Rice Type Worms in Cats

Nuzzling with your cat or allowing her to give you "kitty kisses" are just two of the ways your kitty can pass a tapeworm on to you. It's important to rid your companion animal of tapeworms, so be vigilant. Parasites such as intestinal worms are a constant threat to a cat's health. One of the most common and easily recognizable parasite infections in cats is the tapeworm. Segments of the tapeworm--which look like grains of rice--are passed in the cat's feces. Cats with tapeworms may show no signs of illness at first, but if left untreated, they may decline in health. A tapeworm infection is easily treatable by a veterinarian.

  1. Tapeworm Life Cycle

    • Adult tapeworms attach themselves to the lining of a cat's intestines. As the tapeworm grows, segments break off from the end of each worm. These segments look like grains of rice and contain the eggs. The eggs are passed with the feces. Fleas or small mammals continue the cycle by eating the eggs. The eggs then develop into a larval form inside the host. Cats ingest the larval form when they swallow a flea while grooming or eat a mouse. Once inside the cat's intestines, the larval form matures into an adult tapeworm.

    Tapeworms in Cats

    • Indoor cats are likely to become infested with Dipylidium caninum, the double-pored dog tapeworm. Spread by the ingestion of infected fleas, it can infest a variety of mammals. Outdoor cats may also be infested by Taenia taeniaeformis, a tapeworm that is usually transmitted by small mammals such as rats and mice. Indoor cats that catch rodents may also become infested by Taenia taeniaeformis.

    Signs of Tapeworm Infection

    • The most obvious signs are the eggs that look like grains of rice in your cat's feces or around her rectum. Symptoms such as an increased appetite and mild diarrhea may also appear. Since the tapeworm is stealing nutrients from your cat's digestive system, your cat's fur may look less shiny and she may be less active.

    Treatment and Prevention

    • If you notice the eggs, bring a sample of your cat's feces with the eggs to your veterinarian. If you can't find any eggs but your cat shows one or all of the symptoms described above, talk to your vet. Your veterinarian will prescribe a treatment based on your cat's age and condition.

      For indoor cats, you can minimize her chances of another tapeworm infection by eliminating fleas from your home. Place your cat on a regular flea-control program and clean her litterbox daily. Outdoor cats may continue to become reinfected since the tapeworm larval hosts--fleas and rodents--are impossible to control outside of your home.