how does a cat get tape worms?

Question

the vet said from rodent feces or eating a flea does this sound correct to you i thought they were from raw meat by the way got him a pill just really curious

Answer 1

Yes, that is true. Rats are loaded with fleas and that's the main way your pet gets tape worms (FLEAS), also from eating any feces infected with tape worm. Good Question! All the best;^)

Answer 2

As a former veterinary technician I can tell you that the doctor was correct. But you should keep in mind that there are many types of parasites. A person for example can get parasites or other problems from eating undercooked meats like pork or chicken. A cat can get parasites from many different sources depending on the type of parasite

Answer 3

Hope this will help:::::

Tapeworms in Cats


What are tapeworms?

Tapeworms are a highly specialised intestinal parasite known as Cestodes. Tapeworms need two hosts, the intermediate host which passes the cysticercoid around & the final host (your pet), where it develops into an adult tapeworm & lays it's eggs. Dipylidium canium is the most common tapeworm in cats followed by Taenia taeniaeformis. Tapeworms are hermaphroditic, which means they contain both ovaries & testes & are capable of reproducing on their own. They have a head (scolex), a neck & a segmented body (the segments are known as proglottids). They are whitish/cream in colour with a ribbon like appearance, and can grow to 15 - 60 cms in length. There are several types of tapeworm your cat can become infected by, the two most common are;

Dipylidium canium:

Taenia taeniaeformis:



Life Cycle of the Tapeworm & how cats become infected:

Dipylidium canium: The most common tapeworm found in cats. The cat flea is the intermediate host of dipylidium canum. Eggs are passed in the faeces & eaten by flea larvae. Once inside the flea larvae, the egg hatches & becomes (cysticercoid). The flea larvae develops into an adult flea, which goes about it's business of parasitising your pet & sucking blood. Your cat (or dog) then ingests the flea during grooming. Once inside the stomach the flea is broken down & the tapeworm is released. It hooks onto the small intestinal wall & develops into an adult tapeworm. Once it reaches maturity (in around 2 - 3 weeks) egg filled segments break off & leave the body via the anus. These segments have the appearance of rice grains. These segments are motile (capable of movement). Once these segments have dried out they have the appearance of sesame seeds. They are then eaten by flea larvae & so the cycle begins once again.

Taenia taeniaeformis: Probably the second most common tapeworm in cats. Cats become infected with taenia taeniaeformis via eating rodents containing the larval tapeworm.

What are the signs of tapeworms in cats?

The presence of rice like segments (proglottids) around your cat's anus & in the environment is a sign your pet has tapeworm.

Your veterinarian may perform a microscopic study of the pet's faeces to check for the presence of tapeworm segments & or eggs.

Are tapeworms dangerous to cats?

Generally no, tapeworms aren't harmful to cats. As tapeworms take nutrients from the cat a heavy infestation can cause your cat to become nutritionally deprived & lose weight & the fur to have a rough appearance.

What's the treatment?

Your veterinarian will be able to provide you with a effective deworming medication which will kill the tapeworm(s). Once they have died, they will be digested along with the cat's food.

Can I catch tapeworms from my cat?

Yes & no. You cannot catch tapeworm directly from your cat, but if your cat has fleas, it is possible to catch tapeworm by accidentally swallowing a flea carrying the tapeworm cysticercoid.

How do I prevent tapeworm in my pet?

Stringent flea control is a must. Preventing your cat hunting rodents is also advised. Children are much more likely to become infected than adults.




Please note:

The medical articles on this site have not been written by a veterinarian & should not be considered a replacement for a veterinarian visit. The articles are provided for informative purposes only.

Always seek immediate veterinary advice for any problems (health or behavioral) in your pets.

While great care has been made in the creation of these articles, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages. If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical advice.
















Cat-World is hosted by:


Copyright © 2002 - 2007 Cat-World. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer Privacy Policy Site Map Contact Cat-World Advertise on Cat-World Goods & Services Directory

Answer 4

No. I'm a cat expert. The cat must have eatin red or raw meat which caused the tape worm. A flea won't make a worm grow.

Answer 5

Usually they get them by ingesting a flea..so make sure you get some flea control as well so the cat does not keep re-infecting itself or it will cost you to continue to de-worm him.

Answer 6

He is right, mainly they accidentally swallow fleas. Hope you have some flea med. for the cat. Fleas can cause a lot of things.

Answer 7

They can lay eggs in just about anything, meat is just where people normally get them from

Answer 8

i think the vet was right