White worm in cats poop?!!!

ioana · Oct 14, 2014

Hi, today I cleaned my cats poop and I noticed a little white worm in his poop. He was alive and Im so worried. This is the first time that saw this. My cat is not acting any different then the usual. He eats, plays and does not throw up.
What cat this be? I have to wait till tomorow to talk to the vet but I would want to see if I can get some piece of mind tonight.
Also, my cat is indoor only, eats 1 can of food a day and some dry food too. I check him for flees quite often but I don't give him any treatment for flees because he doesn't have any.
Can this be dangerous? Please help me.

Draco · Oct 14, 2014

Does he go outside? Has he had all his shots? How old is he?

bigperm20 · Oct 14, 2014

It sounds like a round worm. The eggs enter a cats bloodstream I'm several different ways. Flea bites, licking flea eggs off their fur, and (if young) they can be passed from mother through her milk.

Neither round worms it tape worms are especially dangerous if caught fairly early. You can probably just call your vet and ask him for a topical comprehensive worm med. It may not even require a visit or fecal exam. Some vets are sticklers for the visit. It just depends on the vet.

Don't worry and call them in the morning, your kitty is fine.

bigperm20 · Oct 14, 2014

I forgot to mention that round worms (and tapes) can be transmitted to humans and vice versa. Wash your hands after touching him until he's parasite free.

ioana · Oct 14, 2014

I don't know when this started, I might have catch it already since I kiss him and sleep with him all the time. What exactly should I look for in humans???
Also, he is 2 years old and he never goes outside. He also does not have his vaccines because he reacts very bad to them.
So I should not be worried?

chwx · Oct 15, 2014

Don't worry yourself, just be sure to get to a vet for a fecal and a good dewormer. If kitty has been seen in the last few months then your vet may be ok with just dropping off a poop sample rather than dragging kitty in and paying for an exam too. They'll give you meds (Either a pill or liquid) to give that will knock out whatever worm(s) he has. Otherwise keep the box clean, be sure to wash bedding frequently and wash your hands after handling kitty or his box. It's unlikey you will catch anything using common sense about good hygiene. Children are more at risk than adults are because of their curiousity and not keeping their dirty hands out of their mouthes.

ioana · Oct 15, 2014

CHWx said:
Don't worry yourself, just be sure to get to a vet for a fecal and a good dewormer. If kitty has been seen in the last few months then your vet may be ok with just dropping off a poop sample rather than dragging kitty in and paying for an exam too. They'll give you meds (Either a pill or liquid) to give that will knock out whatever worm(s) he has. Otherwise keep the box clean, be sure to wash bedding frequently and wash your hands after handling kitty or his box. It's unlikey you will catch anything using common sense about good hygiene. Children are more at risk than adults are because of their curiousity and not keeping their dirty hands out of their mouthes.

bigperm20 said:
I forgot to mention that round worms (and tapes) can be transmitted to humans and vice versa. Wash your hands after touching him until he's parasite free.

I was looking at some internet pic and I noticed that the worms I saw look like tapeworms. So I think thats what he might have, but I don't get it. I check him for flees a couple of times a week and I never saw one.
The regular vet I go to never wants to do anything without seeing him, but Ill try to do so.
Thank you for answering to me.

stazie · Oct 15, 2014

Ioana,

Just take a fecal sample to your vet and try to stop worrying. If you have children who slept with a wormy cat, wash the sheets, spray Lysol on the mattresses and let it air out, and teach your children good hand-washing techniques; that's always a good technique for all of us anyway.

stazie · Oct 15, 2014

Also, unfortunately I don't know many vets who will let someone take a sample in without seeing the cat unless you insist that that's what you want, but it usually costs you later.

ioana · Oct 15, 2014

stazie said:
Also, unfortunately I don't know many vets who will let someone take a sample in without seeing the cat unless you insist that that's what you want, but it usually costs you later.

Thank you. I don't have kids and I wasn't worried about me but about my cat. Ill start making some phone calls as soon as they open.

ioana · Oct 15, 2014

stazie said:
Also, unfortunately I don't know many vets who will let someone take a sample in without seeing the cat unless you insist that that's what you want, but it usually costs you later.

I called Mitus usual vet but for some reason she doesn't work there anymore sonI called a vet close to my house and they said they will test my cats poop without seeing him and give me worm and flea medication. She said that the white worm is tapeworm and that I shouldn't worry since the treatment is going to help get rid of them.

bigperm20 · Oct 15, 2014

Ioana said:
stazie said:

Also, unfortunately I don't know many vets who will let someone take a sample in without seeing the cat unless you insist that that's what you want, but it usually costs you later.

Click to expand...

I called Mitus usual vet but for some reason she doesn't work there anymore sonI called a vet close to my house and they said they will test my cats poop without seeing him and give me worm and flea medication. She said that the white worm is tapeworm and that I shouldn't worry since the treatment is going to help get rid of them.

Exactly. Stop worrying

It's very common and very treatable.

ioana · Oct 15, 2014

bigperm20 said:
Exactly. Stop worrying

It's very common and very treatable.

Thank you

di and bob · Oct 15, 2014

If you actually see a 'white worm' it is a tapeworm segment. The tapeworm needs a rabbit to complete it's life cycle, so you are safe. Cats almost always get it from eating rabbits, as for yours (?)

ioana · Oct 15, 2014

Di and Bob said:
If you actually see a 'white worm' it is a tapeworm segment. The tapeworm needs a rabbit to complete it's life cycle, so you are safe. Cats almost always get it from eating rabbits, as for yours (?)

Cats get it from eating rabbit? My cat loves cat can rabbit food, is that what you were referring to? And the worm was alive and moving.

di and bob · Oct 15, 2014

Sorry. I need to clarify myself, they can get it from rabbits, but it is from eating the fleas on rabbits. Somehow your cat ate an infected flea that carried the tapeworm egg. You will be safe as long as you are not eating fleas!

ioana · Oct 15, 2014

Di and Bob said:
Sorry. I need to clarify myself, they can get it from rabbits, but it is from eating the fleas on rabbits. Somehow your cat ate an infected flea that carried the tapeworm egg. You will be safe as long as you are not eating fleas!

I have a question for you. The vet says it has 2 types of tapeworm dewormer. 1 is a pill or some kind of gel that you put on the back of his neck. Now, Im abit confused, how can something that I put on his fur make his tapeworms go away? They said its easier then the pill, do you know how this would work?

stephanietx · Oct 15, 2014

Tapeworm med is usually a separate pill. They stuff you put on the back of the neck kills most other common intestinal parasites. Go for the pill.

bigperm20 · Oct 15, 2014

Ioana said:
Di and Bob said:

Sorry. I need to clarify myself, they can get it from rabbits, but it is from eating the fleas on rabbits. Somehow your cat ate an infected flea that carried the tapeworm egg. You will be safe as long as you are not eating fleas!

Click to expand...

I have a question for you. The vet says it has 2 types of tapeworm dewormer. 1 is a pill or some kind of gel that you put on the back of his neck. Now, Im abit confused, how can something that I put on his fur make his tapeworms go away? They said its easier then the pill, do you know how this would work?

A cat's skin is porous just like a humans. Cats have an oil gland system that starts at the base of their neck. The oil is distributed throughout their body via their skin. medications.that are applied at the base of the neck can actually treat the whole body via this system. Dogs are the same way.

As far as the medicine, it works just like topical flea meds. The flea meds kill the fleas from the inside out.

Have the vet show you how to apply it properly.

ioana · Oct 15, 2014

bigperm20 said:
A cat's skin is porous just like a humans. Cats have an oil gland system that starts at the base of their neck. The oil is distributed throughout their body via their skin. medications.that are applied at the base of the neck can actually treat the whole body via this system. Dogs are the same way.

As far as the medicine, it works just like topical flea meds. The flea meds kill the fleas from the inside out.

Have the vet show you how to apply it properly.

Would it be better for me to get the gel or the pill?

White worm in cats poop?!!!

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