Pet Cats

　　For cat owners, understanding basic feline diseases and how to prevent them is essential. Here we mainly talk about the issue of regular deworming for cats. Without proper periodic deworming, not only is the cat’s health harmed, but it can also negatively affect humans. Therefore, today we will learn together about this important knowledge.

　　First, the Importance of Regular Deworming

　　Some intestinal parasites (such as roundworms) are ingested or spread by other organisms (such as fleas, mosquitoes, etc.). Kittens in the same litter love to lick each other, so kittens must be regularly dewormed. Adult cats use scent for social interaction and meeting friends, inevitably using their tongues to come in contact with secretions or excrement left by other animals on grass, thus they can be infected by parasites. Therefore, adult cats should also be regularly dewormed.

　　Common internal parasites include: roundworms, tapeworms, coccidia, hookworms, trichomonads, giardia, isospora, and heartworms. Common external parasites mainly include: demodex mites, sarcoptic mites, ear mites, fleas, and lice.

　　It is recommended to start deworming at 10 weeks of age to timely prevent parasite interference with kitten growth and development and to prevent parasitic enteritis. The choice of deworming medication should be very scientific, different from human deworming drugs, and with different dosages. Therefore, choose a reputable veterinary hospital and don’t let unqualified practitioners affect your pet’s health.

　　Sarcoptic Mite and Cat Ear Mite Disease Sarcoptic mange is a contagious skin disease caused by sarcoptic mites, characterized by intense itching and eczema-like skin changes. Among felines, a highly contagious ear mite disease mainly presenting symptoms on the head and ear auricles is caused by ear mites, a type of sarcoptic mite.

　　Parasite Characteristics and Disease Transmission Sarcoptic mites are nearly round or oval, dorsally convex, milky white or pale yellow. Female mites measure 0.3–0.5 × 0.25–0.4 mm; males measure 0.2–0.3 × 0.15–0.2 mm. The gnathosoma is short and located at the front end. Chelicerae are claw-shaped with small teeth at the tips, suitable for biting into the host’s keratinized skin tissue. Palps have three segments. No eyes or spiracles. The body dorsum shows transverse wavy grooves and rows of scale-like spines. The posterior part has several pairs of rod-like stiff hairs and long bristles. The ventral side is smooth with a few stiff hairs and 4 pairs of legs. Legs are short and stout, divided into 5 segments, conical in shape. The distance between the front two pairs and rear two pairs of legs is large; leg bases have keratinous inward projections. Both female and male mites have claw pads with long stalks called ambulacra on the ends of the first two pairs of legs, which are sensory organs. The last two pairs of legs differ between sexes: females have long stiff hairs; males have ambulacra on the fourth pair. The female’s oviposition pore is located centrally before the last two pairs of legs, as a transverse slit. The male’s external genitalia are slightly behind the fourth pair of legs. Both have an anus located at the posterior midline of the body.

　　Second, Symptoms and Diagnosis of Cat Parasite Infection

　　This is a contact-transmitted parasitic disease. Thus, contact with infected cats, sharing grooming and bathing tools between sick and healthy cats, and cross-contact by caretakers are causes of infection. Sarcoptic mange mainly occurs on the head (nose bridge, eye sockets, ear auricles, and ear roots), sometimes on the chest, underbelly, armpits, ** and tail base, and can severely spread all over the body. The affected cat experiences extreme itching, restlessness, scratching affected areas with forelimbs, biting the region with the mouth, or rubbing against surrounding objects. The affected areas show redness, rash-like nodules, thickened subcutaneous tissue forming scales, and often hair loss. Severe scratching and biting may cause localized infection and suppuration, resulting in otitis externa and local bleeding. Ear mite disease caused by ear mites or small ear mites mainly affects ears first, causing severe itching; cats continuously shake their ears or heads. Ear areas are often scratched and bleed, with infections and formation of pustular mange. To distinguish from ringworm and other diseases, skin scrapings from the border between affected and healthy skin should be taken and dissolved in 10% caustic soda solution; under low magnification microscopy, sarcoptic mites can be observed.

　　Third, Treatment of Parasites

　　Maintaining environmental and equipment hygiene is one of the important prevention measures. Do not let cats roam freely outside. Sick cats should be isolated and treated promptly. Cats should be brushed and bathed regularly. Disinfect cat houses and cat equipment regularly, strengthen management, and enhance cats’ physical condition and disease resistance. First, thoroughly shave the affected area and surrounding hairs on the sick cat, soak and scrub with warm soapy water to remove dirt and scabs, then locally apply 0.5% dichlorvos aqueous solution or ointment. Apply with force to make the medicine penetrate the skin, repeat once every 5–7 days. Usually 2–3 treatments can cure it. However, medication should never cover more than one-third of the animal’s body surface area each time to prevent poisoning. 0.1% fenthion emulsifiable concentrate, 0.1% amitraz (dimethyl propane acid ester) solution, and carbaryl also have therapeutic effects.