FAQ: Health for cats

A flea comb has very fine teeth. Comb the cat section by section, especially around the neck and the base of the tail, and rinse any caught fleas into a dish of soapy water. A comb helps you spot fleas but does not eliminate them.

Sometimes a cat gets redness or hair loss at the application site, drooling or brief restlessness. If you notice vomiting, trembling, weakness or seizures, contact a vet immediately.

Yes, especially outdoor cats, although they often groom ticks off themselves. Ticks can transmit diseases, so check the cat’s head, ears, neck and armpits after it has been outside.

Use a tick hook or fine tweezers: grip the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull or twist it out slowly without squeezing its body. Disinfect the spot. Do not smear the tick with oil or alcohol, as it may release more saliva.

Slide the slot of the hook under the tick from the side until it sits in it, then rotate a few times and lift slowly upwards. Hooks come in several sizes, so it is worth having one for small and one for larger ticks.

A small piece left behind usually works its way out within a few days. Disinfect the spot and watch it; if the skin turns red, swells or festers, or the cat seems lethargic, see a vet.

In Lithuania ticks are active from spring until late autumn, and longer in mild winters. Cats that go outdoors usually need protection throughout this period; a vet can help pick a suitable product.

How often depends on the cat’s age and lifestyle: outdoor cats that hunt need it more often than indoor cats. A suitable schedule is best set with a vet, following the product label.

A cat may have diarrhoea, vomit, lose weight despite a good appetite, have a bloated belly or a dull coat. Sometimes worms or segments that look like grains of rice are visible in the stool or around the anus.

Yes, indoor cats can also get worms, for example through fleas, raw meat or eggs carried in on shoes. They usually need it less often than outdoor cats, and a vet can advise on the exact schedule.

For cats there are tablets, pastes, suspensions and spot-on drops that also act against internal parasites. Some products work only on roundworms, others on tapeworms too, so a vet helps choose the right kind.

Kittens often get worms through their mother’s milk, so deworming starts early and is repeated every few weeks. A vet sets the exact schedule, and the product must suit the kitten’s age and weight.

Some cat worms, such as roundworms, can infect people too, especially children. Regular deworming, washing hands after handling litter and a clean home greatly reduce the risk.

Fleas carry one type of tapeworm, and a cat gets infected by swallowing a flea while grooming. That is why, when dealing with fleas, vets often recommend checking or treating for tapeworms at the same time.

You can hide the tablet in a treat or a special pill pocket if the label allows giving it with food. Otherwise gently open the mouth, place the tablet at the back of the tongue and hold the mouth closed until the cat swallows.

Do not give a new dose on your own, as you may overdose. Call a vet and say how long after dosing it happened – they will advise whether and when to repeat it.

A mild stomach upset after deworming sometimes happens, especially if there were many worms. If diarrhoea or vomiting lasts more than a day, or the cat refuses food or seems lethargic, see a vet.

Yes, raw meat, fish and hunted prey can be a source of parasites. For cats on a raw diet or cats that hunt, vets usually recommend more frequent parasite control.

Many vets recommend deworming a cat or kitten before vaccination, as parasites can weaken the body. When to do it and which product to use is worth discussing with the vet in advance.

Yes, there are combined spot-on drops and tablets that act against several types of parasite at once. They do not always cover all worms or ticks, so read what the product protects against and ask a vet.