
- Piperazine Citrate – roundworms;
- Pyrantel Pamoate – roundworms, pinworms, hookworms;
- plant-based components (black walnut, sage leaf, etc.) – all types of worms.
Cat dewormers come in various dosage forms (pills, liquid, spray). They can be mixed with food or administered whole before food. In our guide, we’ll review different types of deworming products and try to choose the best ones.
The Best over the Counter Cat Dewormers in (2024): a Comparative Chart
| Image | Product | |
|---|---|---|
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Best Choice
|
Bayer Drontal Broad Spectrum Dewormer
|
|
|
Also great
|
Bayer Tapeworm Dewormer
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|
|
Also great
|
Excel Roundworm Liquid Cat De-Wormer
|
The Best over the Counter Cat Dewormers: Our Choice
Choosing a good over the counter dewormer for cat is quite a challenge since there are too many products around. We’ve analyzed the market to select the meds that are recommended by specialists and highly estimated by pet owners. Meet the winners – top-5 deworming remedies for cats available without a prescription.
Bayer Drontal Broad Spectrum Dewormer
Bayer is known as the number one supplier of anti-parasite medications for pets. Its broad-spectrum dewormer is effective against various types of worms. The tabs are easily mixed with food and well-tolerated by the majority of cats. They are safe for all felines of 2 months old and above.
What we think
The quality of Bayer products is beyond the doubt but there are two things to consider: the pack size and the price. One pack contains 50 tablets, and if you are not going to use them immediately, check the expiry date.
PROS
- a broad-spectrum product;
- the symptoms of infestation are relieved after one application;
- safe for cats older than 2 months;
- easy to administer.
CONS
- it is expensive;
- a 50-count pack is way too large for most cat owners.
LUCICO 10 Tablet Cat Intestinal Cleanse
This is another broad-spectrum option used for the treatment of adult cats and kittens older than 6 weeks. It helps to expel roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms. One pack contains 10 crushable pills that can be mixed with food or administered whole.
What we think
The med works as effectively as other dewormers using praziquantel and pyrantel pamoate as core ingredients. That said, pills are too large to be swallowed whole. Also, there are complaints that cats don’t like their taste even if they are mixed with food or treats.
PROS
- effective and inexpensive;
- work against several types of worms;
- 10 tablets are an optimal pack size;
- safe for pets and have no side effects.
CONS
- the pills are large;
- made in Chine, not the US.
Bayer Tapeworm Dewormer
This dewormer from the award-winning supplier is effective against tapeworms, which are a common cause for many health problems in cats. It comes in the form of hard tablets containing praziquantel – an anti-parasite drug with proved effectiveness. One pack contains 3 pills, which are sufficient for 1 or 2 treatments depending on the cat’s size.
What we think
If you want to buy the best cat dewormer over the counter – choose Bayer’s products to get a guaranteed effect. The effectiveness and safety of this dewormer are proved by both specialists and real customers. Keep in mind, though, that large cats require more than 1 pill at a time, which can cause inconveniences.
PROS
- very effective and safe;
- few if any side effects;
- easy to mix with food;
- one pack contains only one dose; no risk of expiry.
CONS
- large cats have to eat more than one pill at a time;
- treats only tapeworm infections.
Excel Roundworm Liquid Cat De-Wormer
As the name implies, Excel dewormer is effective against roundworm infections in cats. It comes in the form of a liquid solution for oral administration. The drug can be mixed with food, which makes it convenient and easy to administer.
What we think
This is an affordable and rather effective product, which helps to get rid of roundworms in 3-5 days. An unobtrusive vanilla scent and neutral taste attract pets. The drug is very economical, as one portion is just one teaspoonful.
PROS
- cheap and economical;
- effective against roundworms;
- no side effects;
- easy to administer.
CONS
- for roundworm infections only;
- need to be taken regularly once a month.
Bob Martin Spot on Dewormer for Cats and Kittens
This topical formulation is a good alternative for oral drugs. To expel tapeworms from your cat’s organism, apply it on the base on the pet’s neck once and wait for the result. The effect usually comes in 1-2 days after a single application. The product is safe for cats and kittens with the body weight of at least 1 kg.
What we think
The product is easy to apply and comes in convenient individual tubes. One pack contains four tubes. It works great but you need to have some practice to apply it correctly; otherwise, your cat will lick it, which can cause severe salvation.
PROS
- affordable and effective;
- to need to make a cat swallow pills;
- convenient individual tubes;
- the effect is preserved for up to 3 months.
CONS
- treats tapeworms only;
- you need some practice to apply it precisely.
Preventing Parasite Infections in Cats
Almost all cats get infected at least once in their life. However, there are some ways to minimize the risk of worm infestation. Here are some simple tips for you to consider if you want to avoid the need for regular deworming.
Keep Your Cat Healthy
A cat with a weak immune system is prone to all types of infections, including parasite infections. To keep your pet strong and healthy you need to feed it with high-quality food, provide a proper water-intake schedule and activity level. Don’t forget to take the cat to a vet regularly.
Get Rid of Fleas
Fleas are not just annoying little things: they are really dangerous for cats. Very often, fleas act as carriers of worms’ eggs. If your cat has fleas, it will be infected with tapeworms sooner or later.
Keep Your Home Clean and Tidy
Even if your cat stays indoors all the time, it is not protected. You can carry eggs on your shoes and clothes. So the best way to decrease the risk of infecting is to clean your shoes, clean the floor, and beat or vacuum carpets. Also, don’t forget to clean the litterbox in soapy water and change the litter regularly.
Symptoms of Parasite Infections in Cats
Unfortunately, despite all our efforts, domestic cats tend to get infected with parasites from time to time. If it happened, you should take measures as soon as possible. Commonly, worm infections have full-blown symptoms.
Vomiting or/and Diarrhea
Both diarrhea and vomiting can be caused by digestion problems or improper feeding. However, if your cat vomits without for no clear reason, it’s time to check for worm infestation. If you are not too squeamish, you may try to inspect vomit or feces of the pet: it can contain worms’ eggs or worms.
Weight Loss
Weight loss also can be a symptom of various conditions. But parasite infection is the most probable one. It is often accompanied by an immense appetite (alternatively – loss of appetite), apathy, and lethargy.
Itching and Irritation
If you noticed your cat scratching or licking itself around the anus, check for parasite infestation. Irritation of skin near the anus is one of the primary symptoms to consider. Chances are your pet is infected with hookworms.
Pot Belly
This symptom is typical for kittens rather than adult cats. Of course, you need to consult a vet anyway. But even non-specialists know that a pot belly is often a clear sign of worms’ presence in the organism.
Verdict and Recommendations
Parasite infections in cats are annoying, but, thanks to the availability and effectiveness of modern deworming drugs, they are easy to treat. Many cat dewormers are available over the counter, which means they are absolutely safe for pets’ health. To choose the best over the counter dewormer for cat you need to know what types of worms your cat suffers from.
While there are many decent options around, our top choice is Bayer Drontal Broad Spectrum Dewormer. It helps to fight with multiple types of worms simultaneously, while its effectiveness and safety have been repeatedly proved by hundreds of cat and dog owners.
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