As a responsible cat owner, one of your main goals is to keep your cat healthy and happy. Every cat, whether they are an indoor or outdoor cat, can become the host to a number of parasites. It is not unusual for a cat to become infected with multiple types of external and internal parasites in their lifetime.

Heartworms, fleas, intestinal worms, and ear mites can cause severe discomfort and health problems to the infected cat. Fortunately, these parasites are easy to control, treat, and/or prevent.

Heartworm Facts

The prevalence of feline heartworm disease is on the rise in the U.S.¹ Heartworm infections have been diagnosed in all 50 states. Heartworm disease is transmitted to cats via infected mosquitoes. Once an infected mosquito bites a cat, microscopic larvae migrate through the mosquito bite into body tissues and find their way to the bloodstream, eventually entering the lungs and heart. These newly arriving immature worms cause severe pulmonary inflammation/lung disease and can cause sudden death. This initial phase is often misdiagnosed as asthma, but is now known as Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease (HARD). HARD typically lasts until the heartworm reaches maturity at which time, the symptoms may stop. The asymptomatic phase lasts until the adult heartworm dies. The death of mature adult worms can often result in sudden death of the cat.²

Diagnosis

• Heartworms are difficult to diagnose and are easily overlooked. 
• Clinical signs may go unrecognized in the early stages of heartworm disease, and can be confused with respiratory disease.³
• A cat may exhibit clinical signs of illness such as vomiting, lethargy, anorexia, weight loss, coughing, respiratory distress, gagging, rapid breathing, collapse, convulsions, diarrhea and sudden death.³
• Yearly testing may be recommended by your veterinarian.

Prevention is vital

Currently, there are no products approved for treatment of feline heartworm disease.³

The Companion Animal Parasite Council recommends year-round prevention of heartworm disease in all cats in endemic areas, even for indoor cats.⁴

Flea Facts

Fleas are a common parasite affecting cats and kittens. In just 30 days, 10 fleas can become an infestation of up to 250,000 adult fleas on your cat and in your home.⁵ If left untreated, fleas can cause serious health issues in cats such as:

Flea allergy dermatitis

• Caused by allergic reaction to flea saliva during blood-feeding.
• Characterized by severe itching and red, pimple-like bumps.
   

Tapeworm infection*

• Infected fleas carry the immature stage of the tapeworm.
• When fleas bite, cats ingest the infected fleas while grooming themselves.
• Cats become infected with tapeworms that will mature in the intestinal tract.
• Advantage Multi^® for Cats is not indicated for tapeworm treatment. Ask your veterinarian about the right tapeworm treatment for your cat.

 Anemia

• Flea-feeding during severe infestations causes significant blood loss, resulting in a deficiency of red blood cells.
• Symptoms include pale gums, weakness, lethargy and even death.
   

 Feline Bartonellosis*

• Fleas are a known vector of Bartonella.
• Bartonella is the causative organism of Cat Scratch Fever.
• This bacterium is associated with kidney disease, fever and gingivitis in cats.
• Kill adult fleas and treat flea infestations with Advantage Multi^® for Cats
• Advantage Multi^® for Cats is not indicated for the treatment of Bartonella. Your veterinarian can advise you on the best treatment for bartonellosis for your cat.

Intestinal Worm Facts

There are a number of intestinal worms that can infect cats including:

• Roundworms
• Hookworms
• Tapeworms*

The problem with intestinal parasites is that you cannot see them. And for the most part, your cat can carry on with life without any real impact on its health. Some of the common worms that can infect your cat are:
 

Roundworms

Cats can become infected with roundworms by eating soil or feces contaminated with eggs or by eating infected hosts such as mice or birds. If the problem is serious your cat may vomit these worms or pass them (whole) in the stool. They also cause loss of energy and poor condition.
 

Hookworms

These intestinal parasites can cause anemia (and sometimes death) in kittens as they attach to the intestine and suck blood. Cats are infected by ingesting larvae from contaminated areas, via the mother’s milk or when larvae penetrate the skin.

Tapeworms*

Cats can become infected by swallowing fleas while grooming. They can be seen externally when segments break off. These segments vary in length, are usually white and can be seen contracting and expanding around the rectum. These segments then die and you might spot what looks like grains of uncooked wild rice or sesame seeds on your cat's bedding. Tapeworms can cause irritation, weight loss, diarrhea and a dull coat.

Ear Mite Facts

Ear mites are tiny crab-like parasites that, if left untreated, can cause irritation and inflammation, predisposing the cat to bacterial and yeast infections and, in extreme cases, rupture the ear drum leading to seizures and deafness.

Ear mites are a common cause of external-ear inflammation, especially in kittens and young cats. When a mite-infested cat constantly scratches its ear, it can tear open tiny blood vessels in the ear flap, which may lead to swelling and permanent disfigurement.

 

Prevention of external parasite and internal worm infections

The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommends year-round treatment with heartworm preventatives that have broad-spectrum activity against parasites with zoonotic potential (intestinal worms) and year-round flea preventatives. Advantage Multi^® for Cats (imidacloprid + moxidectin) Topical Solution helps provide this recommended standard of care in one convenient topical application. Consult your veterinarian to create a total cat parasite protection program that's right for your cat.

Go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website to see how your cat's parasites could affect your health. 

*Advantage Multi^® for Cats is not indicated for treatment of tapeworms or feline bartonellosis. Please consult your veterinarian for treatment options.

The safety of Advantage Multi^® For Cats has not been established in breeding, pregnant, or lactating cats.

Use of this product in geriatric patients with subclinical conditions has not been adequately studied.

Product Label

¹ Lorentzen L, Carla AE: Incidence of positive heartworm antibody and antigen test at IDEXX Laboratories: Trends and potential impact on feline heartworm awareness and prevention. Vet Parasitol, 158: 183-190, 2008.

² Blagburn BL, Dillon AR: Feline heartworm disease: Solving the puzzle. Vet Med 102 (suppl 3): 7-14, 2007.

³ American Heartworm Society, www.heartwormsociety.org, Feline Heartworm Disease, March 19, 2010.

⁴ http://www.petsandparasites.org/other/guidelines.html, Accessed September 9, 2010.

⁵ http://worldanimalfoundation.homestead.com/FACT_SHEET_Protecting_Animals_In_Summer.pdf, Accessed October 28, 2009.