A Parasite Worm on a Cat's Tail

Some types of intestinal worms, such as tapeworms and roundworms, pass in your kitty's stool and are large enough for you to see without a microscope. When these worms or pieces of them pass in the stool, they can sometimes stick to the fur of your kitty's backside and tail, where you'll be unpleasantly surprised to find them. In the case of tapeworms, small segments come off of the worms, each containing eggs, which look like little grains of rice. If you find these tapeworm segments or any roundworms on your kitty's fur, it's time to see the vet to rid your pet of these intestinal parasites.

If you find any small worms or segments on your kitty's tail or backside, bring your furry friend to the vet for a proper diagnosis and treatment. Try to place the worms you find in a resealable plastic bag or other container to help your vet identify the parasite, recommends the Patton Veterinary Hospital. Your vet will take a stool sample to check for worms and see which ones are infecting your pet, although sometimes tapeworm segments don't show up on a fecal test, according to petMD. This is why it's so important to let your vet know if you find these icky worm segments on your kitty's tail or rear.

Your vet will recommend a medication to rid your furry feline of the specific worms that are plaguing him. These medications to kill tapeworms, roundworms or other intestinal parasites are administered either through an injection by your vet or you may need to feed them to your kitty. Oral medications come in both powder and tablet form that you can either place in a little of your kitty's canned food or place them in his mouth directly, making sure he swallows the medication. Depending on the type of worm, more than one course of treatment may be necessary. Keep in mind that broad-spectrum dewormers, available over-the-counter, don't kill all types of worms, especially tapeworms, according to the Glendale Animal Hospital.

Cats become infected with the worm-like parasites that infect their intestines by swallowing fleas on their coats, worm eggs in soil or eating infected vermin like rodents. Keep your kitty flea-free by treating him with a monthly flea preventative and make sure he stays indoors to prevent him from finding rodents or parasite eggs. Bring him to his vet for his annual or twice-yearly checkups so that your vet can check him for parasites. Brush your kitty's fur regularly so you can look for any signs of parasitic worms on his coat. Remember to bring all of your furry residents, both canine and feline, to the vet if one of your fur babies is diagnosed with intestinal worms. These pests can quickly spread among all of your pets without treatment.