What kind of worms does my cat have?

Question

My cat is about 6 years old and has lived with the in-laws for a few years as an outdoor hunter (who always got ticks). 3 months ago we were finally able to bring her back to live with us and she hasn't wanted to do much of anything but sleep and snuggle, which is very different from how she was at my in-laws' house (where she was out playing/hunting for days at a time and NEVER snuggled). Last week we noticed a longish (about 1 inch) white round worm-looking thing outside of her anus. She wouldn't let us near it, and it didn't really look like it was attached, just sitting there. It was gone the next time we saw her, but we just noticed another one today (about a 1/2 inch) that again was gone when we saw her again. She had all of her shots when she was a baby. She is a healthy size, kind of chubby but not too fat. Is this a roundworm? A tapeworm? I'm going to take her to the vet, but can't make it for a week - any thoughts/advice? Thanks!

Shell - you are very rude. I am an attentive and caring pet owner. My in-laws had Abbie for 3 years due to personal circumstances (but thanks for the insulting assumption about my morals and responsibility) and did not keep up with her shots/tick treatments. I should note that every time I visited them I gave her a flea treatment (5-6 times a year). I'm unsure of your purpose as it was insulting and unhelpful. Thank you very much to everyone else - I will be bringing her to the vet soon. Also, I can't figure out how to bring a stool sample if we have 2 cats - suggestions?

Answer 1

Hi Sara...this sounds like a tapeworm. Cats and dogs get tapeworms from ingesting fleas and flea larvae while grooming themselves.

Here's more about tapeworms to help you determine if this is what you are witnessing: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_tapeworm.html

Tapeworms can be treated with a dewormer called Droncit/Drontal which the active ingredient is called Praziquantel.

More about Praziquantel: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_praziquantel.html

Answer 2

Tapeworms don't hang out of the rectum usually as they live inside the intestines. The only thing you would see with a tapeworm is rice looking segments in the stool and the cat would lose weight and possibly even fur. While it is possible that the tapeworm could be seen around the rectum, it's not very common. Roundworm is possible as well but they have tapered ends and can be vomited up or passed in stool. The best way to tell for sure is taking a stool sample to the vet. With 2 cats this can be hard. What I did when one of my cats got a tapeworm (from eating a mouse) is I put the litterbox in the bathroom along with one cat at a time for a few hours. I went in and checked from time to time for any stool and gathered any I found and labeled the baggie I put it in. Then switched cats and did the same thing. This is how we found out which cat was infected. She was treated and all was better.

Answer 3

I'm sorry to do this to u but I think u are being way to harsh on Shell. This person was only stating the obvious. It doesn't matter that ur inlaws had ur cat for 3 years. She was still ur responsibility and u should have provided here with monthly flea/tick treatment and 3 monthly worming. There is no excuse for fleas and worms these days. I also would not wait a week to take ur cat to the vet. You know what the problem is just worm her already and get the poor cat out of pain........worm ur other cat while ur at it. A vet doesn't need to see her she just needs medication......they both do!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 4

Its a tape worm probably. Do not use over the counter worm meds. Take a stool sample into your vets he will test it to be sure what type of worm your cat has and give you the correct med for the type of worm your cat has.

Answer 5

You are supposed to deworm your cats every three months (or one month depending on the medication you are giving them). These medications usually cover every single worm such as ringworm and tapeworm. You are also supposed to de-flea your cat with medications like frontline or sentinal. This is especially important if your cat goes outdoors because they can pick up anything out there.
You sound like an irresponsible pet owner. People should not buy dogs or cats if they don't understand the proper care which animals require. Take your cat to the vets and get it dewormed immediatly. I hate to think of the discomfort that cat must be feeling.

Answer 6

It sounds like tapeworm; caused by flea ingestion -- however they usually look like rice; they are a segmented worm so it will come out in various lengths. Your cat can become very ill with this untreated; take a sample of the worm with you to the vet; to show them; because chances are if they check her stool; via a fecal examination; they can only detect eggs; at this stage there are no eggs; just one big giant and growing yet more inside your cat.

Answer 7

Tapeworms are flat with individual segments, each about 5-10 mm long. Roundworms are thin (2mm) across and about 2-4 cm long without segments. Ringworm is a fungal disease not really a worm.

Answer 8

Probably a tapeworm. They get them from injesting fleas or from eating a rodent with the worms. Very easily treatable. Go to your vet for the treatment.

Answer 9

I'd say she has regular worms, dont worry my cat had worms like that. I would say going to the vet would be best because wormer from stores are not good for an adult cat. Ho;e your cat feels better!

Answer 10

Probably tapeworm. Any way you can drop a sample off to the vet?