Street kitten has a bad case of worms (probably)

A three-month-old street kitten that lives outside my house has had diarrhea for quite some time. I've only observed her these past two weeks, though, and her stool remains liquid. Just last night, she mewed quite frantically when she needed to go, and continued mewing when she's doing her business (can this indicate pain? Does this happen because I gave her a lick at soy milk?) I'm scared that it might take a toll on her appetite - she eats quite slowly and often gets her food snatched off by her much older brother and mom. I think her bottom is also turning red... 

I cannot afford the facilities to trap her and bring her to a vet - nor is there an active animal shelter program around. Can I give her a weak, children's anti-worm medicine (laced in her food)? Or is this just too dangerous? And can I give her Yakult to balance the bacteria in her belly?

Thanks, guys. I'm worried about her. 

there's a brand of cat dewormer you can get at petco online or in store depending on if you have one in your area, it's called HomeoPet Wrm Clear, it says it'll clear up hook, round, and tape worms. it comes in drops and can be put in food. hope that can help

jmljml19 said:

there's a brand of cat dewormer you can get at petco online or in store depending on if you have one in your area, it's called HomeoPet Wrm Clear, it says it'll clear up hook, round, and tape worms. it comes in drops and can be put in food. hope that can help

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I have used this product before and it does work.  Unfortunately it takes a long time to work.  It requires giving the drops 3x a day for 7 days.  Many ferals don't eat that many times each day.  I had to break the dose into 2x a day and treat for 10 or more days. 

piestuffable said:

Can I give her a weak, children's anti-worm medicine (laced in her food)? Or is this just too dangerous? And can I give her Yakult to balance the bacteria in her belly?

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I dont know what Yakult is, is it some sort of probiotic?  Probably you can - please write more about it.

Human medicines to cats is often dangerous.  It depends on exactly what it is, and the dosage.

Write up what this children anti worm contains, and the exactly dosage.

It would be good to know if she has only roundworm - she probably has, or also, tapeworm too.

Do you afford to buy her a preparate for cats, if you know exactly which?

I understand you dont afford to go to vet with her - although this would be the safest and best.

Using home remedies is only the next best.

Although a living humans lovingly care is the very best!

Soy milk shouldnt give problems.  You can alternatively use youghurt, plain not sweetened. Perhaps Turkish youghurt.  Full fat if possible.  Or even, low lactose milk is safe too.

If you can find goat milk, is the best.  You can dilute that goat milk a little as she may be sensitive now.

Good luck!

ps.  If you by any chance have possibility to take her in, have her separated at first, say in a bathroom?  The fostering should go fairly quickly, as she is young, AND as she is sick, and you are helping her.

Thanks for all the replies! I will note down that brand of de-wormer - sounds like an efficient thing! She (almost) always eats what I give her, at any time of the day, so it's quite possible to give her the dose three times a day, I guess. The real problem is the other cats that come around to eat too.

I dont know what Yakult is, is it some sort of probiotic?  Probably you can - please write more about it.

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Yes, it is! The ingredients listed on the product are: water, glucose, sucrose, strains of Lactobacillus bacteria, and skimmed milk powder. I guess the main concern here is the fact that it's a milk-based product...

Human medicines to cats is often dangerous.  It depends on exactly what it is, and the dosage.

Write up what this children anti worm contains, and the exactly dosage.

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That's what I'm worried about But just now, I googled and a local cat-rescue group wrote on its Facebook page about this anti-worm medicine called Combantrin. They say it's safe to use on kittens and cats. The med contains pyrantel embonate/pamoate. Here's the dosage:

Combantrin vanilla - 0.5cc/day for 2 days, repeated every 1-3 months. Half the dosage for kittens.

OR

Combantrin lemon - 1cc/day for 2 days, repeated every 1-3 months. Half the dosage for kittens. 

The group suggests using Drontal Cat if the cat is aged 4 months or more, though. This Combantrin is not effective against tapeworms. 

Here's Combantrin's official website: 

http://www.combantrin.com.au/how-combantrin-works.html

Glad that soy milk is (probably) ok! The street cats seem to love it, but I only give them very small amounts at a time just in case. And I'll try searching for the yoghurt/goat's milk! 

Ah, I'd love to take her in too She shares the food with her fatso older brother and her mom; it would be much easier to keep her indoor so she can have a full meal (laced with medicine) to herself. I still share the house with other people, though, and they're not OK with a cat inside. Plus, the kitten's mom is very protective; she follows her around, meows frantically when she's not in sight, and frequently hisses at me. I don't think she'd appreciate me taking her kitten away. 

Btw, is there any trick to prevent her mom/bro from scarfing the food that I gave out? I've been thinking of separating the food into separate plates just so I can make sure she's eating the medicine - but cats are just so unpredictable, lol. They're interested in other cats' food even when they're the same thing ... .___. 

To make sure the kitten is the one getting the food, I would just put the dewormer in a very small amount of food and give it to the kitten.  If Mom and brother are afraid of you, just sit with the kitten until the food with meds is gone.  It's really hard to control who eats what.  My two outdoor boys have separate feeding stations, but they bop between them both, often eating each others food.  It's hard to contain them in their own place!

Will you be able to spay/neuter these cats?  If not, I fear you will be in for a ton of cats.  The Mom will continue to have babies and the tom cat will spread his wealth wherever he can.  Once you start feeding them, they will continue to come and soon you may really have your hands full.
 

Pure pumpkin puree can help solidify the stool as well. My vet had me do this for a kitten that had runny stool and it worked very well. Just add 1/2 tsp to it's food once a day for a few days to see if it helps.

Is there any way you could call and explain to a vet about the kitten and just ask for dewormer? You'd need to get a weight for the kitten before they'd be able to give you the right amount, Pyrantel is cheap, like they should only charge a few dollars, this med is for roundworm.

Pyrantel preparate as such is safe for kittens, even quite small kittens. 

The danger some preparates may have additions we dont need.

We had such a case with a forumite in India.  She got a local Pyrantel preparate from her local big animals vet,  but containing some extra...  Which was probably good for cows, but not for cats...

As you already found others who did tested this your brand, and can recommend proper dosage - you can proceed.   

Now, Pyrantel is excellent against round worms whose he surely has.  It is no good against  tape worms.  And a free living kitten was probably infested by fleas, and thus may have also tape worms...

Drontal  Cat   takes both tape and round worms, this is surely why the group recommends it.

(there is drontal for dogs, with somewhat different dosages)

It can be given to kittens  over 6 weeks.  although such youngs kittens if flea free, never has tapeworm.

If flea ridden, they may have tape worms, but dont always have.

Good luck!

About  probiotics. thay say human probiotics are almost even better than animal probiotics...

So try.  

Second, more important.  We mentioned to take her in.  The main point of taking in, is not only to dosage the medicines easier and more efficiently, but to foster her more easily.

As she IS willing to be fostered, does seeks contacts with humans - she is a candidate for being fully adoptable,  And while it is possible to socialize a cat outside, it is easier to do it inside.

And if young - even easier.  So better to take her in and fosteer and socialize now, than later...

Less work and better result. As simply as that...

I hope your neighbours in the same house will accept you do have a foster child.

Assure them St Franciskus will bless them for it.

Good luck!