Tapeworms?! :(

[picat]

So, about a week ago I took Margot to the vet for kitten shots and testing for feline leukemia, etc, and also to get a treatment for her fleas as well as something I could give Pi as a preventative (since they are together all the time now).  During the appointment the vet gave Margot a Capstar tablet, and then a second treatment to apply on the shoulders a week later (which was Monday).  After that visit I didn't see any more fleas, but I still applied the liquid treatment this past Monday. 

Anyway, tonight I noticed Margot had a small, white piece dangling from her behind.  I pulled it off with a tissue and it was moving!  EWW!  I think it was a tapeworm, from what I've read, and I'm a little concerned on why she would have that after the flea treatment, but also being dewormed during her appointment with the vet?  Shouldn't she be clean after all of that?  Also, should I be worried about Pi?  Can she get the tapeworms from Margot?  Also I know everything I've read says that people can't get tapeworms from cats, but it creeps me out and I don't even want her sleeping near me now.  Is it for sure safe to have her on my bed? 

I have another appointment coming up for Margot in about 2 weeks for her second round of shots, but should I try to take her in sooner to have this tapeworm situation looked at? 

This is all new to me, Pi never had anything like this.  Help please!

 

[stephenq]

 
So, about a week ago I took Margot to the vet for kitten shots and testing for feline leukemia, etc, and also to get a treatment for her fleas as well as something I could give Pi as a preventative (since they are together all the time now).  During the appointment the vet gave Margot a Capstar tablet, and then a second treatment to apply on the shoulders a week later (which was Monday).  After that visit I didn't see any more fleas, but I still applied the liquid treatment this past Monday. 

Anyway, tonight I noticed Margot had a small, white piece dangling from her behind.  I pulled it off with a tissue and it was moving!  EWW!  I think it was a tapeworm, from what I've read, and I'm a little concerned on why she would have that after the flea treatment, but also being dewormed during her appointment with the vet?  Shouldn't she be clean after all of that?  Also, should I be worried about Pi?  Can she get the tapeworms from Margot?  Also I know everything I've read says that people can't get tapeworms from cats, but it creeps me out and I don't even want her sleeping near me now.  Is it for sure safe to have her on my bed? 

I have another appointment coming up for Margot in about 2 weeks for her second round of shots, but should I try to take her in sooner to have this tapeworm situation looked at? 

This is all new to me, Pi never had anything like this.  Help please!

It's not serious you're not going to catch it unless you swallow an infected flea - difficult to do.  Most human infections come from eating undercooked meat.  Your other cat would have to eat an infected rodent or infected flea to catch it.  You should continue to deworm your cat, perhaps both of them just to be safe, with an approved dewormer from your vet like Praziquantel.

 

[jolie0216]

I wouldn't worry about getting tapeworms from your cat - the above info is right, you would have to accidentally swallow an infected flea in order to get yourself infected . Except for that particular circumstance (which is unlikely as the fleas are attaching themselves to the cats and are not trying to feed off you!), cat tapeworms do not present a hazard to human health.  Still, I would practice good hygiene and wash your hands after cleaning the litterboxes (you could also wear gloves while cleaning if it made you feel better).

Do you know what kind of worming meds the vet gave your cat?  The most common dewormer (Strongid) doesn't kill tapeworms, only roundworms & hookworms.   You have to get a particular de-wormer that kills tapeworms - Praziquantel - you can get it at pet stores like PetCo, or order it online from Amazon.  Even though you just recently treated her for fleas, it's entirely possible she had already ingested an infected flea previously, which led to the tapeworms.

I just went through this myself with the cats not too long ago - and what you're describing (the "rice grains" around the butt hairs) sound exactly like tapeworms.  You won't get tapeworms from your cat, but your other cat could, so I would give them both a round of the Praziquantel just to be safe.  

The "rice grains" you see on your cat's butt are indeed tapeworm segments, and they might wiggle around, but once they are exposed to air they dry up like a sesame seed.   You can still let your cat up on your bed - just get the Praziquantel for her and wash all the cat's bedding (and yours too!)