Tapeworms in Cats: Learn to Recognize and Treat This Common Parasite
Key takeaways:
Tapeworms are a common intestinal parasite in cats. They usually look like grains of rice in a cat’s poop.
A deworming medication called praziquantel is the recommended treatment to get rid of tapeworms in cats.
Year-round flea control is the best way to prevent tapeworm infestations in your cat. Keeping your cat indoors can also reduce their risk of getting tapeworms.
Access savings on related medications
Table of contents
The next time you clean the litter box, you may want to take a closer look. Spotting flat worms the size of rice grains in your cat’s poop could be a sign that they have tapeworms.
Tapeworms, which are transmitted by fleas, are one of the most common intestinal parasites. Cats can ingest infected fleas during grooming or by eating an infested rodent. Find out more about tapeworms in cats, including how to detect, prevent, and treat them.
What are tapeworms in cats?
Tapeworms are a common type of parasite named for their long, flat bodies that resemble a strip of tape.
Search and compare options
When a tapeworm segment breaks open, eggs are released. Fleas eat the eggs and become infected with tapeworms. Cats can then swallow the infected fleas during grooming or by eating a flea-infected rodent or other animal.
Tapeworms live in the small intestine; their heads embed into the mucous membrane in the gastrointestinal tract and absorb nutrients. Adult tapeworms can measure 4 to 28 inches long.
There are several different types of tapeworms. Dipylidium caninum is a common type of tapeworm in cats and dogs. It also goes by names like the flea tapeworm and cucumber tapeworm.
What are the signs of tapeworms in cats?
The most common sign of tapeworms in cats is the sight of worm segments in poop. As tapeworms mature, segments that look like grains of rice break off and end up in an infected cat’s poop. You might also spot tapeworm segments around their tail and rectum.
These parasites can cause other symptoms in cats, including:
Dull coat
Coughing
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Potbellied appearance
Mucous or blood in the feces
Scooting their butt on the floor
Flea treatments: One of the best ways to prevent tapeworms is to keep your cat on a preventive flea medication. Here are your options.
Flea bites in humans: Do you think you were bitten by a flea? Check out these photos to help you recognize what a flea bite looks like.
Is your cat not eating? Here are some common reasons cats lose their appetite and what you can do about it.
Intestinal parasites like tapeworms can also cause cats to feel weak and make them more likely to get viral and bacterial infections.
When should you see a vet about tapeworms?
If you suspect your cat has tapeworms, make an appointment with your vet. Your vet will confirm whether or not your cat has tapeworms — or another type of intestinal parasite — and make treatment recommendations.
How do you get rid of tapeworms in cats?
A dewormer called praziquantel is most often used to treat flea tapeworms in cats. Praziquantel damages the tapeworms from the inside, causing them to disintegrate and die. Cats then pass the dead tapeworm segments in their poop.
Read more like this
Explore these related articles, suggested for readers like you.
Praziquantel is available as an injectable, oral medication, or topical treatment. A single treatment is often enough to get rid of tapeworms. But reinfection is common, so some cats may need a second treatment.
Cats can experience some side effects from the dewormer. The tablets taste bitter and can cause nausea. The injectable form of the medication can sting and cause cats to scratch or paw at the injection site. About 10% of cats experience more severe side effects from praziquantel, including weakness, salivation, and nausea.
There are both prescription and over-the-counter medications that contain praziquantel. Your veterinarian will let you know what medication to get and the correct dosage for your cat.
Can you prevent tapeworms in cats?
Here are some steps you can take to prevent tapeworms in cats.
Prevent fleas
Flea prevention is the best way to keep your cat from getting tapeworms. It’s important to give your cat flea prevention medication year-round, even if they are an indoor cat.
You can get flea prevention medication for cats with or without a prescription. Ask your veterinarian about the best flea preventative for your cat.
Treat your home for fleas
While there are no home remedies for tapeworms in cats, treating your home for fleas is an important step in preventing tapeworm infections.
Fleas are often more numerous in areas of the home where cats spend the most time, including their perches and beds. Fleas can also take up residence in your carpets. Vacuum regularly and wash your pet’s bedding weekly to remove flea eggs and immature fleas. You may also need to use a product with pyrethrins or an ingredient like permethrin or deltamethrin to kill fleas in your house.
Remember: Products that are recommended to kill fleas in the home shouldn’t be used on your cat.
Keep your cat inside
Keeping your cat indoors can reduce their risk of contracting tapeworms. Indoor cats can still get fleas, but they don’t come into contact with wildlife that can increase their chances of ingesting infected fleas. In fact, one study found that cats allowed to go outside were nearly three times more likely to get parasites than indoor-only cats.
Treat rodent problems
Rodents such as mice and rats are common hosts for tapeworms. This is one reason to keep your cat indoors: It prevents them from hunting and consuming an infected rodent. It’s also a reason to treat any rodent problems in your home.
Are tapeworms contagious?
Although cats, dogs, and even people can get tapeworms, tapeworms are not considered contagious. In households where there are multiple cats, it’s possible for just one cat to be infected with tapeworms. The reason for this is that cats — like dogs and people — can only get tapeworms from swallowing an infected flea. This means that it’s safe to pet flea-free cats with tapeworms without worrying about being infected.
The bottom line
Your cat can get the most common kind of tapeworm, Dipylidium caninum, from eating infected fleas. Keeping your cat on preventative flea medication all year long can reduce their risk of tapeworm infections. Indoor cats are also at less risk than cats with access to the outdoors.
Tapeworms might have a serious “ick factor,” but they are easily treatable and likely won’t cause any long-term harm to your cat. If you think your cat has tapeworms, call your vet to get an accurate diagnosis and develop a treatment plan to help rid your pet of the unsightly parasites.
Why trust our experts?
References
American Veterinary Medical Association. (n.d.). Intestinal parasites in cats and dogs.
Brooks, W. (2023). Tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum) in dogs and cats. Veterinary Partner.
Brooks, W. (2024). Praziquantel (Droncit). Veterinary Partner.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). About dog or cat tapeworm infection.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Dipylidium caninum.
Chalkowski, K., et al. (2019). Who let the cats out? A global meta-analysis on risk of parasitic infection in indoor versus outdoor domestic cats (Felis catus). Biology Letters.
Cornell Feline Health Center. (2018). Gastrointestinal parasites of cats.
Layton, B., et al. (2025). Control fleas on your pet, in your house, and in your yard. Mississippi State University.
Peregrine, A. S. (2024). Tapeworms in dogs and cats. Merck Veterinary Manual.
VIN Dermatology Consultants. (2023). Flea control for dogs and cats. Veterinary Partner.
