Tapeworm in Cats – Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Tapeworms are one of the most common types of worms in cats. They live in the small intestine of cats. Two important tapeworm species in Australian cats are the flea tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum) and the cat tapeworm (Taenia taeniaeformis).

The flea tapeworm is a long, white worm, 15-70 cm in length. The cat tapeworm is a long, flat worm, up to 60 cm in length. Adult worms live in the small intestine and are made up of segments. The segments, which contain eggs, are passed in the faeces. It is sometimes possible to see segments of tapeworms in a cat’s stool or around the anus – they look like small, white grains of rice that can move!

The tapeworm life cycle always includes an intermediate host which varies depending on the species of tapeworm:

• Flea tapeworm – grooming behaviour results in ingestion of fleas containing flea tapeworm larvae
• Cat tapeworm – infestation from hunting small mammals which act as intermediate hosts

Cats’ natural behaviours and instincts, such as roaming, grooming and hunting, place them at high risk of parasites, including tapeworms. Both cats and dogs can be infested with flea tapeworm.

Most pet dogs do not roam or hunt and so are at very low, or no risk, of some parasites. For example, hydatid tapeworms in dogs are only a risk for dogs if they eat raw offal or scavenge on carcasses.

There are often no obvious symptoms or signs of tapeworms in cats, although they can occasionally cause signs such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting and itchiness around the anus.

Tapeworm treatment in cats requires the administration of a deworming product which contains the active ingredient praziquantel, such as NexGard SPECTRA^® Spot-On for Cats.