You may
have noticed it on your kitty's behind....little white flecks that
look like specks of rice. Or worse yet, an actual nasty worm
crawling out of your cat's anus. It's enough to make you lose your
lunch!!
Your cat has a tapeworm, and what you are seeing is the
tapeworm shedding segments and eggs to be picked up by other
creatures, so it can start it's life cycle over again in a new host.
Eeeww! Cats can get these worms from eating an infected flea (Dipylidium
caninum), or by eating infected prey such as rats or mice (Taenia
taeniaeformis).
You can go to the store and buy worming medicine, but
it will not kill this type of worm. Those types bought at the
grocery store and at pet stores only kill roundworms (which can also
be picked up by eating infected prey). You must buy medication
specifically targeted toward tapeworms, and it works by dissolving
the worm in the intestine. These medicines can be purchased online
through pet supply websites.
Drs. Foster & Smith - The Trusted Name for Cat Products
offers a product named 'Tradewinds Tape Worm Tabs for Cats'.
NOTE: You will need to do a Search on their website using Keyword
tapeworm and Select Category Cat Supplies.
Additionally, they do also offer
Roundworm Medications. |
Your cat most likely picked up the tapeworm from
ingesting an infected flea, so it is important that you also deal
with any flea problems you have. When the tapeworm sheds segments
that contain eggs, the segments dry up, and the eggs are released.
Fleas then come along and eat the eggs, then jump back on your cat
and again infect him with the tapeworm. Thoroughly clean all areas that
your cat frequents, wash all bedding, and scrub out his litter box.
Then get rid of the fleas ASAP. This is the only way you can make
sure that your kitty is not going to pick up another unwanted
intestinal parasite.
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