One of the most common cat parasites is worms. Cat worms symptoms can include a change in appetite (either a lack of interest in food, or eating constantly without being satisfied), unusual levels of inactivity, vomiting, diarrhea (worms may be visible in these), blood in the stool, tenderness around the abdomen and general ill-health (dull coat, weeping eyes, etc).
What many people do not recognize is that some types of worm – specifically tapeworms – tend to go hand in hand with another common cat parasite: fleas.
Cat worms and fleas
The reason for this is that fleas act as an intermediate host for tapeworms. Tapeworms have segmented bodies, with each segment containing eggs. The segments break off and are passed by the cat in their stool. These look like rice husks, and you may spot them where your cat sleeps.
The segments are eaten by flea larvae, and the tapeworm eggs hatch in the fleas’ bodies. The fleas transfer to your cat and are swallowed as the cat grooms itself. The flea’s carapace is digested, releasing the young tapeworm, which latches onto the cat’s intestine, growing to adulthood and repeating the cycle.
Treat for both
Tapeworms are a common form of cat worms. Symptoms include lethargy (beyond normal), vomiting, and sometimes irritation around the cat’s hind quarters. The link with fleas means that it is important to treat for both at the same time, otherwise reinfection is likely within a short period of time. If you get rid of them, the cat worms symptoms will recur quickly, since the fleas on the cat will quickly introduce further tapeworms to its system.