Tapeworms

Tapeworms are a little different to other parasitic organisms and have distinct differences to roundworm variants. Rather than being infected through digestion of larvae eggs like roundworm, tapeworm is actually widely spread through flea infestations. The fleas feed off tapeworm larvae but this does not kill the worm. In fact it begins to host the worm and when a flea is digested by a cat from cleaning, a common occurrence due to the natural cleaning habits, the tapeworm will begin to manifest. However a similarity to roundworm will come in the way that tapeworms may be digested from eating smaller animals such as birds and mice that are ghosting the larvae or worms.

Where one may inspect any vomit or excrement of a cat to determine if a cat is infected, tapeworm can actually be seen by the eye. And once again, it is hard to notice any obvious symptoms of infection until the tapeworms begin to cause major havoc to a cat’s health. The most tell-tale sign is observation is if a cat is suffering from irritation in the back passage area. Naturally cats will not be able to reach this area to scratch and gain comfort. They are left with no other option but to find surfaces to scratch their rear end against or even drag themselves across a floor surface for relief.

If an infection is suspected, a vet will be able to examine an excrement sample of cat to determine the underlying cause. This however is a very circumstantial test procedure and may not always catch what a cat is suffering from. In order to stamp out the chance of infection, measures should be taken to ensure that a cat is kept flea free and lives in an environment that is kept sanitary. If fleas are found to begin attacking a cat, immediate action should be taken to ensure that they are dealt with before a cat has the chance to digest any. This is a difficult task as a cat will want to lick its paws during grooming and be rid of the fleas. Timing can be unlucky and a dormant infestation can lie in wait.

Once again prevention is much better than allowing the infection to occur and then seeking treatment. A persistent effort should be placed in keeping the living area sanitary as possible is needed.