A tape worm is made up of a line of small oblong segments which grow out from the main neck. The tape worm has a series of hooks around it's 'crown', paired with six sets of 'teeth'. Once inside the cat's intestines the worm will use its teeth to attach itself to the intestinal lining, making this it's home.
Tapeworm Eggs in the Home
The presence of tape worm eggs found in the home is a clear sign that your cat has been infested by the parasite.
Tapeworms are small parasitic organisms whose eggs are usually transmitted when fleas are ingested by the feline during grooming. A topical monthly flea treatment is a simple way to lower your cat's risk of a tape worm infestation. Tapeworms can, however, be transmitted when a cat ingests the eggs that have been discharged from another animal.
Each one of the small segments growing from the parasite's neck has its own digestive and reproductive system. As each of these segments feed off of the nutrients passed through the cats intestines, the worm itself continues to grow. As the worm matures the older segments will fall away and be passed through the cat's system, and out from the anus.
Once these fertile segments have left the body they are scattered around the house and may be found in the cat's litter box, his bed, furniture, and carpeting. These eggs resemble small grains of rice, and when inadvertently ingested by the cat (such as in grooming), the life the cycle of the tape worm will start all over again.
Change in Eating Habits
The tape worms survive by taking in nutrients passed into the small intestine which, nutrients which would otherwise be broken down and used by the cat. Nutrients and water are broken gathered from the small intestine making this the perfect home for the tape worm to feed and thrive.
Since tape worms absorb nutrients at the most crucial point of the cat's digestive process, the feline looses out on many vital nutrients otherwise gained from his food. To make up for this nutrient deficiency the cat will begin to eat much more than usual to try and compensate for the loss of these nutrients.
Changes in Physical Appearance
If the parasitic infestation lasts long enough, the cat will begin to lose weight due to a nutrient deficiency.
Conditions such as feline heart disease have been linked to nutrient deficiency, making it imperative that you seek professional medical assistance if you see any changes in your cat's eating habits.
It is always important to monitor your cats weight, as weight loss is a symptom of many health conditions including Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Chronic Renal Failure (CRF), and cancer.