Tapeworms In Cats

Cat Care > Cat Parasites > Internal Parasites > Tapeworms In Cats

Tapeworms are long, thin, flat worms that are usually a white color and resemble lengths of tape. The adult worm consists of a head, or scolex, which bears tiny hooks and suckers that attach it to the intestine of a cat. Behind the head there are a series of segments, called proglottids, which each containing male and female reproductive organs.

The segments are continually produced from behind the head and mature as they pass backwards. Those at the end farthest away from the head are fully mature and contain numerous fertilized eggs. These are shed in the faeces of the cat and also pass out at other times. They usually resemble grains of white rice that may be seen to move and contract for a time. They may stick to the fur of the cat or be shed within the home, and, when dry, the outer case splits to shed the microscopic eggs. Tapeworms require an intermediate or secondary host in order to complete their life cycle and do not pass directly from one cat (the primary host) to another.

In the case of the most common tapeworms in cats are called Dipylidium caninum, which also affects dogs, the intermediate host is a flea or louse. Other tapeworms, mainly Taenia species, have rabbits, rodents, birds, etc, as intermediate hosts. In one that occasionally affects cats, Taenia taeniformis, the intermediate host is a rat or mouse. If the intermediate host is a mammal, minute larvae or embryos hatch from the ingested eggs and pass through the wall of the digestive tract and enter the blood circulation. They are carried around the body and encyst in muscles and tissues. If this tissue is subsequently eaten by a cat, the larva becomes active and matures to an adult tapeworm within the intestine. It is not unusual for a cat to harbor several adult tapeworms.

Commonly, cats that hunt and kill rodents and eat the carcases, are infected in this way. In the case of fleas (or lice), the minute eggs of the tapeworm are probably consumed during the larval stage when the immature insects are feeding on organic debris on the cat or within its environment. The flea, containing the cysts of the tapeworm, is swallowed by the cat while it licks and grooms itself, and the worm develops in the manner described. It is uncommon for tapeworms to cause symptoms of ill health or digestive upset in cats unless present in excessive numbers.

The presence of tapeworms is usually suspected when the segments are noticed, although occasionally a cat may vomit up a whole worm. A number of preparations are available that are specifically designed to eliminate this cat illnesses i.e. tapeworms, and a veterinary surgeon can advise on which one to use. A cat that hunts habitually should be regularly treated for tapeworms. It can also be seen that it is necessary for cat care to deal with fleas, which are very common external parasites of cats, in order to control tapeworms.

People are not usually at any risk from the common tapeworm of cats. Echinococcus multilocularis, a small tapeworm rarely found in some cats in parts of Europe, USA and Asia, has been known to affect human beings. In this case, a person is the intermediate host, and the larva induces an abnormal growth in the liver that can produce adverse symptoms.

	Tapeworms In Cats Cat Care > Cat Parasites > Internal Parasites > Tapeworms In Cats Tapeworms are long, thin, flat worms that are usually a white color and resemble lengths of tape. The adult worm consists of a head, or scolex, which bears tiny hooks and suckers that attach it to the intestine of a cat. Behind the head there are a series of segments, called proglottids, which each containing male and female reproductive organs. The segments are continually produced from behind the head and mature as they pass backwards. Those at the end farthest away from the head are fully mature and contain numerous fertilized eggs. These are shed in the faeces of the cat and also pass out at other times. They usually resemble grains of white rice that may be seen to move and contract for a time. They may stick to the fur of the cat or be shed within the home, and, when dry, the outer case splits to shed the microscopic eggs. Tapeworms require an intermediate or secondary host in order to complete their life cycle and do not pass directly from one cat (the primary host) to another. In the case of the most common tapeworms in cats are called Dipylidium caninum, which also affects dogs, the intermediate host is a flea or louse. Other tapeworms, mainly Taenia species, have rabbits, rodents, birds, etc, as intermediate hosts. In one that occasionally affects cats, Taenia taeniformis, the intermediate host is a rat or mouse. If the intermediate host is a mammal, minute larvae or embryos hatch from the ingested eggs and pass through the wall of the digestive tract and enter the blood circulation. They are carried around the body and encyst in muscles and tissues. If this tissue is subsequently eaten by a cat, the larva becomes active and matures to an adult tapeworm within the intestine. It is not unusual for a cat to harbor several adult tapeworms. Commonly, cats that hunt and kill rodents and eat the carcases, are infected in this way. In the case of fleas (or lice), the minute eggs of the tapeworm are probably consumed during the larval stage when the immature insects are feeding on organic debris on the cat or within its environment. The flea, containing the cysts of the tapeworm, is swallowed by the cat while it licks and grooms itself, and the worm develops in the manner described. It is uncommon for tapeworms to cause symptoms of ill health or digestive upset in cats unless present in excessive numbers. The presence of tapeworms is usually suspected when the segments are noticed, although occasionally a cat may vomit up a whole worm. A number of preparations are available that are specifically designed to eliminate this cat illnesses i.e. tapeworms, and a veterinary surgeon can advise on which one to use. A cat that hunts habitually should be regularly treated for tapeworms. It can also be seen that it is necessary for cat care to deal with fleas, which are very common external parasites of cats, in order to control tapeworms. People are not usually at any risk from the common tapeworm of cats. Echinococcus multilocularis, a small tapeworm rarely found in some cats in parts of Europe, USA and Asia, has been known to affect human beings. In this case, a person is the intermediate host, and the larva induces an abnormal growth in the liver that can produce adverse symptoms.	Cat Care Cat Teeth Care Cat Ear & Eye Care Hair loss in cats Cat Worming Cat Vaccination Cat Neutering Leaving a Cat at Home Acquiring A Cat Choosing a Pet Kitten Choosing an Adult Cat The Cat that Chooses You Bringing Home a New Kitten Settling In of Kitten Taking Home an Adult Cat Cat Diet Raw/Cooked Food for Cat Bones for Cat Water for Cat Home-prepared Foods Commercial Foods for Cat Grass for Cats Feeding a Kitten Overfeeding and Obesity Underfeeding/Weight Loss Adaptations of Cat Cat's Eyes Cat's Ears Smelling Sense of Cat Whiskers of Cat Cats Balance Sense Cat's Teeth Cat Breeding Male Cat Female Cat or Queen Gestation Period for Cats Pseudo Pregnancy in Cat Cat Pregnancy Preparing Birth of Kittens Cat Labour and Birth When to Call a Vet Routine Care of Queen Cat Weaning A Kitten Rearing Orphan Kittens Determining Sex of Kittens Cat Parasites Cats Internal Parasites Cats External Parasites Cat Training Training a Kitten Cat Toilet Training Cat Learning Its Name Cat Walking on a Lead Using a Cat Flap or Cat Door Training an Adult Cat List of Cat Breeds Cat Grooming Cat Behaviour Cat Names Cat Language Elderly Cat Care Cat Illnesses First Aid for Cats Sitemap