Cats can be both indoor and outdoor animals, but there are quite a few risks to consider if they are allowed to go outside. One of the most common health issues for an outdoor cat is parasitic worms. They can be in the things that the cat might find to eat outside and can create health risks, potentially devastating their digestive system.
One of the best ways to treat worms is to use a dewormer. Most times, it will be prescribed by a vet. However, if you know that your cat is showing symptoms of worms, you can pick up a quality dewormer to quickly take care of the problem.
Below, we have sorted through potential deworming medicines to highlight the top ones for you. However, we highly recommend taking your cat to the vet instead of treating them at home.
Drontal Tablets for Cats & Kittens is the best overall cat dewormer, as it can cover nearly every internal parasite to ever bother your cat. It’s formulated with praziquantel and pyrantel pamoate to cover roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms, so it’s kind of a one-stop shop for cat deworming. These tablets can be used as needed or on a regular basis to clear your cat’s system of parasites, which is likely what your veterinarian will dispense.
Drontal tablets are scored for more precise dosing and can be given to your cat directly if you’re up for the challenge or crushed and mixed with their food. However, know that these aren’t flavored or made for easy administration in any way, so if you have a particularly picky eater or a difficult-to-deal-with patient, you may have a bit of trouble.
Pros
Broad spectrum
Easy to dose
Often works well in one dose
Cons
May be difficult to administer
Requires prescription
2. Revolution Plus Topical Solution for Cats — Best Value
Most people are big fans of multipurpose products. This medication takes care of six different parasites in one dose, so while it seems like it has a high upfront price, it’s actually the best cat dewormer for the money. Revolution Plus Topical Solution for Cats is a once-a-month treatment that controls roundworms and hookworms, along with heartworms, fleas, ticks, and ear mites. It’s applied to the skin on the back of the neck, kills what adults are there, and helps prevent future treatments when given on a monthly basis.
Revolution can be used as needed to treat and control parasites, or it can be used regularly to prevent issues. Just make sure to let the liquid completely absorb into your cat’s skin so other animals don’t lick it off, since ingestion can cause drooling, vomiting, and other issues. Contact your vet if you have this problem.
Pros
Broad spectrum for internal and external parasites
Easy application
Cons
Requires prescription
May cause drooling and vomiting if ingested
3. Profender Topical Solution for Cats — Premium Choice
Nobody likes giving a pill to a cat, your veterinarian included! Fortunately, Profender Topical Solution for Cats is applied to the skin on the back of the neck, where it is absorbed and can get down to business. It’s one of the best topical dewormers, as it kills a broad spectrum of internal parasites, including tapeworms, hookworms, and roundworms.
Since this is a topical treatment, it’s meant to be absorbed through the skin, not ingested. This means you will need to keep your cat and other critters from licking the medication until it has completely been absorbed. Contact your vet if this happens, and know that drooling and vomiting can result. Also, this medication treats the current parasite load but doesn’t prevent future issues.
Pros
Topical, so no pill needed
Broad spectrum
Easy application
Cons
Need to keep other animals away until absorbed
Can cause drooling, vomiting, and other signs if ingested
Most cat dewormers are labeled for cats over 6, 8, or even 12 weeks of age. But what about younger kittens? Pyrantel Pamoate Suspension is safe for cat babies and is often the treatment of choice for pregnant or nursing queens. Just be sure to get a proper dose from your veterinarian first. This liquid is typically easily given with a syringe or dropper straight into the kitten’s mouth or mixed with food, and it can be quite effective at the proper dose and frequency.
Pyrantel pamoate won’t do anything for tapeworms but will cover hookworms and roundworms. Speak to your veterinarian first to make sure this is something that your kitten needs and to get a proper dose. Remember that the dosage will change as your kitten grows, so always use it under the supervision of your vet.
You’ll typically be looking for a cat dewormer that will get everything parasitic in your cat, but sometimes, you want to get specific. For when you don’t want any extra medications, have already used something else for other types of worms, or only want to treat tapeworms, Droncit Tablet for Cats is the best. Containing praziquantel, these Droncit tablets target the nasty tapeworms that can wreak havoc on a cat’s system, often killing all the adults in just one dose.
Keep in mind that this is a tablet dewormer, so it can be difficult to administer, especially if your kitty isn’t keen on taking pills. That said, it can be crushed and seamlessly mixed in with your cat’s canned food, as long as your pet isn’t especially suspicious or picky about the food that they eat.
Pros
Quickly kills the two most common feline tapeworms
This medication from Safe-guard was originally made for treating goats with worms. However, it is safe to use on smaller animals, such as cats, as long as it is used in the right amount. It is also best to consult your veterinarian if you are unsure of the amount to give your cat or exactly what kind of worms are bothering them.
Fenbendazole is the active ingredient in this medication, and it comes in a liquid form. It can be administered by adding it to the food or using a syringe to give it to them orally. For smaller animals like cats, give them 1cc/1ml for every 10 pounds that they weigh, for 3 days. Then, repeat it in two weeks to not only finish the job but also refortify their system against a new hatch.
The medicine only contains a 10% solution of the active ingredient. That keeps it safe for smaller animals and still highly effective at treating the worms. After administration, watch for any vomiting or diarrhea to curb the treatment.
Pros
Safe for a variety of animals
Only 10% solution of the active ingredient
Cons
Requires a syringe for most convenient administration
Hartz UltraGuard Rid Worm Liquid comes in a bottle of 4 fluid ounces and should be used to treat roundworms such as Toxocara canis and Toxacaris leonia. You can use it on both cats and kittens, although they should be at least 8 weeks old, unless otherwise directed by a veterinarian.
The liquid is thicker than many other forms of liquid applications. It is syrupy, making it easier to direct and apply right into your cat’s mouth. You can also mix it into their food if they are jumpy and finicky. They need to take 1 teaspoon per 5 pounds of body weight. After the first treatment is complete, you should repeat it 14 days later to complete the process.
The active ingredient in this liquid is piperazine citrate. This is typically used for treating roundworms and will not be effective if you are looking for something to treat tapeworms or other kinds. It is not a broad-spectrum medication.
Before modern medications came about, there were other things that veterinarians and other animal doctors would use to treat and prevent worm infections. This medication uses that type of remedy, mixing herbs to make a safe, broad-spectrum treatment for various worm infestations in dogs and cats.
This medication comes in a 2-ounce bottle in a liquid form. The bottle is sealed with a dropper lid on top to make an oral application easier for your cats and dogs. It also helps you measure it better, especially if you are trying to get lower doses.
FurFinds Herbal medication does not use any chemicals or hormones in its mix. There are no artificial flavors. It is an entirely natural and effective solution to eliminate roundworms, tapeworms, and more. It is vet-recommended and FDA registered. All the ingredients are sourced in the U.S.A.
Pros
Easy application using the supplied dropper
Broad-spectrum use for both cats and dogs
All-natural ingredients to keep your animal safe
Cons
May take quite a few doses before the results
Only comes in a 2-ounce bottle
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Cat Dewormer
When you want to buy the best worm medicine for cats to treat any of the painful symptoms that the worms are causing, you need to consider a few things. Getting the right medication and administering it correctly is often critical for your cat’s health.
Most of these medications are safe enough to make it difficult to overdose. However, it is always best to consult your vet before giving your cat anything like this and to find out exactly how much to give them. Read on for other considerations.
Application
If you want to give a medication to your cat, you need to consider how you will go about doing that. Are they extremely picky eaters and won’t touch the bowl if they sense anything extra in it? Then, tablets that you have to crumble into their food probably aren’t going to work.
Liquid medications can be added to the food without changing as much of the texture. If you don’t have a cat that will scratch and bite you, the other pro for liquid medications is that you can apply it orally with a dropper or a syringe.
It depends on your cat, your relationship with them, and their behavior when trying to choose the right format. Tablets and liquid form are the most common ones. You might also find sprays for certain kinds of worm treatment.
Doses per Bottle
Although you don’t always want money to be the top priority for your cat’s health, you also don’t want to be cheated. There are many medications out there that you can get over the counter to help treat issues like worms. If you have multiple cats or know that it is likely that your cat will need treatment again, you don’t want an expensive one-and-done treatment.
Age
Consider your animal’s age before giving them any kind of medication, whether it is for worms or something else. Medications that are normally safe for an adult cat can be dangerous for young kittens. Typically, they are safe for use starting at around 8 weeks old, although you should consult your vet, especially if your cat is smaller than most.
Being an older cat does not normally affect the kinds of medication that are and aren’t safe. If they have developed any sensitivities or allergies as they have grown, though, those will be the primary considerations when choosing a medication.
Chemicals vs. Natural
Many of the standard medications prescribed by most veterinarians and sold over the counter are synthetically produced and often loaded with various chemicals. All of these have to be tested so they can be deemed safe for animals. However, most of them have not been around long enough to show conclusively that they don’t have any long-term negative side effects.
Some people do not feel comfortable giving their pets something that could be unsafe. To avoid this, you can buy from companies that produce medication that is natural or made with all-natural ingredients. Often, they are herb-based and formulated from recipes and medicines created before synthetic processing was available.
Image Credit: didesign021, Shutterstock
Prescription
Some medications are only available or recommended if a vet prescribes them. While the majority of those on our list can be obtained over the counter, that doesn’t mean you should use them without the recommendation of a professional.
If you haven’t gone to the vet and want to solve the issue yourself, do plenty of research about the active ingredient in the medication and what kind of illness that it is meant to treat or prevent. If your cat has any sensitivities, take them into account. Find out what the adverse side effects are and watch out for them closely. If they manifest, take your cat to the vet immediately.
Preventative Capabilities
Prevention is often much more valuable and more effective than treatment. If your cat spends a great deal of time outside, especially if they like to explore and hunt things, preventatively give them worm treatments. Many medications work better as preventions than as after-the-fact treatments.
Spectrum of Treatment
While looking through your options, check to see what kind of worms and maladies that the medication works to cure or prevent. Some medicines are specifically formulated to treat a single type of worm. Others are made to treat a variety and are especially effective prevention medications.
Side Effects
Watching out for side effects after administering treatment is vastly important for your cat’s continued health. Common side effects of many dewormer medications include vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Take note of the specific ones for the medicine that you choose or your vet prescribes so you will be aware of any symptoms.
Time Until Effective
It is worth looking into how long it will take for the medication to be effective. That way, you can track your cat’s health to figure out if it is working for them or not. If they continue as they are or even worsen, it is time to go to the vet. However, some types can take longer than others, and you might be jumping ahead of yourself before letting the medicine take its hold.
Conclusion
All feline friends need deworming, but choosing the proper dewormer can be overwhelming, which is why you can turn to this list of reviews for help.
Drontal is a broad-spectrum deworming tablet that will work on the most common internal issues but in a tablet form. If administering a pill just doesn’t fit your style, you can consider Profender to cover the same bases but in a topical version. If you’d rather attack internal and external parasites simultaneously, turn to Revolution Plus.
Always speak to your veterinarian before giving any deworming products to your cat, to make sure they are good and healthy candidates for your chosen medication.
Christian started writing for a local newspaper as a teenager, and he's been involved in the publishing industry for most of his adult life. Combining his love of writing with a passion for animals, he is currently the Director of Editorial at Pangolia and the Editor-in-Chief at Catster.
Christian lives in the Philippines with his wife, son, and four rescue cats: Trixie, Chloe, Sparky, and Chopper.
