Deworming cats is an important step to ensure their healthy growth and keep them free from parasite troubles. This cost is one of the necessary expenses in raising a cat. Whether you choose to deworm at a pet store or purchase medications to do it yourself at home, understanding the price composition and precautions of cat deworming can help cat owners make wiser choices.

The Importance of Cat Deworming: An Unmissable “Health Safeguard Battle”

You might think, since my cat rarely goes outside, does it still need deworming? The answer is no! Parasites are "everywhere," even if your cat is a "homebody," it can still get infected through parasite eggs carried by shoe soles or clothes when we go out, the home environment (such as dark, damp corners, sewers), or by eating untreated raw meat. Once a cat is infected with parasites, mild cases cause itching, hair loss, and gastrointestinal discomfort (vomiting, diarrhea), while severe cases lead to anemia, weight loss, depression, or even threaten life. More importantly, some parasites are zoonotic, such as Toxoplasma gondii, which poses potential risks to pregnant women, children, and immunocompromised people. Therefore, regular deworming of cats is not only for their health but also to protect our family's health—it’s a “health safeguard battle” that must be won.

Pet Store Deworming: Convenient and Worry-Free, What’s the Price?

Choosing to deworm at a pet store or veterinary hospital offers the biggest advantage of convenience and peace of mind. Professional veterinarians will recommend an appropriate deworming plan and medication based on your cat’s age, weight, health condition, and outdoor exposure. Pet stores usually provide both internal and external deworming services.

• Internal Deworming: Usually done by oral medication to eliminate intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms. The cost for internal deworming at pet stores is approximately several tens to over one hundred RMB per session. This price generally includes the cost of medication and the service fee for feeding the medicine.
• External Deworming: Usually uses spot-on treatments or sprays to remove parasites on the cat’s body surface like fleas, ticks, and ear mites. External deworming at pet stores costs roughly several tens to over one hundred RMB per session. Price differences depend on drug brand, cat’s weight, and the pet store’s pricing standards.

Some pet stores offer internal and external combined deworming services using drugs effective against both internal and external parasites, which is very convenient for “lazy” cat owners. The cost for combined internal and external deworming is relatively higher, possibly ranging from one hundred to three hundred RMB per session.

Note that pricing varies by region, store scale, and grade. Large chain veterinary hospitals or high-end pet stores generally charge more, while community small pet stores have more affordable prices. Additionally, some pet hospitals may charge registration or consultation fees. Although not all do, it’s best to inquire in advance.

Home Deworming: Cost-Effective but Requires Skill

For experienced cat owners, buying deworming medicines to deworm cats at home is a more economical choice. Various brands of internal and external deworming medicines are available on the market, priced from a dozen RMB to over one hundred RMB, giving a wide selection.

• Internal Deworming Medicine: Mainly oral tablets or liquids. Prices are relatively low, usually a few to several tens RMB per dose. When administering, pay attention to the method, as some cats resist taking medicine and may need small tricks like hiding pills in food or using a pill dispenser.
• External Deworming Medicine: Mainly spot-on treatments and sprays. Spot-ons are typically applied to the back of the cat’s neck and absorbed through the skin; sprays are applied over the whole body. Spot-ons usually cost several tens to over one hundred RMB per tube. When using spot-ons, parts the fur to allow direct skin contact and prevent the cat from licking the medicine.

The key to home deworming is to choose legitimate, effective medicines and follow the dosage and schedule instructions strictly. Popular brands include Da Chong Ai, Frontline, Bayer (Advocate, Advantage), Revolution, and Broadline. These brands differ in spectrum, applicable age, usage frequency, so choose according to your cat’s specific conditions.

While home deworming saves some service fees, it requires owners to have basic skills and the ability to accurately assess the cat’s health and pick suitable medicines. Improper operation may reduce deworming effectiveness or harm the cat’s health.

Factors Affecting Cat Deworming Costs

Cat deworming costs are not fixed and are influenced by various factors:

• Deworming Type: Internal and external deworming costs differ; combined internal-external products are usually priced higher.
• Drug Brand and Type: Prices vary greatly by brand and ingredients. Imported brands generally cost more than domestic ones; combined internal-external products are also more expensive.
• Cat’s Weight: Dosage usually depends on weight; heavier cats require larger doses, potentially increasing costs.
• Deworming Schedule: Kittens and adult cats have different deworming frequencies. Higher frequency means higher annual cost. Kittens usually need more frequent deworming.
• Pet Store or Self-Administration: Deworming at a pet store includes service fees, often costing more than buying medicine and doing it yourself at home.
• Region and Pet Store Pricing: Differences in local consumption levels and store pricing strategies lead to cost variations.

Understanding Deworming Frequency: How Often Should Cats Be Dewormed?

The deworming frequency for cats depends on their age, living environment, and the medicines used.

• Kittens: Their immune systems are not fully developed and are more susceptible to parasites. Generally, kittens can have their first external deworming at 2-3 months old. Most deworming medicines apply to cats older than 8 weeks. For kittens under 2 months suspected of parasitic infection, use kitten-suitable deworming products under veterinary guidance.
• Adult Cats: For adult cats, the common recommendation is monthly external deworming and internal deworming every three months. However, some combined internal-external products can be given monthly or every three months; check the drug instructions for details.

It’s important to stress that even for indoor cats that rarely go out, it’s recommended to maintain monthly external deworming and quarterly internal deworming. If there are multiple pets at home or the cat frequently contacts the outside environment (like going to pet stores for bathing or boarding), more frequent deworming may be necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q1: Do indoor cats need deworming?
  A1: Yes. Even indoor cats can be infected through the owner or the environment, so regular deworming is very important.
• Q2: Can cat deworming medicine be mixed with dog deworming medicine?
  A2: Not recommended. Although some ingredients may be similar, cats and dogs have different physiological characteristics. Deworming drugs vary in ingredients and dosages specific to each animal; mixing could lead to incorrect doses or adverse reactions.
• Q3: Can cats be bathed immediately after deworming?
  A3: After applying external spot-on deworming, bathing is not recommended immediately. Wait at least 72 hours to avoid affecting absorption. Internal deworming has no such restriction.
• Q4: How to tell if a cat needs deworming?
  A4: Look for symptoms like itching, frequent scratching, hair loss, weight loss, poor appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, or worms in stool. However, many parasites are invisible to the naked eye; regular deworming is mainly preventive.

Summary

Cat deworming is a crucial part of safeguarding their health and a responsibility of loving cat owners. Whether choosing professional services at pet stores or self-administering medications at home, understanding the importance and cost components of deworming, selecting suitable plans, and following scientific schedules can keep your “fur baby” free from parasites and growing healthy and happy. Deworming expenses are a necessary investment. Compared to treating diseases caused by parasites, regular preventive deworming is usually more economical and spares cats from suffering. Remember, regular deworming is the best love you can give your cat.