Survey of European pet owners quantifying endoparasitic infection risk and implications for deworming recommendations

Table 4 Cat risk group definitions

Cat Risk Group	Description	EU ESCCAP recommended deworming frequency
A	Cat lives indoors. Infection pressure with worm stages is low, eating rodents unlikely	Treat 1–2 times per year against roundworms, or 1–2 times per year fecal exam and treatment according to findings
B	Cat is free to roam outdoors. Infection pressure with worm stages is high, eating rodents likely	Treat against roundworms and tapeworms at least 4 times a year
C^a	Cat eats prey animals and/or goes outdoors to hunt and eats raw meat	Treat against roundworms and tapeworms more than 4 times per year
D^a	Cat is free to roam outdoors and shares home with young children or immunocompromised individuals	Deworm once a month, or examine faecal samples once a month and treat according to findings

^aESCCAP Cat Risk Groups include A and B only. Additional risk factors in the ESCCAP guidelines were used to create Groups C and D for consistency in reporting and comparison of dog and cat results

ISSN: 1756-3305