All About Tapeworms in Cats

Tapeworms are common parasites in cats. Associating with infected cats may result in human infections as well. Treatment is a critical step to prevent further damage. However, adult tapeworms rarely cause serious diseases in cats. Only kittens and older cats are more prone to adverse effects of tapeworms.

Understanding their mode of infection, symptoms, risk factors, complications associated with tapeworms, diagnosis, treatment options, and preventative measures can help you keep your cat healthy while lowering the risk of transmitting infection in other pets and humans.

What Are Tapeworms?

Tapeworms are intestinal parasites that are white, long, flat, and segmented. They grow up to 20 inches and can survive as long as two years in your cat’s body if left untreated. Cats can get several types of tapeworms but the most common ones are:

• Taenia taeniaeformis
• Caninum
• Dipylidium

Cats can have all the above types of tapeworms, which typically settle in their small intestines. The prognosis is good when treated promptly.

How Can You Tell if Your Cat is Infected with Tapeworms?

Symptoms of infections in cats may vary depending on the type of tapeworm, and they include the following:

• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting out the worms
• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Cats may bite or lick the anus
• Segments of tapeworms that look like rice in feces
• General weakness
• Shaggy coat

Cats exhibit the above symptoms also based on their age, general condition, and extent of infection. Cats with a smaller number of tapeworms may show little or no symptoms at all while those with large loads of tapeworms manifest more serious symptoms.

Senior cats and kittens with compromised immune systems may also display a lot of symptoms as compared to healthy adult cats. Cats with other health conditions are also more susceptible to tapeworm infections.

Take your cat to a vet for an evaluation if you suspect tapeworm infection. In some cases, you might notice some prominent symptoms like your cat butt scooting across the floor to cool off the excessive anal itching caused by tapeworms.

What May Cause Tapeworms to Be Found in Cats?

Most cats become infected with tapeworms after ingesting their eggs or larva. Cats also get tapeworms when they eat frogs, snakes, fish, mice, rats, and other rodents, but the most common way of infection is through fleas.

Tapeworms pass proglottids into the environment, which dries off and releases eggs into the ecosystem. Flea larvae then ingest these tapeworm eggs. They hatch in the flea larvae’s body and hide there throughout the developmental stage of the flea into mature flea adults.

While grooming, cats may consume these infected blood-sucking adult fleas; hence getting infected by tapeworms. The flea is then digested in the stomach, leaving tapeworms unharmed. Tapeworm larvae migrate to the intestinal wall where it attaches itself ready to feed and develop into the next stage.

It takes about four weeks for the tapeworm larvae to grow into a reproducing adult of about 8 to 20 inches long in a cat’s body.

How Are Tapeworms Diagnosed in Cats?

Veterinarians examine the cat’s fecal matter to diagnose tapeworms. They can either be in the form of proglottids or eggs. The vet then carries out a microscopic examination to determine the type of tapeworm for proper treatment. It’s important that you collect any samples in your cat’s litter box if you notice any abnormalities so that your vet can evaluate.

How to Treat Tapeworms in Cats

Luckily, treatment of tapeworms in cats is very effective and is given either in the form of an injection or oral medication. The most effective drugs in cats include fenbendazole, epsiprantel, and praziquantel. You need to administer the full dose to ensure that all tapeworms are eliminated from your cat’s small intestine.

Effective flea treatment and control are also recommended to avoid re-infection. Use Frontline Plus for complete protection against fleas. Frontline Plus is designed to break all the four stages of the flea cycle in cats.

How to Prevent Tapeworms in Cats

The first step to preventing tapeworms in cats is the effective control of fleas within the environment. Try Accurate Flea Control Spray for all-round protection of your cat against fleas. Its active ingredients are gentle and safe for use around children.

You can also use Shake Organic Skin Topical Flea Repellent for cats who often go outside to hunt for prey. It’s more efficient when you can’t spray the entire environment every other time. The repellent safely enters your cat’s bloodstream to repel and kill fleas naturally.

Deworm your cat after every three months using Beaphar Wormer Granules. It’s a preventative care regime for reducing the rate of contracting both internal and external parasites.