Should I Quarantine My Cat With Tapeworms? What To Do?
"OMG! My pet dog is infected with tapeworms! What should I do right away? If you're having similar thoughts right now and you're in complete panic mode,
you might be asking, "Should I quarantine my cat with tapeworms or what?" You've come to the right place, and I'm happy to tell you that!
We can probably all agree that one of the worst things for a dedicated cat parent is to watch their cat go through any kind of unpleasant condition.
Tapeworms are obviously not on our list of things to do to make their little furry lives as simple and perfect as we can make them.
And even though their fluffy curiosity usually bears the brunt of the blame for spreading the infection, we can't help but blame ourselves nonetheless. at least to a certain extent.
But once our feline friends contract tapeworms, it is pointless to lament over spilt milk. All we can do is support them as they deal with it and make sure they receive the proper care.
Contents:
1 What exactly is tapeworm in cats?
1.1 What causes tapeworms?
1.2 What are the primary signs of cat tapeworms?
2 Should I put my cat in quarantine if she has tapeworms? Then why?
2.1 1. You are reducing the risk of getting infected yourself
2.2 2. You are also minimizing the threat to other animals (if you have any)
2.3 3. And you are keeping the infection confined to one area
3 How long should your cat be in quarantine?
4 How to quarantine your cat
5 How to treat tapeworms in cats
6 What are the risks of not treating a cat's tapeworms?
What exactly is tapeworm in cats?
Please wait while we respond to your inquiry, "Should I quarantine my cat with tapeworms?" Let's first review the fundamentals of this condition.
The small intestine of cats and other animals is typically infected by tapeworms, which are tiny white parasites that resemble ribbons.
It has a mouth with a hook-like shape that it uses to attach to the small intestine's interior, where it feeds, reproduces, and grows.
Once they are in place, tapeworms "suck out" all the nutrients from the cats' bodies and continue to grow there. Tapeworms take about four weeks to reach their maximum size and typically reach lengths of 4 to 30 inches.
Some of these parasites break off as they grow in size inside the feline small intestine and are eliminated through feces. They can be seen by the naked eye and are referred to as proglottids.
Each proglottid, which resembles a grain of rice, typically holds 20 tapeworm eggs. The eggs are released into the environment when the proglottids begin to disintegrate after drying up from air exposure. Those recently laid eggs frequently end up being consumed by another animal.
The most frequent tapeworm in cats is Dipylidium caninum, also known as the flea tapeworm, cucumber tapeworm, or double-pored tapeworm. It is spread by fleas.
What causes tapeworms?
Tapeworms like Dipylidium caninum and Taenia taeniaeformis, among others, are frequently discovered in cat-friendly environments like water, soil, and animal waste.
Cats do not directly consume tapeworm eggs to contract the disease. Instead, they require a specific middleman in order to contract this parasite.
Simply put, a cat must eat an infected animal in order to become infected.
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Cats that hunt rodents, squirrels, or mice or who reside in an area where there are a lot of fleas are more likely to contract an infection.
Although it can be said that cats that live outside are more likely to contract tapeworms (because they must hunt to survive), indoor cats are not entirely immune to this parasite.
Cats who live in multi-cat households or, as was already mentioned, in flea-infested areas should be especially careful about this.
Many mischievous cats enjoy catching flies that come into their house. However, that innocent-looking sport might not have such a happy ending.
What are the primary signs of cat tapeworms?
It can be very challenging for you to determine whether your cat has tapeworms because, believe it or not,
our feline friends are extremely private and love to keep their problems to themselves. Thus, routine veterinary examinations are essential!
Through a fecal examination, a veterinarian will typically determine or rule out the possibility of tapeworms in your cat.
Your cat may, however, exhibit a number of symptoms that indicate she has this bothersome parasite. Some of them consist of:
🔸licking or biting her behind (this is typically brought on by itch, which frequently appears as bald spots or skin irritation)
🔸She was dragging her lower body across the floor, trying to scratch her scratchy
behind.
🔸diarrhea
🔸vomiting
🔸unkempt fur condition
🔸fatigue and sluggishness
🔸erratic appetite
🔸significant loss of weight (This is because all of the nutrients in her body are being consumed by tapeworms.)
🔸enmity with another person or animal
🔸particles of tapeworm in her stool
Should I put my cat in quarantine if she has tapeworms? Then why?
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I believe that by this point, everyone has realized just how contagious tapeworms can be. So, yes, that is the answer to your query. Your cat should be quarantined if it has tapeworms. And the following are three main justifications for why this precautionary measure is crucial:
You are reducing the risk of getting infected yourself:
Even humans have the potential to contract a tapeworm infection, though this is extremely uncommon.
And yes, even though you and your cat do not share the same lifestyles and you are unlikely to ever find yourself having contact with animal waste or a flea that has been infected, there is always a chance of contracting an infection, however remote.
Therefore, it is best to quarantine your infected cat in order to protect your health as well as the health of your family and other close relatives. I'd rather not take a chance.
You are also minimizing the threat to other animals (if you have any):
Although it may be unlikely that you will become infected, other animals living in your home may not. In fact, the likelihood of your other animals contracting the disease is very high (of course, assuming your infected cat is not quarantined).
Tapeworms are extremely contagious parasites that are very easy to spread to other cats and dogs.
Your struggle to deworm your home will undoubtedly become ten times more difficult if any of them contract an infection.
And you are keeping the infection confined to one area:
Finally, you can lessen the chance of the infection spreading throughout the house by quarantining your cat and keeping her in one location for a predetermined period of time.
This makes it simpler for you to care for your cat and the areas to which she has been temporarily assigned.
How long should your cat be in quarantine?
This question cannot be answered with absolute certainty because every cat is different.
When your cat is found to have tapeworms, you should immediately quarantine her. If you have other pets in your home, she should be kept segregated for even longer than the recommended three to four weeks. Of course, you should also have them tested for tapeworms.
The advice of your veterinarian and your cat's deworming medication will also affect how long your cat must remain in quarantine.
How to quarantine your cat:
For the next few weeks, I advise you to designate a small room in your house as your fluff's private healing space. It's crucial to choose a smaller space because the exposure to parasites will be contained to a smaller area, making cleaning easier for you.
Everything your cat might require should be in that space, including food and water bowls, a litter box, a bed, a cat tree, other toys to keep her occupied, and essentially anything she enjoys having around.
With the exception of the tower, all of her possessions will help her deal with the reality of being a locked-up tower purrincess.
To stop tapeworm eggs from spreading and remaining in your house, you'll need to make sure that your cat's belongings and the room she's in are regularly cleaned.
Most importantly, visit your poor fluffy friend and show her some love without being afraid to do so.
As previously stated, there is very little chance that you will contract this parasite. So long as you exercise sufficient caution, you'll be able to give your cat a loving hug.
How to treat tapeworms in cats:
This is carried out to guarantee that both the infection and all worms are completely eradicated.
Your cat is supposed to be kept apart during this entire period, as was previously mentioned.
The best thing you can do for your fluffy is to take her to the vet so they can treat her for tapeworms if she has them.
They will conduct a thorough examination before prescribing the appropriate deworming drug.
An anti-parasitic drug, deworming medication basically works by separating tapeworms from a cat's small intestine and expelling them through the cat's feces. It is available as a tablet or an injection.
The average time for this kind of medication to start working is 24 hours. However, three to four weeks after the initial treatment, most cats are given a second dose of their deworming medication.
What are the risks of not treating a cat's tapeworms?
If you don't treat your cat's tapeworm infection, it could cause her a lot of problems in the future.
Your cat may experience certain digestive issues, such as obstructions in the digestive tract, and may suffer from severe malnutrition.
Untreated tapeworms can cause cats to lose a lot of blood from the places in their small intestines where they have attached themselves in some severe cases.
Due to the extensive blood loss, the primary symptom of this is tar-like, dark-colored poop. This can then result in anemia, which in extreme cases can be fatal.
Tags:
cats health