What cat lovers should know about tapeworms in a cat

Almost all cats will experience at least one form of worm infection in their lifetime; Among the most widespread worm infestations are the roundworm and tapeworm.

What are tapeworms?

All worms are parasites that feed on the inside of your cat and can make it quite sick. The worms can be transferred from the mother to the kitten; The litter box is also a source of worm infestation, especially if you have more than one cat.

The tapeworm is made up of several segments and each of these segments contains the worm’s eggs. The egg-containing segments are shed from the worm and excreted from the cat’s body in its feces.

How do cats get tapeworms?

The tapeworm may have been passed to a kitten from its mother. However, the main source of tapeworms are fleas on cats. Fleas eat the tapeworm eggs that are shed in the cat’s feces – the cat will swallow the flea when it cleans itself and this is how the tapeworm egg enters your cat’s body. If you want to avoid tapeworm infestation, you must first make sure your cat is flea-free. If a cat has fleas, it is more likely to have tapeworms, which attack the cat’s intestinal tract.

Symptoms of Tapeworms in Cats

You must monitor your cat’s behavior. Cats that have tapeworms will show more scratching and licking around their anus. Irritability and loss of appetite are other symptoms that the cat has fleas.

Treatment of tapeworms in cats

You should always take your cat to the vet for a checkup if you suspect he has a worm infection. Your vet will most likely treat your cat by prescribing some deworming medication, which will almost always eliminate the tapeworm problem. You will also need to clean the cat’s bed and areas of the house that you have access to. Combine the exercise treatment along with a proper diet and regular checkups and your cat should be tapeworm free.

Prevention of tapeworms in cats

To prevent your cat from getting re-infested with tapeworms, you will need to keep fleas out of your cat and out of your home. A regular dose of deworming medication prescribed by your vet will definitely keep the worms out permanently.