Roundworms can be transmitted through a mother's milk or by eating the eggs of a parasite. The worm then settles in the cat's intestine, where it absorbs nutrients from food that passes through the cat.
Tapeworms are transmitted to cats through a secondary host, usually a flea. The cat ingests a flea carrying tapeworm larvae and the tapeworm attaches itself to the walls of the cat's intestine. Tapeworms also feed on nutrients passed through the lower intestine.
Both kinds of parasites can cause weakness and lethargy and cause the cat's fur to become dull and rough. Severe infestations can cause diarrhea and with roundworms there can be vomiting with worms present in the vomit.
The best way to determine whether your cat has roundworms or tapeworms is to bring a fresh fecal sample into a vet. Your vet can then do a microscopic study of the feces to check for eggs. While the vet is the definitive answer, there are also a few telltale signs that can point you to either a roundworm or tapeworm infestation.
Things You'll Need
- Plastic bag
- Stool sample
Instructions
Bring a Fecal Sample to the Vet
Clean the litter box and if you have more than one cat, isolate the one whose sample is needed so that the cat in question is the only one who can use the box.
Bag the freshest feces sample possible. Signs of parasite infestation degrade quickly outside of the host.
Refrigerate the bagged feces and bring it to the vet as soon as possible. Refrigeration will help keep evidence from deteriorating.
Distinguishing on Your Own
Look at the fur around your cat's anus. If you see what appears to be little white grains of rice, they probably have tapeworms. The grains are actually small segments of the worms that they have shed.
Examine your cat's stool. In severe infestations of roundworms you can actually see long white or brown worms in the feces.
Watch out for any vomiting. If your cat vomits and you can see brown or white worms in the vomit, that is a sign of a heavy infestation of roundworms.