Conference misery::feline_v1

    When I first got Chauncey, he had tapeworms.  I gave him one tablet
    of Droncit which is supposed to kill them immediately.  The vet
    never mentioned anything about diet supplements, but then again,
    I never thought to ask since it was the first time I had ever wormed
    a cat.  His appetite was, and still is, voracious.
    
    That's a good question.  I hope someone can help you answer it better
    than I have!
    

    I recently had to deworm my Bennington at about 2-3 months.  He had
    to be treated several time before all the worms were gone. At that
    time I got several facts about tapeworms in cats from my vet.
    
    1)Cat most often get tapeworms from fleas.  While cleaning themselves
    they ingest fleas.  The fleas carry the tapeworm larve in their
    stomachs.
    
    2)In cats the larve mature.  The segments of the worm break of and
    are passed by the cat.  
    
    3)The larve that are passed are injested by the fleas (cyle complete).
    
    4)THIS TYPE OF TAPEWORM IS NOT THE TYPE THAT DEPLETES THE HOST ANIMAL
    OF IT'S NUTRIENTS. Thus vitimans aren't needed.
     
    5)Because of this cycle it is possible for your cats to get worms
    every year, not just as a kitten.
    
    From the above you can see that it is important to keep a check
    on your kittie's fleas.  In Georgia our fleas get bad in late summer
    (Bennington and Punjab go outside when I get home) so to keep them
    and me from suffering they get Adam's Flea Spray (from vet and some
    stores). It works great and is safe for cats and kitten when used
    properly. (they salavate greatly when you put in on though) This
    makes thier fur kind of greasy so they also get a bath about once
    a month in the summer.(they tolerate me just long enough for that!) 
    
    I hope this answers some questions for you.
    
    				Nelson

    A more fundamental point:
    
    Before taking any action, check with your vet.
    
    First, "worming" for the sake of worming isn't necessary; "worming
    pills" are really a poison that works better on worms than on pets.
    
    Second, the over-the-counter worm medicines may lose their potency
    or otherwise change.  Those from a vet should have tighter control.
    
    Third, yopur vet will have an appreciation of the medical
    condition/history of your cat and can adjust dosage accordingly.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

    This is a subject I'm VERY familiar with.  Ben likes to hunt and
    mice are the easiest to get.  So, for about Ben's first 5 years
    I would worm him every 2-3 months.  I'd go to the vet to get the
    medication and she finally gave me a six month supply.  Worms come
    from fleas or from rodents.  They are contagious through the litter
    box, although my other two cats never got them - fortunately.  Once,
    Ben passed a WHOLE tapeworm.  I was utterly disgusted because he
    decided to do this on the floor next to the litter box.  He never
    lost his appetite or lost weight while with worms.  I never knew
    he had them until I'd see them on his butt or dried up dead ones
    on bedding or where ever he happened to be sleeping.  Tapeworms
    look sort of like rice - about the same size, shape, and coloring
    although once they've died (and dried up), they flatten out.  Since
    we moved 1 1/2 years ago, Ben hasn't done as much hunting, or I
    should say he's been more selective in his choices because he hasn't
    had the worm problem.  Whatever you do, see a vet if you think your
    cat has problems.  I haven't heard very good things about the store
    bought wormers.
    
    Mary
    

    	Which brings to mind something I forgot to include in my last
    turn "on the soap box", the vet also said the off the shelf supermarket
    brand worming pills aren't effective on tapeworms, only roundworms.
     The several wormings I indicated before were all perscribed by
    the vet.  Also, if your kitty has tapeworms, he won't always pass
    "segments"(correctly identified as looking like rice) so a fecal check
    at the vet may turn up negitive.  So keep an eye on it yourself
    and take any suspect samples to your vet.
    
    By the way, the vet also said that, in general, tapeworms in cats
    causes them no discomfort and they eat and act normal.  They are
    transmitted by litterboxes too.
    
    My best indicator for them is finding "rice" where they sleep.
     
    Please seek a doctor's help for worms. 
    
    
    			Nelson (Bennington and Punjab's Dad)

                          -< Thanks for all the Info.>-
    
    Thanks for all the great responses, they have helped put to rest
    a few fears and questions. But I would like to make clear that I
    DID seek a vets advise and had Droncit prescribed by the vet and
    followed the instructions to the letter. Budd seems to be a little
    happier these days but I guess Ill have to watch him really close
    since he is a hunter.(the one that always brings home the little
    nasties to show Dad!!)
    
     Thanks again
    Ev   Budd,Angel and Samantha's dad

    Hopefully this is just an old wives tale, but I'll ask anyway.
    
    Are tapeworms contagious/transmittable to people?  I don't know
    where I heard this, and I forgot to ask my vet when I picked up
    the medication today.
    
    	-Nancy

    Tapeworms can be contagious to humans if they ingest a flea or ingest
    a tapeworm segment.  Being of sound mind and body, you probably
    won't be ingesting either of the previously mentioned items.
    
    Don't worry, be happy.
    
    Jo

    Thanks Jo.
    
    Believe me, I'm not gonna sit around and eat those things.
    
    I was kind of concerned since the cats are always walking around
    on the dining room table, the kitchen counters, etc.  I've even
    found Elmo sleeping on the stove at times.  
    
    I've been cleaning ten times as often since these little "things"
    started to appear.
    
    	-Nancy