Tapeworm Wormer for Cats

Although most people think of dogs as having tapeworm problems, cats can very easily pick up the parasite. In fact, if your a dog has tapeworms, there's a strong possibility that your cat might have the parasite as well. Tapeworms are found in areas where there are problems with fleas. Tapeworms are one of the few parasites that can be passed from an infected animal to a human as well, usually by the accidental ingestion of an infected flea.

  1. Importance

    • If you've found that your cat has tapeworms (usually discovered either through a veterinarian or through finding evidence in the feces of the cat), it's important to treat the pet as quickly as possible. Tapeworms will cause damage to the digestive system of your pet and cannot be left untreated.

    Availability

    • You can get tapeworm wormer for cats either over the counter or through your veterinarian. However, your veterinarian can also use an injectable wormer on your cat that is not available without a prescription, as well as provide you with certain wormers that can only be purchased with a prescription.

    Praziquantel

    • This wormer contains a chemical that will eat away the skin of the tapeworm. As the tapeworm skin is dissolved, the worm will be flushed from the cat's system.

    Episiprantel

    • This wormer paralyzes the mouth of the tapeworm, rendering it unable to remain attached to the host feline. This means that the tapeworm is then dissolved by the host, and it will not show up in the animal's feces.

    Fenbendazole

    • This wormer will treat a variety of worms in addition to tapeworms, including hookworms and whipworms. For this reason, it's the most commonly used wormer by veterinarians, especially in kittens, which tend to host several kinds of worms.