09/15/2025
Let's talk about deworming.
Protecting the health of feral cats requires a compassionate and careful approach, especially when dealing with worms. For cats who are wary of humans, administering medication can be a challenge and should not be attempted by force, as it risks injuring both you and the cat.
Here's what you need to know about preventing and treating worms in feral cat colonies:
How cats get worms:
🐀Eating prey: When cats hunt and eat rodents or birds, they can ingest the larvae of worms, especially tapeworms.
🦗Fleas: Cats often ingest fleas while grooming. If the fleas are carrying tapeworm eggs, the cat will become infected. This is why flea prevention is a key part of worm control.
🏞️Contaminated environment: Worm eggs can survive in the soil for a long time. Cats can ingest them when they clean their paws, eat vegetation, or drink from contaminated areas.
🐈Mother to kitten: Kittens are often born with roundworms, as larvae can pass from the mother to her kittens through her milk.
Signs of worms:
-Weight loss: A cat with worms may lose weight, even if they continue to eat normally.
-Distended belly: A bloated or "pot-bellied" appearance, especially in kittens, can be a sign of worms.
-Poor coat condition: The cat's fur may look dull, dry, and coarse.
-Scooting: Dragging their bottom on the ground can be a sign of a**l irritation caused by worms.
-Visible worms: You might see worms in the cat's stool or vomit. Tapeworm segments often look like small grains of white rice.
How to treat feral cats:
(Before administering any medication, it's best to consult a veterinarian. They can recommend the safest and most effective dewormer for the types of worms most common in your area. Us at GCCC are not veterinarians, and can not diagnose or offer any medical advice.)
✔️Oral dewormers: Broad spectrum dewormers like Panacur (fenbendazole) can be mixed into food. It is important to use a broad spectrum dewormer that is safe for cats, to cover multiple types of worms at once.
Start by mixing the dewormer into a small amount of highly palatable wet food to ensure each cat consumes their full dose.
For the first round of deworming, follow the vet's instructions. A common protocol for Panacur is once daily for 3 days. Repeat the treatment in 7–10 days to kill any parasites that have hatched since the initial treatment.
✔️Topical dewormers: Spot-on treatments, such as Revolution Plus or Advantage, can be effective and provide additional protection against fleas and ticks. These are best for cats that can be safely handled.
✔️Flea control: Since fleas are a primary cause of tapeworms, controlling the flea population is critical for preventing reinfection.
Prevention tips:
🪱 Deworming should be done on a quarterly basis (every three months). If the cats are active hunters, more frequent treatment may be necessary.
For larger colonies, use multiple feeding bowls to ensure all cats get some of the medicated food.
🧽Cleanliness may be the single most important step in prevention of parasites among cat colonies! Cleaning feeding stations, washing bowls used for feeding, removing excrement, and keeping the foliage manicured are all key steps in overall hygiene of the colony.
💧 Provide clean and fresh water daily for the colony. If cats can drink clean fresh water, they will be less likely to drink from puddles or other stagnant water sources, which can help prevent the spread of Giardia especially.
🐾 Feeding feral cats dry food in a bowl small enough that they will not stand in it rather than on the ground can slightly reduce their exposure to some types of worms.
🦗 Treating the environment for fleas (make sure to use a pet/cat safe treatment) will help keep the spread of parasites at bay. Tapeworms are spread directly by ingestion of fleas. This happens either by a cat grooming itself, or by eating prey that has flea infestation. Treating the environment will help stop the spread of fleas among cats and rodents, helping to break the cycle of tapeworms.
🐈Last but not least TNR! Cats under less stress—due to less overcrowding, reduced urge to fight and mate, and better management—have stronger immune systems. A cat with a strong immune system creates resistance, and their body will actively fight parasites. TNR directly improves the health of feral cats, among the many other benefits we see long term.
