Why is my cat lethargic, not eating, and has worms on his anus?

Thank you for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. What you describe definitely sounds like tapeworms. I am sorry to hear that Toby sounds like he is having an adverse reaction to the tapeworm medicaiton. This sounds serious. I would highly recommend taking Toby in to your vet to have him treated for an adverse reaction, which includes fluids for flush out his system and and symptomatic treatment. It’s best to take him in right away if possible. I hope that your pet Toby is able to make a full and speedy recovery. Best wishes and take care.

Hello, & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Lethargy & diarrhea is quite concerning in such a young kitten. I am a bit worried about dehydration, even with him drinking. Most of these issues are due to intestinal parasites, such as roundworms & coccidian. Your worming tablet may take care of the roundworms, but you really need to have the stool examined for any other problems. A consult with your veterinarian will be most beneficial in getting Beans onto the road to great health. Take care.

Hi, and thanks for your question. These signs could be compatible with an inflammation infection of the gastrointestinal system and surrounding organs (like pancreas and liver). Parasite infestation in the gastrointestinal system is definitively possible. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is immediately essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics and possibly further investigations (like abdominal imaging as ultrasound or radiographs) may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Poor Garfield! Tapeworms do not usually cause any significant weight loss or other symptoms in cats, so I would be very concerned that Garfield has a more serious problem. I would recommend taking him to the vet for an exam when you are able to. He/she can do some diagnostic testing (blood work and x-rays) if needed to help determine what's wrong, and will get him started on appropriate treatment depending on what is found.

It's actually pretty serious when a cat won't eat anything as if they go long enough without eating, they will develop a fatty liver. Because Toby is still vomiting and not eating, it's time to see a vet immediately. Please take him into an ER vet now. If there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to find that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Best of luck.

It sounds like there could be an underlying issue. Tapeworms don't usually cause coughing and lethargy in cats. Your cat should be examined by a vet to determine the exact cause and treat the problem. Your vet can run labwork and take an xray, if needed, to help diagnose and then determine the best way to treat.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I agree that a heavy worm burden can cause what you’re describing. In fact, it is the most likely reason. You can try an over the counter cat dewormer from a pet store. Follow the directions exactly in terms of amount and number of treatments. Hopefully, that’s all it takes to get her feeling better. Unfortunately, there are other (much less common) things that can cause large belly, weight loss, and lethargy including: FIP, heart failure, liver failure, cancer, protein problems, etc. So, if the dewormer doesn’t help, you may have to decide if you’d want to take her to the vet for further testing or if you’d like her humanely euthanized, etc. Best wishes and thank you so much for taking care of this stray!