How long does Drontal XL (cat) take to work?

Question

Hi,

I discovered yesterday that my cat has tapeworm. My vet gave me a Drontal XL tablet for him today, which I understand treats both tapeworm and roundworm. Can anyone tell me how long it should take to work on the tapeworm? I would have asked the vet nurse, but they were somewhat run off their feet when I collected the tablet!

Also, if he had roundworm, how long would it take to work on them? I'm pretty sure he doesn't have them, but I'd like to prepare myself just in case there's any wee surprises waiting for me in the litter tray!

The cat is regularly combed for fleas. I've never found any on the cat or his bedding, carpets etc, so I can only assume that the tapeworm has been picked up from one of his regular mouse banquets.

Thanks in advance.

EDIT: Also, does anyone have any ideas on how to reduce his desire to hunt mice, baby rabbits, shrews etc? I live in a very rural area, so trying to control populations of these animals in the immediate vicinity isn't practical at all. There's always food in th bowl for him, but that doesn't seem to stop him.

EDIT 2: Thanks for the answers. It appears to have worked as there's been a noticebale reduction in, er, backside licking today! The contents of the litter tray this morning would also appear to support this theory! I really don't want to put a collar on him, so it looks likle regular worming will have to be the solution. How I look forward to trying to get another tablet down his throat in a couple of months....

Answer 1

It is quite effective, but my cats have always required a follow up stool specimen test 30 days later, and then a further follow up 6 months later just to make sure. And these are indoor only cats. My suspicion is that it works quickly, but there can be eggs trapped in the digestive tract that could hatch later, hence the follow up tests. (The XL usually means extended release, so the medication is released over a longer period of time)

And, yes the mouse banquets are likely the major source of the worms.

Other than keeping him inside, only old age will stop him from hunting. Feeding may stop him from eating them as much of the critter, but the hunting instinct is still here.

Answer 2

It should start working within 24 hours - if he has worms, you will see the dead ones being passed within this time.

The only way I can suggest to stop him hunting is to get him a collar with a bell, although many cats learn to hold the bell in their mouths when hunting to stop it ringing!! I'm also not in favour of cat collars really, they can be dangerous.

Best thing to do would just be worm him regularly (at least every 3 months) with Drontal or Milbemax, they'll keep him worm-free.

Chalice