Drontal for cats: dose, how often and what it treats

What is Drontal for cats?

Drontal Cat is a broad-spectrum worming tablet made by Elanco (previously Bayer). It contains two active ingredients that work together:

• Praziquantel kills tapeworms, including the flea tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum) and the tapeworm cats catch from prey (Taenia taeniaeformis).
• Pyrantel embonate kills roundworms (Toxocara cati, Toxascaris leonina) and hookworms.

Drontal is sold without a prescription, but it must be supplied by a vet, pharmacist or Suitably Qualified Person (SQP), who will check your cat's details. For an overview of every worming option, see our cat worming guide.

Drontal Cat vs Drontal Cat XL

Product	Best for	Notes
Drontal Cat	Cats from about 1 kg upwards	Scored tablet that can be halved; dosed at 1 tablet per 4 kg
Drontal Cat XL	Larger cats (from around 4 kg to 8 kg)	Bigger tablet, so you give one instead of several standard tablets

Drontal Cat XL is handy for big breeds such as Maine Coons, Ragdolls and Norwegian Forest cats, which otherwise need one and a half or two standard tablets.

Drontal dose by weight

Cat weight	Drontal Cat tablets
1–2 kg	½ tablet
2–4 kg	1 tablet
4–6 kg	1½ tablets (or Drontal Cat XL as per pack)
6–8 kg	2 tablets (or Drontal Cat XL as per pack)

This table is a guide to the standard Drontal Cat dosing. Always follow the leaflet in your pack, especially for Drontal Cat XL, and ask your vet for cats outside this range.

How to weigh your cat for the right Drontal dose

Under-dosing is one of the most common reasons a wormer fails. To weigh your cat at home, step on the bathroom scales holding your cat, note the weight, then weigh yourself alone and subtract. Our cat weight checker shows the healthy range for your cat's breed and sex.

How often to give Drontal to your cat

Cat	How often
Kittens from 6 weeks and 1 kg	Every 2–4 weeks as advised, then monthly until 6 months
Adult outdoor cat	At least every 3 months
Adult cat that hunts regularly	Monthly
Indoor-only cat that doesn't hunt	1–4 times a year

Drontal doesn't protect against future worms: each tablet clears the worms present at the time. That's why regular dosing matters, especially for hunters and cats with fleas.

How to give Drontal to a cat

Drontal Cat tablets are small and can be given with or without food. Try these approaches:

1. Hide it in food. Push the tablet (or half tablet) into a small piece of soft treat, cooked chicken or a teaspoon of wet food. Offer a plain bite first, then the one with the tablet.
2. Give it directly. Hold the head from above, tilt it back, open the mouth by pressing the lower front teeth, and drop the tablet at the back of the tongue.
3. Follow with food or water to make sure it goes down.

Our guide on how to give a cat a pill covers the towel wrap and pill popper methods for tricky cats. If your cat absolutely won't take tablets, Dronspot is a spot-on alternative that covers the same worms plus lungworm.

How long does Drontal take to work?

Drontal starts working within a few hours. Praziquantel damages tapeworms quickly and pyrantel paralyses roundworms, which are then passed out over the next few days. Usually the worms are partly digested, so you won't see them. In kittens with a heavy roundworm burden, you may see worms in the litter tray for a day or two, which is normal.

What Drontal doesn't treat

• Fleas. Use a separate flea treatment. If your cat has fleas it will keep catching the flea tapeworm until fleas are gone. See our guide to flea treatment for cats.
• Lungworm. If your cat coughs or hunts slugs, snails, frogs or birds, ask your vet about a product that covers lungworm.
• Ear mites and ticks. These need other products, such as Stronghold.

Using Drontal when you can see tapeworm

Many owners reach for a dewormer after spotting rice-like segments around their cat's bottom or on its bedding. These are tapeworm segments full of eggs, and praziquantel in Drontal kills the adult tapeworm they came from.

Drontal for cats with flea tapeworm

The flea tapeworm is the most common cause of visible segments. After a dose of Drontal for cats, segments usually stop appearing within a few days. If they come back within a few weeks, your cat is almost certainly swallowing infected fleas while grooming. Treat fleas on every pet and in the home, then give another Drontal dose once fleas are under control. Our flea and wormer guide explains how to time both.

Drontal for cats that hunt

Cats that eat mice and voles catch the prey tapeworm, which can return within about a month. If your cat is a regular hunter, monthly Drontal is usually advised. Wash bedding at 60°C after treatment to remove any shed segments and eggs.

Drontal side effects in cats

Drontal is very well tolerated. Occasionally cats show:

• Drooling or foaming if they bite the tablet (it can taste bitter).
• Vomiting, usually soon after the tablet.
• Mild, short-lived diarrhoea.
• Rarely, wobbliness or lethargy.

If your cat vomits within a short time of taking the tablet, ask your vet or pharmacist whether to repeat the dose. Contact your vet if your cat seems unwell for more than a day.

Drontal for kittens, pregnant and nursing cats

Drontal Cat is suitable for kittens from 6 weeks old that weigh at least 1 kg. Younger kittens are usually treated with a liquid or paste wormer. Before using Drontal in a pregnant cat, check the current leaflet and ask your vet, as worming plans during pregnancy need individual advice. Our cat pregnancy calculator helps you plan treatments around the due date.

Drontal vs other cat wormers

	Drontal Cat	Milbemax / Milpro	Dronspot (spot-on)
Roundworm	Yes	Yes	Yes
Tapeworm	Yes	Yes	Yes
Lungworm	No	Some	Yes
Form	Tablet	Tablet	Spot-on
Minimum age	6 weeks / 1 kg	6 weeks / 0.5 kg	8 weeks / 0.5 kg

Our comparison of cat worming tablets covers each option in more detail.

How much does Drontal for cats cost?

Drontal Cat tablets typically cost £3 to £6 each, depending on pack size and retailer, with Drontal Cat XL a little more. Packs of 2, 4 or 6 tablets are common. For an average cat wormed four times a year, that's roughly £15 to £25 a year. Buy from vets, pharmacies or reputable online retailers, and check the expiry date.

Drontal and your family

Roundworm eggs passed by cats can infect people, especially children who play in soil or sandpits. Regular Drontal worming, prompt litter scooping, covering sandpits and washing hands after gardening all reduce the risk. Wash your hands after handling tablets, and store them in their original packaging, below 25°C and out of children's reach. Keep unused half tablets in the blister for the next dose, and dispose of any past their expiry date with household waste.