The tapeworms attach firmly to the lining of the bowel wall, so it is unusual to see an adult worm unless the cat has had a worming treatment. It’s much more common to see tapeworm egg packets on the cat’s fur, especially near the anus.
The adult tapeworms shed these egg packets into the bowel lumen where they migrate out of the cat’s anus. The proglottids are about the size of a grain of rice and a similar shape. If you see a white rice-like object on the cat’s fur then it is highly likely he has tapeworms.
Cats with fleas are likely to develop tapeworm as immature fleas feed on tapeworm eggs in cat feces. The tapeworm hatches and develops inside the flea (the intermediate host), and when the cat grooms and swallows the flea, her digestive juices crack open the fleas body and release the larval form of the tapeworms. Thus, regular flea control is essential to prevent and control tapeworm in the cat.
Rodents infect themselves with the larval form of tapeworm when they eat plants contaminated by cat feces containing tapeworm eggs. The tapeworm burrows into the rodents muscles and when the cat hunts and eats the infected rodent, it will infect itself with tapeworm. Thus, hunting cats need to be wormed regularly, ideally every 3-6 months.
While treatment is the same no matter what type of tapeworm has infected your cat, knowing which type will help your vet give you advice about how to prevent future infections. Praziquantel is the only ingredient that can kill tapeworms, but many tapeworm products are combined with another ingredient that works against roundworms as well.
Praziquantel causes paralysis by making the phospholipid integument (skin) of the tapeworm permeable to sodium, potassium, and calcium ions. A massive influx of calcium ions paralyses the tapeworm’s primitive nerve system, so the worm’s suckers let go of the bowel wall and it is passed out. [7] X Research source Plumbs Veterinary Drug Handbook. Donald Plumb. PharmaVet
Droncit injection: Contains praziquantel and is solely effective against tapeworms (no efficacy against roundworms). Drontal tablets: Contains praziquantel against tapeworm and pyrantel which is effective against roundworms Milbemax tablets: Contains praziquantel against tapeworm and milbemycin against roundworms. Profender spot-on: Contains praziquantel against tapeworm and emodepside against roundworms.
The tapeworm medication will kill the tapeworms present in the cat at the time of dosing, but has no lingering effect should the cat re-infect itself the following day. [10] X Research source BSAVA Small Animal Formulary. BSAVA publications.
There are many products available, but those proven to be the most effective are those containing fipronil (Frontline, Frontline Plus, and Efipro) as well as selamectin (Revolutions US, Stronghold UK,).
