Gentle and Safe: Natural Deworming Options for Your Beloved Cat Safe Ways to Keep Parasites Out of Your Cat

At some point in your cat’s life, it’s likely that they’ll end up with a worm infestation. It’s not a particularly pleasant discovery to make, and it usually happens when you spot worms in their feces. 

For the most part, you don’t need to worry. Data from the Cornell Feline Health Center shows that up to 75% of cats are affected by roundworms. Thankfully, there are several treatment options that you can avail of. If you are a cat owner who is a little concerned about using chemical dewormers, you don’t have to worry. 

In this article, we will look at some of the most common and effective natural deworming options that you can start making use of right away.

Why Go Natural in The First Place?

Peace of mind and avoiding side effects are two reasons, but honestly, chemical dewormers like Heartgard have been widely used, and the side effects are minimal. That said, natural remedies tend to be easier on your cat and reduce the likelihood of vomiting and diarrhea. 

In addition, there are a wide range of natural deworming remedies out there, and they can be surprisingly effective. Some of the more popular ingredients are even used in mass-produced natural dewormers for cats.

More importantly, natural remedies offer a preventative protection against worms that is valuable. Some ingredients help create a gut environment that is not suitable for worms to grow in. As such, natural ingredients allow for a stronger immune system and improved resistance against worms from the beginning, rather than acting as a countermeasure. 

Regardless, here are some of the most common ingredients you can start including in your cat’s diet to keep worms away.

1. Pumpkin Seeds

If you ever notice small, white worms in your pet’s poop, it’s probably tapeworm. Pumpkin seeds can help with that. 

Pumpkin seeds are great for countering worms because of their cucurbitacin compounds. Cucurbitin is essentially an amino acid that has the ability to paralyze intestinal worms. You will have to grind the seeds into a powder and mix them into your cat's food.

That said, ensure you do your due diligence, as the deworming dosage will scale with the breed, weight, and age of your cat. Your vet will be able to help you with this. 

2. Wormwood

With an apt name, this herb is great for warding away a range of worms, particularly roundworms and pinworms. These worms can cause a number of unpleasant symptoms in your cat, such as a pot-bellied look, abdominal pain, and more. 

Wormwood can be effective at getting rid of these worms. 

Ideally, you want to provide wormwood in powdered form to your cats. However, if your cat has a hookworm infestation, you probably want to opt for a more potent, vet-recommended dewormer. 

Your cat might be prescribed something like Tri-Heart Plus or Iverhart Plus. If so, it’s unlikely that natural remedies might create the instant, fast-acting results that will be critical. Tri-Heart and Iverhart are both particularly effective at getting rid of hookworms.

3. Chamomile

This popular herb is often used to deal with whipworms and roundworms. Dr. Andrew Jones, from the YouTube channel ‘Veterinary Secrets’ and a long-time veterinarian, recommends one teaspoon of chamomile tea for every ten pounds of body weight. 

That’s around the average weight of most adult house cats. Chamomile will also help an upset digestive tract, so it’s always good to stock some in your cupboard.

In conclusion, worms can pose a number of serious health risks for cats if left unchecked. It isn’t uncommon to hear of cats ending up with capillariasis, becoming anemic, dealing with low blood pressure and even dying due to unresolved worm infestations. 

Thankfully, cat owners have a wide range of countermeasures to use. Whether it be gentler, preventive, natural methods, or fast-acting medical ones, you need to act decisively. Of course, any treatment you hope to provide your cat must only be done after the go-ahead from your vet.