Conference misery::feline_v1

    What kind of worms are you having the problem with?
    
    Deb

    Does she eat mice?
    

    If the worms are tapeworms, she is getting them from fleas and if you
    control the fleas you will control the worm problem. 
    
    I wouldn't suggest using an over the counter wormer.  The best thing to
    do is take her in.  She can be pilled for worms rather than injected if
    you don't want her to have a shot.  Or, if the worms are the same type
    as last time, you might try just calling the vet and telling him that
    she has them again, and see if he will just give you the pill to take
    home and give her yourself.
    
    Jo

Is there anyway you can build a screened in area in your yard so you can
let your cat outside, but keep Jazzy in her own yard?  If so, you might
be able to de-flea your yard and keep the fleas off Jazzy - and keep the
tapeworms OUT of Jazzy.  In my experience, if you keep your yard treated
and prevent your pets from leaving their yard, your house won't be re-infested 
once you kill the fleas off once.

Other kinds of worms can be avoided if you can control Jazzy's access to 
the infestation medium....like eating mice and other critters,
for instance.  If you are letting Jazzy run free, then you must do
what you are doing now...treat her for fleas on a regular basis and keep
a sharp eye out for worm segments in her stool...and take her to the
vet or get pills to treat the problem when it arises.  The over-the-counter
drugs are not nearly as effective and are not recommended for many kinds
of parasites.  The vet is your safest option.

    Re: 1 
    
    Jasmine has tape worms.
    
    Re: 2
    
    As far as I know she doesn't eat mice. 
    At least I haven't seen any bodies laying 
    around.  Ha Ha!!
    
    Re: 3
    
    I called the vet and asked them about the pills you
    can give the cat for worms and they said that you have 
    to supervise her so she doesn't throw up the pill.  She also 
    said that it doesn't have very good side effects.  So when
    she told me this I decided that I would just take her in 
    and give her the shot.  It's fast and easy.  She is also 
    due for other shots so I'll do them all in one day!  
    
    Poor Jaz, she's going to hate me tomorrow! :( 
    
    Re: 4
    
    I live in an Apt upstairs so I really don't have a yard.
    I decided that I was going to get some flea bombs and bomb 
    the apt.  (Of course Jaz would be at my parent's house when 
    I so this!!)  
    
    
    Thanx everyone for all of your replies!!  It is so nice to have 
    people like all of you to get advice from!!  If anyone has any
    other suggestions please let me know!
    
    Thanx,
    Shel & Jasmine :)

>    I live in an Apt upstairs so I really don't have a yard.
>    I decided that I was going to get some flea bombs and bomb 
>    the apt.  (Of course Jaz would be at my parent's house when 
>    I so this!!)  
    
    
buy the flea SPRAY that can be sprayed on carpets and furniture and use
it instead...it is MUCH more effective and cheaper in the long run.  I speak
from long experience.  Also, as an apartment dweller, spray the hall in front
of your apartment...build a no-flea zone around your apartment.

    Gosh, my cats have been given pills for tapeworms and have had no
    side effects at all.
    

    Mine too - for both tape & roundworms.  I've never used the shot for
    worms.

    Droncit (used for tapeworm) comes in both pill form and injectible. 
    It's the same medication, just given a different way.  Droncit pills
    should be given on a full stomach.
    
    cin
    

    Another interesting thing that I discovered, the Droncit injectible is
    much more expensive than the pills.  I asked my vet for the injectible
    last time I needed it and it ran almost $10 bucks an injection, at
    cost!!!  The pills are only a couple bucks a piece at cost.  I have
    never had any side effects with the pills.  I had asked for the
    injectible for my largest cats and my kittens.  With Kalliste, he is so
    big he requires a pill and a half.  With his head so broad, he is hard
    to pill.  Same with the kittens.  They get only half a pill, but their
    throats are so small it is difficult to get it down them.  Well, since the 
    injections were so expensive, I devised a new way to pill the babies.
    I crush the half pill and mix it with 1 teaspoon of baby food.  They
    each get their dose while supervised.  Works like a charm.
    
    
    Jo

    Hi Everyone!
    
    Thanx again for the replies!
    
    Update on Jaz:
    I took her in on Saturday.  The doctor gave her 3 shots. (1 for worms
    and the other 2 for regular yearly shots.) She did very well and was
    overly loveable afterwards!  I couldn't believe it since she is not 
    normally like that!
    
    He said that she needs her teeth cleaned.  Has anyone ever had their 
    cats teeth cleaned.  The doctor told me that they anesthetize the cat
    and then scrape the teeth!  He also said that if I could brush the cats
    teeth regularly it would be better for the cat!  Does anyone here do
    that?
    
    I would think with the crazy cat that I have it would be nearly 
    impossible to brush her teeth.  Unless of course I had 2 or 3 people 
    holding her down.
    
    How do you all clean them?
    
    
    Cia�,
    Michele & Jasmine :)

    There is a discussion on teeth cleaning currently going on in another
    note.  I will go out and find the note number for you, or perhaps
    someone else can point you to it.  To avoid redundancy, you should be
    able to obtain the information you request from that note string.
    
    --Roberta
    

    4166 is the note about teeth cleaning, and there are lots of associated
    replies.
    

    Thanx!!
    
    M & J :)

    Well, I haven't put in my $.02 on teeth cleaning so I"ll put it here.
    Last year I had both Bumpy's and Mao's teeth cleaned.  At they time
    they were 10 and 12 yrs old.  They came through it just fine.  The
    vet let me take them home that night but made it VERY clear that they
    were still quite groggy and normally them would never have been allowed
    to leave.  The reason they let me take them was because they know I'm
    more careful than the "average" cat owner.  (I think most folks in this
    file qualify as above average)  
    
    I was prepared to confine the cats to one room for the evening, but
    when I got them home, it was clear that they would need constant
    supervision.  It was quite comical to watch poor Bumpy try to get
    around.  Her reasoning seemed to have something to do with staying
    as close to the ground as possible.  And her front and rear ends seemed
    to act independantly from each other :-)  
    
    I took both cats upstairs to the bedroom with me and Bumpy settled
    right down to nap, but Mao was quite aggitated.  I think that she
    just couldn't understand what was wrong with her and it upset her.
    I kept both of them planted on the bed and read for a while.  When
    the time came to go to bed, I realized that if they tried to go
    down the stairs or to make any of the normal jumps (like up or down
    from the bed) they would seriously hurt themselves.  SO, I lined
    the two large carriers with towels and they spent the night in 
    the carriers. They were 100% recovered by the next morning.
    
    I think I would do it again if necessary but I might discuss minimal
    anesthesia with the vet, or perhaps, a heavy tranquilizer.
      Nancy

    How groggy they are depends also on when they got the anesthetic.
    I always take mine home the same day of toothcleaning.  If they've
    been done in the morning (say, 9 am)and I pick them up at 5, they are just
    slightly sleepy.  If they've been done at noon and I pick them up
    at 4 or so, I have to watch them very carefully or they will
    try to jump when they can't coordinate themselves, etc.
    

    I'm sure it also depends on the age of the cat.  A 5 yr old is going
    to metabolize the anesthesia faster than a 13 yr old.