New parts of the world can mean new parasites. And with these parasites come the risks of diseases they can cause or carry. This guide looks at pesky parasites and preventive measures to keep your cat safe when travelling. At the end of the blog, you’ll find links to more information to guide you in specific travel plans.

Understanding the risks

Parasites are a challenge across the world. Some, like the notorious Scottish midge, are simply an infernal nuisance. But others cause serious illness in both cats and humans. And it’s not only abroad. Even within the UK, parasite-related diseases are on the increase. And climate change is bringing some exotic parasites and diseases ever closer to the UK. Especially in the warmer southern counties.

The culprits!

Ticks:

• Found all across the UK and Europe.
• Don’t cause disease directly. They carry and transfer infections between animals when feeding.
• Lyme disease, Babesiosis, Anaplasmosis, Tick-Borne Encephalitis.

Fleas: 

• Everywhere!
• Bites cause uncomfortable itch and flea allergic dermatitis
• Transmit tapeworms

Mosquitoes and Sandflies:

• Pose a significant risk to cats, especially in southern Europe (Portugal, Southern Spain).
• Climate change is increasing risks further North.
• Mosquitoes spread Heartworm, a serious disease affecting the heart and lungs. 
• Sandflies can carry Leishmaniasis, which can cause severe skin issues and organ damage.

 Worms:

• Present throughout the UK and Europe. Regional variations in risk.
• Picked up from contaminated environments and eating small mammals.
• Gastrointestinal worms: Hookworms, roundworms, and tapeworms
• Other worms: lungworm – from slugs, snails frogs; Heartworm – Dirofilaria – from mosquitoes

Planning your trip

Before packing your bags for your European adventure, take the following steps to protect your cat.

Do a bit of research and plan ahead 

• Where are you going? What are the parasite risks in that region? Remember to include all the areas you’ll travel through. Not just your final destination.
• Where are you living? Camping in the countryside means 24-hour up-close exposure to insects and bug-carrying wildlife.
• What will your cat be doing? Ranging outdoors will expose your cat to more insect life and parasites picked up through hunting. Talk to a vet for specific recommendations. 
• How long will you be away for? Pack enough parasite preventives for the whole period. Especially if travelling to remote areas.

Tick and flea preventives

What works and for how long?

• Chewable tablets: Credelio protects against both fleas and ticks for one month.
• Spot-on Treatments: Frontline and Nexguard provide 4 weeks of protection after a single application

What else?

Ticks can still latch on to treated cats. Most will die before they can spread disease. Nonetheless, any tick represents a risk of infection. Check your cat daily for ticks. Remove them promptly with a tool like the Johnson’s Tick Remover.  

Mosquitoes and Sandflies

The only way to prevent any risk of Leishmaniasis in cats is to prevent any contact with sandflies. Some parasite preventives only kill sandflies when they bite. So these won’t offer protection against Leishmaniasis. Nexgard, Frontline and Credelio won’t repel sand flies. It takes powerful repellants and products that kill before biting.

• Parasite-preventive collar: Seresto. These take effect within a week and last up to 6-8 months.  Put the collar on 2 weeks before travelling. A swim won’t inactivate the collar, but the insecticide in it would pollute the water.
• Vectra 3D® spot-on – apply monthly

What else?

Despite their name, sandflies inhabit a variety of habitats. From coast to swamp, wilderness to town centre, anywhere there is a warm humid corner for them to hide. And then they come out at night.

• Avoid letting your cat out after dusk to reduce the risk of sandfly bites.
• Use plug-in insect repellents indoors where possible

Vaccination against Leishmaniasis

• Unfortunately there are no licensed vaccines available for Leishmaniasis in cats. 
• The only way to prevent infection is to prevent sandfly contact.

Mosquitoes live in regions similar to sandflies, such as Southern and Eastern Europe. The Seresto+ preventive collar offers similar protection against mosquitoes. See below for advice on heartworm if travelling to parts of the world where Heartworm is a known problem.

Worms

Before travelling to Europe, cats must be:

• Microchipped
• Vaccinated against rabies and
• Issued with a Pet Health Certificate.

Unlike dogs, cats do not require to be wormed before returning to the UK.

When worms are a worry and how to prevent them

Gastrointestinal roundworms and tapeworms are a health nuisance to cats, but rarely life-threatening. If used correctly, most multi-wormers will keep your furry friend free of intestinal worm-related illness at home or abroad. The worming aspect of pet travel rules exists to protect humans from a nasty disease called Echinococcus multilocularis. 

Echinococcus multilocularis 

• A tapeworm that causes parasitic tumours that spread throughout the body of infected humans. Echinococcus multilocularis is very rare in cats and doesn’t make them ill.
• There’s no cure. The disease is eventually fatal.
• Cats pick up the worm from eating small rodents. Humans from handling their cat.
• Only tapeworm treatments containing praziquantel are effective, such as Droncit or Dron-Spot spot-ons.

Important! Worm your cat while abroad and again with a praziquantel-containing tapeworm product within 30 days of returning to the UK. Praziquantel does not act for long enough to kill all stages of the developing worm. Repeat worming to prevent risk to you and your family.

Heartworm – Dirofilaria immitis

• Lives in the heart of infected cats and can cause fatal illness
• Spread by mosquitoes (see above for preventive measures)
• Travelling to an area where heartworm is established – Begin worming one month before departure. Keep up with monthly treatment while abroad. Continue with at least one more treatment when you’re back in the UK
• Suitable products: Examples include Bravecto Plus, Prinovox, Milbemax.   

Conclusion

Travelling with your cat can be a necessity and in some cases, an adventure to share. By taking the necessary precautions and staying vigilant about parasite prevention, you can ensure that your cat remains healthy and happy throughout the journey. 

Talk to a vet for professional advice on how to protect your cat from parasites wherever your travels are taking you.

The Joii vets are online now  – 24/7- to answer your queries 

Additional resources:

• https://www.esccapuk.org.uk
• https://www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad – Government guidelines on pet travel requirements