Food and Tapeworms?

Is it true that cats can get tapeworms as a result of some wet foods?

I brought my cat (adopted two weeks ago) to the vet today, and she has tapeworms. She's an only cat, and was dewormed earlier this month as well at her first shelter. She was rescued from there by the shelter I adopted her from (first shelter was high-kill), and they did not mention any known health issues. I did not notice the little rice-looking remnants of tapeworms in her fur until the vet assistant pointed them out today.

I guess this makes sense as far as her digestive habits - gifting me with very smelly poops often. She's also on the skinny side, and has even lost a couple of ounces since I got her, despite eating pretty well, I think.

I guess what I'm wondering is if I should give her a few weeks to see if the smelly poops, etc improve, or should I start switching her food now?

Currently, I am free feeding Purina One Indoor Advantage, and she eats about 1/3 of Fancy Feast Classic Pate wet food per night (so about one ounce of it). 

I have never heard of cats getting tapeworms from wet food. How old is your kitty?

It's something my friend's vet told her...I had never heard it before, either! 

My kitty is estimated to have just turned 4.

That's not possible. Canned food is processed at very high temperatures; tapeworm eggs would never survive.

Cats usually get tapeworms from fleas, but sometimes also from eating rabbits and other small critters.

Willowy said:

That's not possible. Canned food is processed at very high temperatures; tapeworm eggs would never survive.

Cats usually get tapeworms from fleas, but sometimes also from eating rabbits and other small critters.

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That's what's weird - she doesn't have fleas and she hasn't been outside. I am so confused about how she got tapeworms at all...

It takes a long time for tapeworms to mature. So she could have gotten them from fleas or wildlife before the shelter got her. Normal de-wormers don't kill tapeworms; you have to get a special de-wormer for that. Most vets and shelters don't automatically treat for tapeworms, only if symptoms are seen.

Most tapeworms are carried by fleas.  Animals do not get them from bites, but by ingesting a flea that is carrying tapeworms.  It only takes one host flea, and cats that don't currently have fleas may still have tapeworms, even long after the fleas are gone.  There are other kinds, but unless your cat is killing and consuming wild prey, she is not likely to have them.

Here is a link that explains how it happens:

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/tapeworm-infection-in-cats

As Willowy said, ordinary wormers do not kill tapeworms.  

JazzyP said:

 
Most tapeworms are carried by fleas.  Animals do not get them from bites, but by ingesting a flea that is carrying tapeworms.  It only takes one host flea, and cats that don't currently have fleas may still have tapeworms, even long after the fleas are gone.  There are other kinds, but unless your cat is killing and consuming wild prey, she is not likely to have them.

Here is a link that explains how it happens:

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/tapeworm-infection-in-cats

As Willowy said, ordinary wormers do not kill tapeworms.  

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Thanks! This makes much more sense to me. When i was at the vet they made it sound like she must have fleas if she has a tapeworm, and they didn't find any fleas on her, so I was really confused about how this happened. But I suppose with hopping between shelters all month, it's entirely possible she could have ingested one that got her sick.