How do I Prevent Tapeworms in Cats?

Tapeworms are a whitish cream color and can grow up to 60 centimeters long. The flat, ribbon-like worm attaches itself inside a cat's intestine. Individual segments of the worm break off from the body of a mature tapeworm and pass into the stool of a cat.

  1. Causes

    • The most common tapeworm found in cats in Taenia taeniaeformis. A cat's consumption of mice and small rodents is responsible for infection of this worm. Cats become infected with Dipylidium caninum by eating fleas that carry this type of tapeworm larvae. Diphyllobothrium latum is the least common type of tapeworm. Infection by this worm is the result of cat's eating raw fish.

    Symptoms

    • Most of the time tapeworms are harmless to cats and symptoms do not appear. The worm takes away nutrients from your pet's diet, however, and can grow very long. The increased length can cause an intestinal blockage in a cat. Some noticeable symptoms of tapeworm infection include diarrhea, poor skin and coat condition, changes in appetite and abdominal discomfort.

    Prevention/Solution

    • If a tapeworm does infect a cat, a veterinarian can prescribe medication that will dissolve the worm. One way to prevent tapeworm infection in cats is for the pet owner to use flea control products on the animal. Cats should also be prevented from hunting small rodents and eating raw fish.