What cat owners think about parasite protection

WHAT CAT OWNERS THINK ABOUT PARASITE PROTECTION

Are cat owners aware of the risks parasites carry?

At kittenhood, most owners are well attuned to protecting kittens from parasites. At this time, many recognize the importance of protecting the vulnerable immune systems of younger animals. This is also when they are most likely to attend the veterinary clinic and get their kitten vaccinated.(1)

However, it appears owners are less likely to engage in preventative measures when a cat reaches adulthood. According to our survey, 17% of owners believe cats only need parasite treatment when they are kittens, while 22% believe cats only need parasite treatment when they show symptoms.(2) Overall, a signiﬁcant percentage of cat owners do not engage in preventative measures, which highlights a need for more awareness of parasite risks.(2)

Owners are now interacting more closely than ever with their cats(2)

Without adequate parasite protection, these interactions can put cat owners’ health at risk.

While cat ownership has risen and even outnumbered their canine counterparts in many countries, the awareness and understanding of feline parasites among cat owners is still behind.(2)

Many cat owners fail to adequately control parasites, with dogs appearing to be more effectively protected than cats (2)
Cat owners who also own a dog are 16% more likely to administer parasite protection to their cats routinely compared with cat-only owners (2)
While not always easy in a busy clinic, it’s clear that making the time to discuss parasite prevention and the value of routine control with cat owners is essential.

Changing the conversation

Our research found that veterinary professionals are a highly trusted source of advice, knowledge, and information for cat owners.(2) This means that your conversations can make a huge difference to their attitude towards parasite control.
Assessing owners’ understanding of the potential health risks of parasites and explaining the variety of available treatments can be hugely beneﬁcial for pets and owners.
For instance, owners of indoor cats are often unaware that their pet still requires a prevention protocol.(2) Meanwhile, other owners need clariﬁcation about how to properly apply treatment.(2) In both cases, you can provide a step-by-step demonstration or resources to support administering treatment and discuss treatment reminders that the practice can offer.

Cat owners with a greater focus on human health are more likely to prioritize parasite control in their cats (2):

When looking at attitudes towards health behaviours, we can see that those who are less focused on their own health (grouped as ‘Not Health Focused’) are also signiﬁcantly more likely to forget regular dosing of parasiticides.

In our experience, real-world examples, supported by statistics and reliable resources, can be powerful tools in conversations with pet owners. By sharing this information, we can effectively highlight the true risks of parasites—not just to their cat or other pets, but to the entire family.

Small animal vet from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

REFERENCES:
1.Banfield Pet Hospital®. Data shows increase in care for pets in 2020 despite pandemic. Published January 11, 2021. Available from: https://
www.banfield.com/en/about-banfield/newsroom/press-releases/2021/banfield-pet-hospital-data-shows-increase-in-care-for-pets-in-2020-
despite-pandemic. [Accessed March 2024]
2.Vetoquinol 2023. Data on file. Research report: Cat owners’ segmentation with a focus on parasiticides.