Can I catch worms from my cat if she has tapeworms and I kiss her?

These look the most like roundworms since they have a tapered end but it is not typical to see roundworms on the fur around the anus. Tapeworms are possible as well but are usually flat and look like granules of rice. Roundworms are transmissible to people but infect organs instead of the gastrointestinal tract, and the eggs are transmitted through the stool. It would be unusual for a person without any medical conditions causing immunocompromize to be infected with a roundworm through casual contact with a cat but you should consult your physician just in case. Tapeworms are not transmissible directly from cats to people.

Yes, it is quite possible that she could have fleas without tapeworms! Not every flea is infected with tapeworm larvae. Tapeworms are a "see it, treat it" parasite, meaning we only treat for tapeworms when we see them in stool or see proglottids (the little segments that look like rice granules) around the anus or stuck in the hair on the backside, or if there is suspicion that tapeworms are causing chronic weight loss.

It looks like it could be a roundworm. You would need to submit the worms or a stool sample to a veterinarian for confirmation. Roundworms can be transmitted to humans, so an exam with your physician would be recommended. Wash your hands after petting the cat and don't kiss it anymore.

Your kitties probably have fleas and when they groom themselves they ingest the fleas which transfer tapeworm. The white sesame or rice like worms are tapeworm proglottids and can be killed by a wormer containing praziquantel. When they vomit worms they have a severe infestation and it is necessary to worm your kitties preferably under supervision of your veterinarian as the death of so many worms all at once can cause side effects which make your kitties ill. Your kitties' worms cannot infect you. Yes they can sleep on your bed, however it is very important for the health of your cats that you take a fecal sample to your veterinarian for a fecal exam and that you tell your vet that one of your cats actually vomited worms so he can give you the proper wormer for them.

Tapeworms need to go into a secondary host to spread. That means that cats get them from eating rodents and fleas, and you, your family and the other cats and dogs can't get them from being exposed to the segments. Please get Mr. Kitty treated for tapeworms and use a flea prevention product on all the animals to prevent them getting tapeworms from eating fleas. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Shiva. Tapeworms are a type of parasite the appear like grains of rice stuck to the fur around the anus of a pet. They are typically spread to the cat from fleas or by eating rodents. It is rare, but they can occassionally be spread to people. It is best for Shiva to see a veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

This looks a lot like a tapeworm proglottid. The tapeworms that infect dogs and cats do not cause infections in people, so you do not need to be concerned about cleaning the house. Most tapeworms are spread through fleas so you should check for fleas and start a flea preventative to prevent reinfection. While I think confirming the diagnosis with a veterinarian is best, and you could ask your local animal shelter about low cost options in your area, tapeworm dewormers are available over the counter. The medication used is called praziquantel. If Zoey has any medical conditions I would check with your veterinarian before giving any OTC medication.