Before you decide your indoor-only cat doesn’t need parasite prevention, consider these important facts.
- Cockroaches, mice and flies all can carry roundworm eggs. Cats are natural hunters and will hunt them!
- 15 percent of commercial potting soil contains roundworm eggs.
- The Northeast has the highest prevalence of roundworms than any other part of the country.
- Other animals in the household that do go outside—like dogs and people—can bring in different parasites that can affect the indoor cat.
- The same study also states “Although most persons infected with Toxocara have no symptoms the parasite is capable of causing blindness and other systemic illness.”
- Children and immune-compromised people, such cancer patients, people with HIV or AIDS and organ transplants, are more susceptible of being infected with these parasites
- 40 percent of immune-compromised people have a pet at home.
- Roundworm, or Toxocara cati, are prolific egg producers and are estimated to produce as many as 24,000 eggs per day.
- It is estimated that 3 million to 6 million people in the United States may be infected with Toxocara (roundworm) larva migrans each year.
- In just 30 days, 25 female fleas can multiply to more than 250,000.
- All it takes is one adult worm in a cat’s heart to be fatal. Cats that die from heartworm can be clinically normal one hour before death.
- More than 25 percent of cats with proven heartworm infection, according to their owners, are kept indoors exclusively.