Can Indoor Cats Get Worms? The answer is yes. Unfortunately, even cats that never venture outside are still at risk for intestinal parasites like tapeworms and roundworms.
How did my indoor cat get a tapeworm?
Infestation depends on the type of worm, but most often, cats get worms by coming into contact with fleas, eggs or infected particles in feces. Fleas are carriers for tapeworm eggs. If a flea jumps onto your cat, they could accidentally ingest the flea by grooming or scratching.
How do you know if your cat has tapeworms?
The easiest way to tell if your cat has tapeworms is to look at its feces, around its anus and in bedding. Usually tapeworms come out of your cat's anus while it is sleeping or relaxed. If you see small white worms or what look like grains of rice or sesame seeds, your cat likely has tapeworms.
Can cats get worms if they live inside?
Can indoor cats get worms? Whilst indoor cats are less likely to get worms, it's not impossible. If fleas are brought into the house from outside, they may well be infected with tapeworm which would then be passed to the cat.
How did my cat get tapeworms if he doesn't have fleas?
Tiny flea larvae can be infected with tapeworms. If your cat digests an infected flea while grooming herself, that flea can transmit a tiny tapeworm into your cat and grow into a full-sized adult worm. Cats can also get tapeworms by eating small animals like squirrels and mice.
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