Tapeworm Experience

amber633 · Jun 28, 2007

Hi cat peeps...I was wondering if anyone here has had experience with tapeworms. I just discovered that my 8 week kittens have them...

I have got medicine from my vet which I'll be giving them soon (I need to make sure they're hungry cause I'm mashing it up with their food). This is supposed to have the tapeworms out in 2-3 days.

I'm also trying to sterilize my house...just vaccuming and mopping. Is this enough? The vet said the tw's can't survive outside the body anyway...

While the cats get "cured," I have them in my garage...it's pretty hot in there (I'm in Georgia...temps during the day reach mid 80's), but I've got ice water for them that I keep filled up.

Does anyone else have experience with this who can give me some tips?

Thanks!

kluchetta · Jun 28, 2007

I had one cat with tapeworms. He didn't "transfer" it to any of the others. The medicine worked quite well. But they get tapeworms from fleas, so if you have fleas around, you will probably have to treat for those too!

(I don't know if the garage sounds like that good of an idea. I know tapeworms are gross, but I don't think they are that contagious.)

amber633 · Jun 28, 2007

Thanks, kluchetta.

I don't think I have fleas around...anymore. The kittens had been living outside for the first 7 weeks of their life, so I'm guessing they came from there. I have bathed them three times since then.

This afternoon I came to my desk (where the kittens like to sleep) and saw somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 tapeworms (or tapeorm segments) on my desk. This is part of the reason why they're in the garage now...I don't want them planed around my house.

Hmmmmmm...maybe I'll kee them in a bathroom till they get better. That would be a smaller area to re-sanitize when they're beter, plus it has air conditioning. On the con side, they can't really run and play in there like they can in the garage.

What do y'all think?

ilovemy2cats · Jun 28, 2007

IMO, there's no reason to be freaking out over tapeworms. I've dealt with them twice, no big deal. The segments don't live long outside the body anyway. My cats stayed in the HOUSE where they belong, not in my hot garage, I didn't sanitize and I'm still here to talk about it.

laureen227 · Jun 28, 2007

as long as you get rid of any fleas, there shouldn't be any more problems.

amber633 · Jun 28, 2007

They're a little too young for frontline I think.

I moved them to the bathroom. It's smaller than the garage, but at least they won't get too hot in there.

iLove, you're a braver (or grosser) person than me...Finding tapeworm segments scattered in my office one time was enough for me. I'd rather not experience that again.

tnkittymom · Jun 28, 2007

Originally Posted by Amber633

They're a little too young for frontline I think.

I moved them to the bathroom. It's smaller than the garage, but at least they won't get too hot in there.

iLove, you're a braver (or grosser) person than me...Finding tapeworm segments scattered in my office one time was enough for me. I'd rather not experience that again.

Honestly, tapeworms are not a big deal. I've dealt with them a number of times with dogs and cats, and I've just always treated them. Tapeworms are contracted when an animal injests the fleas, so, as mentioned before, no fleas, no problems. Hera and Reyah both had tapeworms and were treated at the vet when they were spayed. They are both inside. Once you treat them, they'll be just fine.

jen · Jun 28, 2007

Yep, tapeworms = no big deal. BUT I wouldn't want segments in my bed or on my couch or something. Or on the DESK! I think the bathroom would be a better place or get a dog crate for them.

BTW I treated a little 5 week old kitten that has lice with a tiny drop of Frontline Plus. Just get a kitten dose and maybe cut it in half if the kittens are really little.

bonnie1965 · Jun 28, 2007

I have heard that most cats who live outside have tapeworms. Therefore, most kittens. They are very common.

Daphne had them when she came to me so I had her and Seb treated. The medicine from the vet works well and will take care of them

As long as they don't have fleas, they won't have the worms. It will all be okay soon

jen · Jun 28, 2007

You can buy tapeworm tabs OTC. As lone as the active ingredient is praziquantel it is all the same exact thing. For that matter, Fish Tapes is a product for tapeworm in fish... same exact thing for a fraction of the cost.

kittkatt · Jun 28, 2007

Like the others have mentioned, if you control the fleas, you control the tapeworm. Geronimo & Winchester have both had tapeworm (my other cats don't seem to have a problem w/ it), and I get a little red pill from the vet that takes care of the problem. They also get treated on a regular basis w/ Advantage, to keep the fleas away. I live in Texas, where the flea population is bad, and b/c we feed a lot of strays who come onto the porch to eat who aren't protected, we unfortunately get fleas dragged in on our shoes occasionally. But a dose of the Advantage works well.

I don't know how old a kitten has to be to be treated. I would ask your vet...

KittKatt

ilovemy2cats · Jun 29, 2007

Originally Posted by Amber633

They're a little too young for frontline I think.

I moved them to the bathroom. It's smaller than the garage, but at least they won't get too hot in there.

iLove, you're a braver (or grosser) person than me...Finding tapeworm segments scattered in my office one time was enough for me. I'd rather not experience that again.

I actually have a pretty weak stomach but the tapeworms didn't bother me. Well, ok maybe a little when I saw live segments crawling on my cat and realizing that what I picked up off the dining room carpet wasn't rice the kids dropped from dinner.

I called the vet, got the medicine and that was that! lol

momto3cats · Jun 29, 2007

I have dealt with tapeworms a few times in adult cats. The segments are disgusting, and I admit I freaked out the first time I saw one (in my lap, where kitty had been napping). Luckily, the medicine takes care of it very quickly and there are no more crawly things. I just had a cat get them again recently, and I bought Tape Worm Tabs online - much, much cheaper than going to the vet.

kluchetta · Jun 29, 2007

OMG that would be pretty gross.

Tapeworms really freak me out, LOL. I think maybe keep them in the AC bathroom, but let them into the garage to play a few times a day? My kitten's tapeworms went away pretty quickly after I dosed him.

Originally Posted by Amber633

Thanks, kluchetta.

I don't think I have fleas around...anymore. The kittens had been living outside for the first 7 weeks of their life, so I'm guessing they came from there. I have bathed them three times since then.

This afternoon I came to my desk (where the kittens like to sleep) and saw somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 tapeworms (or tapeorm segments) on my desk. This is part of the reason why they're in the garage now...I don't want them planed around my house.

Hmmmmmm...maybe I'll kee them in a bathroom till they get better. That would be a smaller area to re-sanitize when they're beter, plus it has air conditioning. On the con side, they can't really run and play in there like they can in the garage.

What do y'all think?

Tapeworm Experience

amber633

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kluchetta

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amber633

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ilovemy2cats

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laureen227

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amber633

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tnkittymom

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jen

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bonnie1965

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jen

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kittkatt

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ilovemy2cats

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momto3cats

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kluchetta

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