How can my indoor kitten get worms if she never goes out or has fleas?

Roundworms, hookworms and whipworms are common in the outside environment. If he does not go outside at all then the chances of him having these are slim to none UNLESS you have other pets that go outside because they can certainly bring the worm eggs into the house on their feet. As for tapeworms, the only way they get those is by eating fleas that contain the infected larvae. It is possible for fleas to get inside your house especially if you live in a warm climate so I would suggest monthly flea prevention even if he does not go outside.

Indoor cats are less likely to get fleas but it does happen. If you have other pets in the house, the risk increases. It's up to you if you want her on treatment or not. Yes, she does need to be tested for worms, Felv/FIV and she needs to be current on her FVRCP (it's like a cat distemper). YOu can carry things like viruses in on your clothes. The vaccine is highly effective and safe. I hope this helps.

Yes, worms can be passed from mom to babies. Most kittens will have 1-2 dewormings before they are fully weaned from mom once they are a bit older. It is best to talk to your vet to see if it's safe to deworm the mother and when the kittens can get started on their own deworming protocol.

Poor Luna! There are many different parasites that she could have been passing in her stool -- roundworms, hookworms, or tapeworms. She most likely acquired parasites from her mother either through the placenta or milk. Pyrantel pamoate is a common dewormer used to treat both roundworms and hookworms, but it is not typically started until 2 weeks of age. However, this medication is extremely safe and may be used off-label prior to 2 weeks of age. Ideally, I do recommend taking Luna to a vet to first determine the type of parasite present, and then determine the best treatment for her. It is important to note that not every dewormer treats every type of parasite. I hope this helps and that all goes well for Luna!

An indoor cat with no exposure should be dewormed at least every 6 months. He may not go outdoors, but you do and it is possible small mammals, namely rodents, may find their way inside the house. A topical flea and tick preventative should be used monthly all year round. Alternatively, you could use it during the Spring, Summer and Fall months.

This is quite normal for kittens. The mom will actually pass the microscopic larvae in her milk. These are easily treated with dewormers that you can get at the vet clinic or some pet stores. I hope that helps.

Yes, it is quite possible that she could have fleas without tapeworms! Not every flea is infected with tapeworm larvae. Tapeworms are a "see it, treat it" parasite, meaning we only treat for tapeworms when we see them in stool or see proglottids (the little segments that look like rice granules) around the anus or stuck in the hair on the backside, or if there is suspicion that tapeworms are causing chronic weight loss.