My cat has fleas. Can she have tapeworms without visible signs?

Worms are possible, particularly tapeworms which are often seen around the anal opening and look like grains of rice. Tapeworms are spread through fleas. What you are describing does not necessarily sound like the symptoms I would expect with intestinal parasites. I’d worry that Lucy has gastrointestinal disease, abdominal fluid, or a fever. I’d recommend having a veterinarian examine her to make sure this behavior change isn’t something more serious.

They look like tapeworm segments so she should be dewormed for tapeworms. She should also be treated for fleas as animals get tapeworms from ingesting fleas. Your vet should be able to prescribe a dewormer to treat.

This is a tapeworm. They get tapeworms by eating infected fleas. So, not only do you have to treat her for the tapeworms you also need to get the fleas under control. ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/tapeworm-infection-in-cats )

It could be tapeworms. When a cat has tapeworms, you see the segments of them, which look like grains of rice. You typically don't see full worms in the poop. You need to have Mudpie seen by a vet in the morning to have this diagnosed and treated.

I suspect your cat may have tapeworms. The body segments of the worm contain the eggs and are passed in the feces. Fresh, moist segments are about 1/4 in long and capable of moving. Once dried, they resemble grains of rice or sesame seeds. Tapeworm segments can sometimes be found crawling in the fur around the anus of an infected cat. Treatment for tapeworms is a drug called praziquantal, which is available through your veterinarian. I suggest that you take your cat and a fresh fecal sample to your veterinarian for confirmation that your cat does indeed have tapeworms and not fly strike (maggots) which would be a much more serious condition.

These do indeed look like tapeworm segments, so BV will definitely need to be treated again. Normally, to make sure that all life stages of the tapeworms are killed, the initial deworming dose needs to be repeated in 14 days - so if this wasn't done the last time she was treated, this could by why the problem has recurred. She may also simply have become re-infected, either from fleas or from eating dead rodents or other animals if she hunts outdoors. I would recommend calling your vet to let them know that you are seeing tapeworm segments again - they may be able to have you come and pick up another dose of dewormer for her, rather than requiring another exam since she was just seen for this problem two months ago.

What you're seeing is most likely tapeworms. Tapeworms are intestinal parasites of the cat and dog. They belong to a different family than hookworms and roundworms, which are the other common intestinal parasites of dogs and cats. Fleas are the intermediate host for tapeworms. In other words, the tapeworm is unable to complete its life cycle without the presence of fleas in the environment. Regardless of whether the owner may have seen fleas, the cat must have ingested a flea in order to have tapeworms. Consequently, tapeworms are more common in environments that are heavily infested with fleas. Most commonly, owners recognize that the cat has tapeworms and bring this to the attention of the veterinarian. When segments of the tapeworm break off and pass into the cat's stool, they can be seen crawling on the surface of the feces. These proglottid segments look like grains of cooked white rice or cucumber seeds. Less commonly, segments are seen moving around the cat's anus. A variety of products are available to treat tapeworms in cats but they are not all equally effective. For the best advice on the type of de-worming preparation most suitable for your cat, you should seek the help of your veterinarian. The most effective worming products are only available by prescription from a licensed veterinarian. Flea control, both environmental and on the cat is necessary to help prevent this from recurring.