The 5 mo old cat I just adopted from the shelter is infested with worms. I found out after 72 hours with the kitty being ALL over the house, all over US, all over the kids snuggling and kissing and sleeping with their faces next to this cuddly vector. Spreading the "love" plus.
After reading all about the roundworms (" a neglected parasitic infection") and hookworms from info sites for worms in humans, I understand the worms that humans can get from animals is a very serious issue because they cause devastating debilitating disease, serious complications in organs, eyes (blindness), and brain damage. And these worms can be transmitted by contact and breathing in eggs, not just ingestion. (10,000 cases each year in the US.)
And what I keep reading and hearing is "just wash your hands" and everything will be "fine" because "the parasites are only in the feces and cats like being clean."
BUT, What about the feces that stays on his paws and fur, and then rubs on us, and everything else he contacts: floors, carpets, couches, anything!? What about the feces that he licks up from the anus and paws and puts in his mouth? And then licks his fur all over his body and head? It doesn't take a chunk or less of feces to get one worm egg in you ("don't eat cat feces" is another thing I read); it just takes ONE invisible egg.
The cat was given one dose of Profender on his skin and was told everything will be fine, just wash hands, "nothing to worry about."
How long before the worms are dead?
Do you isolate the cat until the full 3 treatments are administered and have killed all of the worms after several weeks? That's keeping it way from kids, carpets, floors, couches, beds, your face, your clothes and keeping it in one room with a few short visits for meds, feeding, complete litter change, and a few minutes of play/petting.
Or do you let it roam freely around the house prancing and pouncing and climbing and pretty much let his butt in your face and on your clothes?
What do you experienced cat owners do? What precautions do you take to prioritize the health of your human children and family?
(I feel bad for this cat being infested with worms, allowed to live with the foster and shelter with worms for about 3 months. But I don't want my kids and family to suffer any illnesses on account of the cat having zoonotic parasites because the shelter did not put the cat on dewormers and worm prevention. I've considered returning the cat.
)
I've had 3 indoor/outdoor cats that hunted birds in my childhood; never had zoonotic parasites/ worms. Besides tapeworms in fleas, I've never even heard of all the parasites that cats carry.
And never thought a pet shelter would not treat poor kittens for worms and then place them in a home with kids.
What do I do?
After reading all about the roundworms (" a neglected parasitic infection") and hookworms from info sites for worms in humans, I understand the worms that humans can get from animals is a very serious issue because they cause devastating debilitating disease, serious complications in organs, eyes (blindness), and brain damage. And these worms can be transmitted by contact and breathing in eggs, not just ingestion. (10,000 cases each year in the US.)
And what I keep reading and hearing is "just wash your hands" and everything will be "fine" because "the parasites are only in the feces and cats like being clean."
BUT, What about the feces that stays on his paws and fur, and then rubs on us, and everything else he contacts: floors, carpets, couches, anything!? What about the feces that he licks up from the anus and paws and puts in his mouth? And then licks his fur all over his body and head? It doesn't take a chunk or less of feces to get one worm egg in you ("don't eat cat feces" is another thing I read); it just takes ONE invisible egg.
The cat was given one dose of Profender on his skin and was told everything will be fine, just wash hands, "nothing to worry about."
How long before the worms are dead?
Do you isolate the cat until the full 3 treatments are administered and have killed all of the worms after several weeks? That's keeping it way from kids, carpets, floors, couches, beds, your face, your clothes and keeping it in one room with a few short visits for meds, feeding, complete litter change, and a few minutes of play/petting.
Or do you let it roam freely around the house prancing and pouncing and climbing and pretty much let his butt in your face and on your clothes?
What do you experienced cat owners do? What precautions do you take to prioritize the health of your human children and family?
(I feel bad for this cat being infested with worms, allowed to live with the foster and shelter with worms for about 3 months. But I don't want my kids and family to suffer any illnesses on account of the cat having zoonotic parasites because the shelter did not put the cat on dewormers and worm prevention. I've considered returning the cat.
)I've had 3 indoor/outdoor cats that hunted birds in my childhood; never had zoonotic parasites/ worms. Besides tapeworms in fleas, I've never even heard of all the parasites that cats carry.
And never thought a pet shelter would not treat poor kittens for worms and then place them in a home with kids.
What do I do?
