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 |  | Home Treatment: Around $22 |  | At a Vet: $18-$68 |
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Deworming a cat involves applying over-the-counter or prescription medication at home. Costs vary according to the worm type and whether a veterinary visit is involved.
Typical costs: |
- For kittens: If you just got a kitten, you'll likely take your new pet to the vet for an initial visit that will include a diagnostic check, vaccinations and deworming, since most kittens get worms from their mother or pets they've been around. This initial visit package varies greatly. A sampling of veterinary offices throughout the U.S. ranged from $31 to $131.
- Treatment plan with vet: A vet visit ensures that you treat the type of worm your cat has. There are several different kinds of worms, from intestinal worms to heartworm to tapeworms. The cost of a basic vet visit ranges depending on where you live, from $15 in some areas to $50 in others. The medicine itself, either an oral or topical treatment, ranges in cost from $3 to $18.
- At-home tapeworm treatment: Tapeworms are the most easily diagnosed of the worm types, since the parasite is visible in cat's stool as small, sectioned, thin pieces that look like tape (hence the name). Most medicines for tapeworm only treat tapeworm, like Tradewinds Tape Worm Tabs, available at Petsmart[1] for $21.99.
Related articles: Cat Vaccination, Cat Spay or Neuter, Cat Declawing, Owning a Cat
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Additional costs: |
- You'll want to throw out the litter in your cat's litter box and bleach the box so your cat doesn't reinfect itself. Litter costs about $10 and a bottle of bleach costs less than $5.
- If your cat's worms have caused diarrhea or vomiting, your vet may recommend a rehydration shot, also known as fluids or liquids. This would most likely be administered interveneously, and the price varies depending on the vet, the cat's weight and the severity of its dehydration. A sampling of veterinarians around the country produced a range from about $15 to $48.
- Ask your vet about an ongoing treatment plan to prevent worms. You would administer a low-dose medication once a month indefinitely. Medication is available in bulk, with pricing from $33 to $63 through DrsFosterSmith.com[2]
Shopping for deworming a cat: |
- Online forums like Paw-Talk.net[3] feature heated discussions about over-the-counter medicine. Some owners argue that OTC medicine doesn't work, can alter your cat's personality or even make it sicker. If you choose to purchase over-the-counter medicine, make sure you follow package directions, administering only the dose amount appropriate for your cat's weight and following up as necessary so the cat's worms are completely obliterated. A first treatment only gets rid of worms at a particular stage of worm life.
- To find a veterinarian near you, visit the American Association of Feline Practitioner's Web page, "Find a Vet"[4] .
- Gain insight into worm types, symptoms and how medicines work through the American Veterinary Medicine Association's brochure[5] . The AVMA recommends seeing a vet if your cat has these symptoms: diarrhea, weight loss, scooting, a dull coat, or if you see worms under their tail, in their bedding or in their stool.
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| Posted by: Holly A Salvadori in Wilmington, DE. | Posted: December 31st, 2017 02:12AM |
Wow its not thst people don't want to take their pets to the vet...in some cases people happen to run into financial hardships like my self. Its not like i predicted i was going to lose my job.but i can tell u what, my 2 cats get so much love and are very well taken care of in other ways i am able to provide at this time. They are always definately put before my own needs. |
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| Posted by: Searching for healthcare for my furry friend in Dayton, OH. | Posted: August 28th, 2017 02:08AM |
In reply to Chelsey in Honolulu, HI.: When we brought home our kittens my wife and I were healthy well employed. She developed serious medical conditions and I had a neck surgery for myself. So now, we have high medical bills and a loss of three years income because of her illnesses.
So, it's not always a matter of not wanting to dish out money for vet bills. I *really* want to so I can see my little buddy get better, but an expensive cat vet bill just isn't an option for us. That's why I landed on this page, looking for ways I can get him treated properly without a high vet bill. |
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| Posted by: Meera in Vacaville, CA. | Posted: April 8th, 2017 03:04PM |
I called my vet about little segments falling from my cat's anus. I didn't have to bring her in for an examination, they just prescribed me one pill. They charged me $50 for ONE pill. The same medication costs $6/pill on accredited online pharmacies. I wish I had just asked the vet to write me a prescription so I could order online. |
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| Posted by: Kathy Barrett-Kierstead in INDIANAPOLIS, IN. | Posted: February 12th, 2017 07:02AM |
I have three cats 1 I adopted a couple of months ago I am on a fixed income and the one I just adopted has been to the vet 3 times since I got her now she has worms and I am really running into debt to take care of her I am doing my best please don't judge someone they may be in a difficult financial situation |
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| Posted by: Chichi in Houston, TX. | Posted: November 23rd, 2016 06:11AM |
I'm worried about my cat my husband sound weekend in his still he's still a baby and I also have 6 month old daughter in home,,, not enough money to help get him fixed right now I'm just not aware of the danger from the worms and my child |
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| Posted by: FontsDownloadFree in Berlin, IA. | Posted: August 19th, 2015 02:08PM |
Not only do these worms pose a danger to your cat, but some of them can also infect humans and all of them can infect other household pets, so in addition to deworming kittens, recently adopted cats, and cats with symptoms, all cat owners should discuss a regular program of parasite testing and control with their veterinarians. |
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| Posted by: daziasmitg in buffalo, MO. | Posted: August 23rd, 2013 10:08AM |
My mommy cat and her two babies stayed with a friend for the weeks while I had a family emergency came back and I started noticing flat worms and hook worms in my cats stool am I catching this to late because the stool offs full of worms and the kittens were born may 18th of this year |
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| Posted by: Cassandra in El Cajon, CA. | Posted: November 1st, 2012 05:11PM |
I just noticed worms, and I'm checking this website not because I'm not planning on taking my cat to the vet (she already has a scheduled check up soon) but because I wanted to get an estimate so we can plan. Not everyone asks because they are planning to avoid it altogether. Knowing the estimated price of an upcoming bill is just financial responsibility. |
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| Posted by: Chelsey in Honolulu, HI. | Posted: July 10th, 2011 11:07PM |
I noticed my cat had tapeworms.But I had to wait till the next day to bring hom to the vet because my veternarian is not open on sundays so I decided to give him the tapeworm tabs in the meantime to ease his discomfort & to keep my other cats from getting infested too.brought him to the vet the next day they gave him medicine and now hes wormfree... |
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| Posted by: Chelsey in Honolulu, HI. | Posted: July 10th, 2011 11:07PM |
Advice for people who dont want to dish out the money to take your pet to the vet shouldn't even own a pet if thats the case. Its your responsibility to take care of your pet & if u really care about them the most important thing is your pets safety & wellbeing.u shouldnt put a cost on that |
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External Resources: |
- www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754523
- www.drsfostersmith.com/pet-meds/pr/c/9547
- www.paw-talk.net/forums/f10/deworming-cats-42446.html
- www.catvets.com/findadoctor/findadoctor.aspx
- ebusiness.avma.org/ebusiness50/files/productdownloads/heartworm_brochure.pdf
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