Every cat owner must have a cat's health check regularly, especially because cats have a very high possibility of being infected with two types of worms, namely tapeworms and roundworms. If you suspect your cat has a tapeworm infection, it's time to see a doctor immediately to find out the right treatment method.
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Method 1 of 3: Identifying Tapeworms in Cats
Step 1. Identify tapeworms
As the name suggests, tapeworm or tapeworm is a worm that has a long and select body, is milky white in color, and has segments along its body. In general, tapeworms can be up to 60 cm long!
- Tapeworms will usually attach very firmly to the intestinal wall. Therefore, the existence of adult worms cannot be easily identified without the help of a doctor.
- On the other hand, the presence of worm eggs in your cat's fur can be easier to spot with the naked eye, especially in the area around the anus.
Step 2. Find a white object shaped like a grain of rice in the cat's fur
When reproducing, tapeworms will fill their body segments (proglottids) with thousands of small worm eggs.
- Adult tapeworms shed their eggs into the intestinal lumen. Next, the worm eggs will migrate to the cat's anus.
- Worm eggs are white, and are shaped and sized like grains of rice. If you find a similar object in your cat's fur, it's likely that the cat has been infected with tapeworms.
Step 3. Take a sample of worm eggs to the doctor for examination
If in doubt, stick the object you suspect is a worm egg to a 15 cm long piece of tape. After that, stick the piece of tape containing the worm eggs onto a piece of paper or cardboard. Take the sample to the doctor for further examination.
Step 4. Understand that cats with fleas have a greater chance of becoming infected with tapeworms
In fact, there are two types of tapeworms that commonly infect cats, and they both have different hosts. Dipylidium caninum (the most common type of tapeworm) uses ticks as its host.
- Cats with fleas may become infected with tapeworms because immature fleas live by eating worm eggs in cat feces. After that, the tapeworm will breed inside the tick (original host). When a cat ingests or interacts with fleas, its digestive system destroys the flea's body and as a result, the worm eggs will come out and move to the cat's body.
- That's why cats need to have their health checked regularly to prevent and control tapeworm infections.
Step 5. Understand why cats who love to hunt are more at risk for tapeworm infections
The second most common type of tapeworm that infects cats is Taenia taeniaeformis. These worm species go through the larval stage in the body of rodents such as mice. That is why, cats who like to hunt have a greater chance of being infected with this type of worm.
- Rodents will become infected with worm larvae when they eat plants contaminated with cat feces that contain worm eggs. After that, the tapeworm will spread to the muscles of the rodent. If your cat likes to hunt and eat rodents infected with tapeworms, the cat's body will automatically become infected.
- That is why, cats who love to hunt should be checked regularly to the doctor, approximately every 3-6 months, to minimize the possibility of tapeworm infection.
Method 2 of 3: Treating Tapeworm Infections
Step 1. Take the cat to the vet
If possible, also take a sample of any worm eggs you find in the fur. By doing so, doctors can more easily identify the type of worm that infects the cat. Most likely, after that the doctor will prescribe deworming medicine containing praziquantel.
- Although the treatment method is not determined by the type of worm, knowing the type of worm that infects your cat can help your doctor recommend appropriate tips to prevent the infection from reoccurring.
- Praziquantel is the only ingredient that can kill tapeworms. However, generally deworming products are combined with other ingredients that are also effective in killing roundworms.
Step 2. Understand how praziquantel works
In fact, praziquantel works by immobilizing tapeworms and making them detach from the intestinal wall. After that, the dead worms will be expelled by the cat through the feces.
- Praziquantel immobilizes worms by making the worm skin more permeable to sodium, potassium, and calcium ions.
- Then, the penetration of large amounts of calcium ions will paralyze the primitive nervous system of the worm. After that, the worm should lose consciousness and detach itself from the intestinal wall.
Step 3. Identify products that contain praziquantel (a drug to treat certain parasitic infections)
For years, the only products containing praziquantel were Drontal tablets and Droncit injections. However, currently other products with similar ingredients are available, such as Milbemax and Profender tablets, spot-on products that are applied to the skin on the back of the cat's neck. A summary of products worth considering is:
- Droncit injection: Contains praziquantel and can be used alone to treat tapeworms effectively (its benefit in treating roundworm infections has not been proven).
- Drontal tablets: Contains praziquantel which is able to eradicate tapeworms, and pyrantel which is very effective to eradicate roundworms.
- Milbemax tablets: Contains praziquantel which is able to eradicate tapeworms, and milbemycin which is able to eradicate roundworms.
- The spot-on drug is Profender: Contains praziquantel which is able to eradicate tapeworms, and emodepside which is able to eradicate roundworms.
Step 4. Follow the doctor's instructions regarding the procedure for taking the drug
About 2% of cats experience mild side effects such as feeling unwell, diarrhea, or loss of appetite after taking oral medications. If your cat is like that, immediately consult a doctor.
Deworming will only kill the worms in the cat's body when the drug is consumed. In other words, the deworming effect wears off if the cat has repeated infections the next day
Method 3 of 3: Preventing Tapeworms From Appearing
Step 1. Prevent the cat from hunting
In fact, the act of hunting and consuming wild animals is the main cause of tapeworm infection. Therefore, prevent the cat from doing so to prevent the cat from becoming infected.
Step 2. Get rid of fleas attached to the cat's body
Another source of tapeworm infection is fleas. Therefore, treat cats and other pets with effective products, and always follow the product instructions on the packaging.
Of the various flea control products available in the market, some of the ones that have proven to be the most effective at getting rid of lice are those that contain fipronil (Frontline, Frontline Plus, and Efipro) and lambectin (known as Revolution in the United States and Stronghold in the United Kingdom)
Step 3. Take your cat to the doctor at least every three months to prevent tapeworm infection
If you find worm eggs in cat feces, it can be concluded that the cat has an active tapeworm infection.
