Types of Tape Worms in Cats

Cat owners often understand the trouble of tapeworms in their pets and how to treat them, but the fact that there are four types of tapeworms that can infect a cat may be news to cat lovers. Two tapeworm types are common in cats, but veterinarians rarely run across the other two.

  1. Dipylidium Canium

    • Cats suffer most frequently from Dipylidium canium, a tapeworm that is hard to eliminate. Cats originally get infected with a single tape worm by eating a flea that ate feces containing a tapeworm. The tapeworm lays eggs that are passed in the cat's feces. Fleas then eat the feces again and get infected with the tape worm. The cat ingests the fleas during grooming and becomes infected, embarking on the cycle all over again.

    Taenia Taeniaeformis

    • The second-most common tapeworm in cats, Taenia taeniaeformis usually infects rodents. Cats get infected with this tapeworm by eating the rodent that was infected with it. Or a cat might pick this up by eating uncooked meat, raw freshwater fish or discarded animal parts .

    Dibothriocephalus Latus

    • Dibothriocephalus latus is uncommon, but cat that get infected with this tape worm usually live near the Gulf Coast or the Great Lakes, where they eat uncooked freshwater fish or water snakes.

    Spirometra mansonoides

    • Spirometra mansonoides can be found in cats living near the Gulf Coast; again in cats that have eaten uncooked freshwater fish or water snakes.