OH BOY. THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN.
This was a lovely evening. I dumped approximately 40 lbs of litter into three trash bags, scrubbed three litter boxes, and OH YEAH. I GAVE MADISON SOME MEDICINE. THAT WAS FUN.
I can't wait until two weeks from now, when we get to do this all over again. Until then, I'll just bide my time by disinfecting litterboxes and dumping the litter every damn day. And washing my hands raw. And trying not to throw up, because OMG. FUCKING WORMS.
I need some worms education. One of the cats has it, because you saw it in his poop, so you have to medicate them all just in case, right? And keep them away from their poop? Or do they all DEFINITELY have it if one has it, and the meds are treatment?
Posted by: Erika | Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 08:29 AM
I forget that not everyone has the benefit of my extensive parasite experience! So, when I found Henry on the street, we had him tested for parasites, since this is a filthy, rat infested city. Sure enough, he had three: tapeworm, roundworm, and coccydia (bad bacteria, like giardia that humans get). We treated him for all three and that should have been that. I kept him in one room, away from the other cats until they were treated so he couldn't pass his worms around.
But when I was scooping the litterbox the other night, I saw what I was 99% sure was a roundworm. I had to take the poop to the vet to confirm my suspicions, and it came back roundworm positive. I assume that the poop was from Henry since he's the only one with a history of roundworms, but I can't be sure since they all share the same litterbox. And in any case, roundworms are easy to transmit, so it's pretty safe to assume that after a year of digging in the same litterbox that they all have it. So we have to treat all three. JOY.
Have I mentioned that I HATE WORMS? HATE.
Posted by: Operation Pink Herring | Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 09:01 AM
Ugh I feel your pain. Remember when my parents' dog had worms (back when she was still MY dog) and OMG the worms! Awful. I've never seen a cat with worms but I imagine it's about the same.
Posted by: Marriage-101 | Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 09:58 AM
Wait...you have to SCRUB litter boxes?
I would die.
DIE!
Posted by: Isabel | Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 11:48 AM
Wow, Jen, you are a worms EXPERT. I am impressed. Is that on your resume?
In any case, you are a very good and selfless Cat Mama!!
Posted by: Laurel | Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 01:04 PM
Ugh! Both of my dogs had worms when I first got them, and that was some of the most horrifying stuff I've ever had to see up close and personal like that!
Hope the kitties are better soon!
Posted by: Angela | Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 03:52 PM
I can't believe it. No pictures?
;)
Posted by: elise | Friday, December 14, 2007 at 03:54 PM
I'm sorry I haven't commented yet, it's just that I've been laughing too hard at these cat/worm posts to type. I'm sorry! I am, it sounds horrible. Horribly funny.
Posted by: janet | Friday, December 14, 2007 at 08:52 PM
Bloody worms! I am SO sorry.
Having to give oral medicine to cats sounds just as nasty as giving it to bunnies. Actually. Sounds worse.
You've got my sympathies!
Posted by: alyndabear | Monday, December 17, 2007 at 03:09 AM