Tape Worms & Round Worms in Cats

Many cats contract roundworms or tapeworms at some point, although they're more widespread among cats that go outside since they have access to worm-carrying rodents and fleas. These internal parasites are easily treatable using an array of veterinary products. Symptoms aren't always evident, so preventive treatments should be regular.

  1. Feline Roundworms

    • Roundworms--toxascaris leonina and toxocara cati--are most common. Toxocara cati is seen in most kittens from birth, as larvae are passed in a mother's milk. Some 10 percent of adult cats also have this worm in their gut, according to the Feline Advisory Bureau. Eggs are passed on by eating rodents or by coming into contact with cat feces--for example, by walking on infected cats' feces--and then ingesting passed-on eggs during self-grooming.

    Feline Tapeworms

    • Protect your cat against worms.

      Long, flat and white, tapeworms--taenia taeniformis and dipylidium caninum--break into small egg-bearing segments often excreted and seen around cats' anus, coats and bedding. Dipylidium caninum comes from ingesting fleas, while taenia taeniformis is caused by eating infected rodents.

    Symptoms

    • There are many effective treatments for worms.

      Infected cats may vomit, suffer diarrhea, lose weight and be lethargic. Many cats show no symptoms but it's still important to worm them, as the cat may become ill or worms may pass to humans.

    Worms and People

    • Humans contract roundworms when handling cats or cleaning litter boxes; the longer litter boxes are left uncleaned, the greater the chance of eggs building up and transferring to people. Children with roundworms can develop eye problems because the worm relocates to the eye area. Tapeworms don't usually pass to people.

    Treatments

    • Keeping cats flea-free is key to preventing tapeworms. Roundworm treatments should be conducted in all cats over six weeks, while older cats need treatment for both worms. Veterinary spot-on, oral and injectable worming products are used, containing fenbendazole, praziquantel, selamectin or pyrantel.