Title pretty much sums up my question, How often do you deworm, vaccinate and use flea treatment on indoor cats?
That is interesting. My former vet, from years ago said cats for some reason don't get heartworm. I wonder has that changed the past few decades? Have you ever tried just treating for fleas and doing fecals to see if your cat is actually getting worms from the mice? One of my previous cats was a feral that showed up as a kitten. Mostly outdoors by his choice, not mine, only came in for naps & visits. Best mouser I ever had, ate anything that didn't eat him first. Never had worms, he always tested negative on yearly fecals. Just curious
My cats get a yearly physical with a rabies shot and other vaccinations. The vet recommended monthly flea treatment with Paradyne because it also wards off heartworm and other worms and my first cat is a very good mouser and eats his catch. It's very expensive, though, and with two cats now it comes to $600 per year, which is outrageous for indoor cats. So I stopped treating them in November, and don't plan on starting it again until April or May.
I think I may revisit this with the vet in the spring. It's just too expensive. And yes, according to Paradyne, cats do get heartworm, and 40% of those that get it are indoor cats. So I guess something is necessary during mosquito season. But $25 per treatment? I'm willing to take a chance on the mice, too. Mingo doesn't catch many anymore since he cleared out the house.
That is interesting. My former vet, from years ago said cats for some reason don't get heartworm. I wonder has that changed the past few decades? Have you ever tried just treating for fleas and doing fecals to see if your cat is actually getting worms from the mice? One of my previous cats was a feral that showed up as a kitten. Mostly outdoors by his choice, not mine, only came in for naps & visits. Best mouser I ever had, ate anything that didn't eat him first. Never had worms, he always tested negative on yearly fecals. Just curious
Learned something new just now, I did a search on this site about cats/heartworm and apparently, yes they can get them as per a thread from 2008. Also, there seems to be high & low risk areas. So I guess that this whole thing depends on where you live. I'd definitely speak to your vet again and if this truly needed, ask for more affordable options.
I think I may revisit this with the vet in the spring. It's just too expensive. And yes, according to Paradyne, cats do get heartworm, and 40% of those that get it are indoor cats. So I guess something is necessary during mosquito season. But $25 per treatment? I'm willing to take a chance on the mice, too. Mingo doesn't catch many anymore since he cleared out the house.