Should I Quarantine My Cat With Tapeworms?
Dealing with tapeworm isn't pleasant; it's a highly contagious parasite easily contracted by cats. They pick it up through infected fleas or hunting.
As per the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the chance of pets passing tapeworms to humans is extremely uncommon. However, young children face a slightly higher risk, possibly ingesting fleas while playing with their furry friends.
As a cat owner if your cat has tapeworms, quarantining your cat is crucial. Isolating the infected cat prevents the spread, but consulting your vet for treatment options and preventive measures like flea control is key to safeguarding your feline and other pets.
To learn more about isolating a cat with tapeworms, check out this informative article.
Reasons to quarantine your cat with tapeworms:
It Keeps the Infection Relegated to One Area
Isolating a cat with a tapeworm infection in a separate room reduces the chance of spreading the infection. It confines their movement, making cleaning easier. Keeping the tapeworm confined to a single room also decreases the likelihood of spreading the parasite and its eggs throughout the house.
It Decreases the Risk to Other Pets
When you have multiple cats and dogs at home, the risk of tapeworm spreading between them is real. To stop the parasite from spreading, isolating your infected cat during deworming is crucial, preventing potential infection in your other pets.
It Avoids Passing it To Humans
While uncommon, some tapeworms can affect humans, underscoring the need to quarantine your cat for your family's well-being. The risk involves accidentally ingesting a tapeworm-infected flea, leading to stomach discomfort and diarrhea. Though rare, caution is wise to prevent any potential health issues.
What is a Tapeworm?
Tapeworms are intestinal parasites found in cats and dogs. They're visible to the naked eye and resemble small, moving grains of rice. The most common type, Dipylidium caninum, is ingested during grooming. These worms are:
Long
Flat
White
Segmented
They attach to the small intestine's wall, absorbing nutrients and growing up to 4 to 28 inches long. It takes about four weeks for them to reach their full size. As they grow, segments break off and pass through the cat's stool, resembling rice grains, each carrying around 20 tapeworm eggs.
What Causes Tapeworms?
Cats don't become infected with tapeworms by ingesting tapeworm eggs directly. To get tapeworms, they must consume an intermediate host infected by the tapeworm. For example, if a cat eats an infected small animal, they'll also get infected. Animals that could carry tapeworms include:
Mice
Rabbits
Squirrels
Infected fleas
Tapeworm eggs are consumed by fleas, and when your cat grooms, they might eat an infected flea. If the cat ingests the flea, it gets infected. Though it's rare for humans to get tapeworms, accidental ingestion of an infected flea is typically the cause.
Tapeworms can result from a cat consuming the feces of an animal infected with tapeworms. Outdoor cats, being hunters, are more prone to tapeworms. Yet, even indoor cats can get infected if they live in flea-prone areas. The most common way a cat gets tapeworms is by ingesting an infected flea.
When a cat inadvertently swallows a tapeworm-infected flea while grooming, the flea gets digested. As the tapeworm digests, it releases its eggs. It attaches to the intestinal wall, eventually passing out of the cat's body in the stool.
What Are the Symptoms of Tapeworm?
Cats might not always show obvious signs of having tapeworms. That's why regular checkups are vital for your beloved feline friend. During a veterinarian visit, stool examination helps spot any issues. Still, keep an eye out for these potential symptoms of tapeworm in cats:
Dull or unhealthy coat
Occasional mild diarrhea or vomiting
Excessive licking or biting around the anus
The presence of tapeworm segments in the stool
Even if your cat usually eats more than usual, they might lose weight due to tapeworms absorbing their nutrients. They might also scoot their rear end across the floor to relieve discomfort and itching in the infected area.
How long should your cat be in quarantine?
The duration of quarantining your cat varies based on different factors. Once your cat's diagnosed with tapeworm, it's advised to isolate them for a few days. For a single-cat household, confinement for approximately four days is recommended. The specific duration of quarantine often aligns with the prescribed deworming treatment.
Keeping your cat in quarantine is essential until the parasite is completely eliminated. If you have other pets, separating them from the infected cat is crucial. Consider prolonging the quarantine period for other pets as well; it's the best way to protect your furry family.
What is Treatment and Prevention for Tapeworm?
The treatment for tapeworm involves using a deworming medication. Here’s a list of liquid dewormers which are easy to apply. These are anti-parasitic medicines designed to eliminate worms in your cat. They work by prompting the worms to exit the intestine, with the dead worms and eggs passing out through the stool. While many dewormers work within 24 hours, sometimes tapeworms persist, requiring an additional dose of dewormer for complete eradication.
Tapeworms can come back in cats, underscoring the importance of prevention. Using flea prevention medicine is key to warding off fleas. When you give your cat this preventive treatment, it significantly reduces their chances of getting fleas.
An additional method to prevent your cat from getting fleas is by keeping them indoors. This reduces their contact with other animals, particularly those that might carry fleas. Fleas spread swiftly from one animal to another, so keeping your cat inside also prevents them from hunting animals that might be flea carriers.
What’s the risk of not treating tapeworms in cats?
Failing to treat tapeworms in your cat can lead to significant issues later on. Your kitten friend might face digestive problems such as blockages in the digestive tract and could become severely malnourished.
In severe instances, untreated tapeworms can cause cats to lose significant amounts of blood from where the tapeworms have attached in their small intestines. A notable sign of this is dark, tar-like feces due to the blood loss. This can result in anemia, and in severe cases, it might lead to fatal outcomes.
That's why staying vigilant is crucial. Pay close attention to your cat's behavior and be wary of any unusual signs. When in doubt, it's wise to schedule a vet visit. As the saying goes, it's better to be safe than sorry.
Conclusion
Tapeworms are pesky parasites that can infect your cat. It's important to quarantine a cat with tapeworm to prevent the infection from spreading. Discuss with your vet to find the best treatment options or consider flea prevention medicine for your feline's well-being.
