Pet Health: Ask the Kitty Guru

Question: I am a nine year old Domestic Longhair spayed female. Yesterday, when cleaning my litter box, my person found several tiny white worms on my stool. She was very upset and surprised. What are these worms? How did I get them and how can I get rid of them?

Answer: What you are describing are tapeworm segments. They are often described as looking like grains of white rice, sesame seeds, or little maggots. In this stage the tapeworms are not infective to other pets or humans, but most people find them completely disgusting. Tapeworms live in the intestinal track of the host and can lie dormant for years before segments are seen. Untreated, tapeworms can cause diarrhea and weight loss. Tapeworms are common intestinal parasites found in cats that hunt and consume prey, and in cats that have or have had a flea problem. Immature fleas feed on tapeworm eggs. A cat may, in the process of grooming herself, swallow a flea infected with a developing tapeworm. The tapeworm will continue to mature, thus infecting the cat. Tapeworms are easy to kill with medication available through your veterinarian. Do not allow your person to give you an over- the- counter deworming medication. These remedies are at best a waste of money, and at worst they can prove hazardous to your health. Although tapeworms themselves are easy to kill, many cats become reinfected because their owners don't address the flea problem. Every time a cat swallows a flea he stands a good chance of reinfectation. Effective flea control is a key element in the battle against tapeworms. Cats that hunt and eat their prey can also become infected with tapeworms. Since most cats won't give up this behavior their humans should discuss the possibility of annual deworming with their veterinarian.