all > cats get worm medication as a preventative measure or is it something
you

FVRCP is the feline distemper vaccine (feline vaccine for rhinotracheitis,
calici-virus, and panleukopenia (distemper)). There's no vaccine for worms.
The Revolution, however, has a mild dewormer. It should take care of basic
worms, but there are a few it misses. However, if your vet has you bring in
a stool sample, they're not finding anything in it to cause them to give an
extra dewormer. If they've never asked you to bring in a stool sample, it's
not a bad idea to have a fecal run annually or at least whenever there's a
sudden change in color and/or consistency.

At my local shelter, we use Revolution on all handleable incoming cats. If
we find fleas or flea dirt, we use capstar and droncit or just droncit
alone. If they're under eight weeks, they get strongid.

I know that all kittens should be wormed two or three times. My vet
starts with 5 weeks, and then repeats after three and six weeks. After that
it all depends where a cat lives and if it eats mice.
I wormed my neighbour's 3 month old kitten first thing when I got it from
him. The next morning I had a stool that looked like full of spaghetti
(worms!).
One feral I had once got injected against everything. This was easy for me.
That one had tapeworm pieces in her stool afterwards.

I don't remember the name of the medicine, but then the medicines here in
Europe are mostly different anyway.
My other neighbour gets her purebred Persians injected against worms yearly
when she has them vaccinated. I'll inquire about that medicine though.

Carola

To weigh into the worming discussion - I use revolution which covers
everything but tapeworm for which I use a paste bought at the
supermarket. Angus licks it off my fingers but it comes in a syringe
and can be wiped on the fur, or squirted into the mouth. Apparently
even indoor cats should be wormed as we can bring worm eggs into the
house on our shoes etc.

FVRCP vaccine should not be administered more frequently than 3-year
intervals.  Recent vaccine efficacy studies have shown the feline parvovirus
component (P) of the FVRCP vaccine confers *solid* protection for at least
*8* years if not for *life*.  The Calicivirus (C) and Viral Rhinotracheitis
(VR) components of the vaccine are efficacious for at least 3-4 years.  Thus
the only vaccines your cat *may* need are the VR and C- which is available
in a *much* safer intranasal version by Heska.

Rabies vaccines may be given at one or three-year intervals depending on
your State laws. Rabies and Feline Leukemia adjuvanated vaccines have been
associated with fibrosarcomas in cats (VAS= vaccine-associated sarcoma).
Thus the only rabies vaccine I recommend is the Feline Purevax Rabies
Vaccine by Merial.  Purevax is the first feline recombinant rabies vaccine
manufactured *without* adjuvants or the *whole* rabies virus- thus the risk
of VAS and adverse vaccine reactions are eliminated.  The only downside of
the Purevax Rabies vaccine is that its licensed for only yearly
administrations.