Sorry if this has already been asked before

My cat is a house cat so doesn't go outside at all. I've been told a few times that I shouldn't need to treat him regularly for fleas or worms since he won't be coming into contact with them, and it's best to avoid giving him unnecessary chemicals/medications.

However, I've also been told (by different people...vets tbh) that the fact he's a housecat makes no difference and he should still be treated regularly.

Does anyone have any advice or even the definitive answer? I just want to do what's best for Bayley but don't know who's giving me the right advice.

If it makes any difference, he hardly ever goes to a cattery either.

Thanx in advance,

Laura x

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I myself personally have never de flea'd my house cats because they don't have flea and I would hopefully notice quite quickly if they did and I haven't wormed them regularly apart from when they were kittens because again I think I would see, but I don't have any other pets and they completely indoor cats, and yes my vet tells me I should be worming and de-fleaing but I don't like the idea of over use of chemicals on them, I think I would consider de-fleaing and worming them after they had stayed in a cattery.

Oh and it's pet forum law that you must post pictures of your cat too

Just like GH, we don't routinely flea or worm our cats (well, apart from the kitten who was wormed monthly from when we had her until she was 6 months old). The cats get a sprinkle of brewer's yeast every day to help keep the fleas away and so far we haven't had any flea problems for the last few years.

Re worming, again, not something that we do but we get their stool tested (although that is not a failsafe method) a couple of times a year. Us, and our vet too, believe that a good diet (a lot of it is raw), a healthy gut flora and a good overall immune system will help them deal with any potential worms and it shouldn't become a problem. Also, there is a flipside to worming. It essentially is a chemobomb and as a result destroys the gut flora (alongside the parasites) making parasitic infestation more likely in subsequent days - or so people who are into more natural ways of control say.

There are some natural worming treats that can be given on a daily basis to keep worms away (Verm-X), which might be worth a look. There is also something called D something earth, which again can be used to keep fleas and worms away.

I do, however, have Milbemax in my first aid box for the cats should we see some signs of worms... in which case I would not hesitate to bring out the big guns.

However, it is a risk/benefit analysis. I might think differently about worming if I had kids, for example. I am sure some of our resident VNs or trainee vets will be along shortly to tell you some of the horrors of parasitic infestations and the dire consequences for cats and sometimes humans.

I agree with everything Hobbs says. Always.
I have 6 cats with outdoor access and very rarely use spot on flea treatments. I would rather ( again rarely ) spray the house with a good vet product if I saw a cat scratching more than usual.

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Nellie Paddy Mitzy Milo Peggy Murphy

Millie and Monty, the White Devils!

We will only worm Benji and Storm until Benji has reached a certain age, after that we will probably hold off. I'm not keen on giving too much products if there is no reason to, our flat is clean as are they and they don't go outside. If I were to suspect though I, like Hobbs, keep some at home just in case!

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Mummy to;

Sooty 9.6.1996 - 28.04.2011 Rest in peace my love!
Storm (Sueragdandy Phantom) 28.02.2010
Benji (Kassaro Benjamin Franklyn) 08.03.2011

I am another one with indoor cats who doesn't do regular worming or flea treatments. My youngest girl will have a final dose of Panacur as she is under 6 months but after that she will only be treated if I suspect any problems. Mai Tai will be wormed before she goes to stud this week, just in case and I worm my kittens before they leave but I've not had to treat for fleas for a number of years despite being told by vets that I could easily bring eggs in on my shoes

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This is going to show my utter ignorance but where do cats get worms from/how do they get them?

My cat is an indoor only cat - although he does sit outside on the roof of the bay window of the flat below. I haven't seen a flea on him and I don't think he has worms .......how would I know if he has worms? When I found him at 7 months I had him overhauled but nothing since then.

Come to think of it when I rescued little 3 kittens I did see worms - looked like white rice coming out of their bottoms ......sorry for the descriptive.....so they were treated. Perhaps this is what you are referring to?

I don't think I want my basmati rice for lunch now....

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Mummy to;

Sooty 9.6.1996 - 28.04.2011 Rest in peace my love!
Storm (Sueragdandy Phantom) 28.02.2010
Benji (Kassaro Benjamin Franklyn) 08.03.2011

The intermediate host for tapeworm is fleas, so if you ever need to de-flea your cat then you need to worm it too. Many products only treat roundworm so you need to choose an effective dual wormer.

Roundworms are trickier beings in that they can remain as encysted larvae within body tissue for years and there is no treatment to rid your cat of this dormant parasite. It's important to worm kittens because these larvae can be passed to them in the mother's milk. There is no way of knowing that your cat is completely clear of all the stages of roundworm. For this reason I treat my cats about every 8 months.