My outdoor cat isn't eating, found a worm, and is skittish. Help!

Your first picture looks potentially like a tapeworm proglottid (immature tapeworm), which are common in cats and are usually spread through fleas. Tapeworms do not usually cause many clinical signs however, and depending on Rainbow's age I'd be worried that something else might be causing her weight loss and poor/matted coat - hyperthyroidism or an overactive thyroid would be one possibility in an older cat. I would recommend seeing your veterinarian who can check a stool sample to help rule out other types of parasites and prescribe the correct deworming medication. They might also recommend checking blood work due to the other symptoms.

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!

I'm sorry to hear that Nanking has not been feeling well. A sudden loss of appetite with noticeable weight loss are quite concerning and could be due to a wide variety of conditions, including hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, among others. Parasites seem less likely for such a sudden change, but are certainly possible as well. Your best bet is to take Nanking to the vet for an exam and diagnostic testing so that the cause of her issues can be determined, as this will provide a more accurate prognosis for her condition. I hope that all goes well!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Meu needs to see a veterinarian asap. She has multiple issues that can be making her sick and could potentially be fatal. Falls can often cause internal injuries, broken jaws/ribs or broken teeth. All of which can be painful and potential fatal if there was any organ damage. Meu also needs to be checked and treated for parasites. Cats that have not been spayed are also at risk of pyometra or a life threatening uterine infection. It is impossible to know what is causing her signs of illness without an exam and possible diagnostic testing. I hope Meu is feeling better soon.

It could be that Mulan has injured herself, causing the limping and loss of appetite. It likely hurts her to have to go down stairs, which is why she won't go it. In addition, when cats are painful, their appetite goes down as well. She is in pain, and unfortunately you cannot give her any human pain medications. Many are toxic to cats, and are fatal if given. She does need to see a vet for this problem. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/ Please check out these resources to see if one can help you, and please take her into a vet as soon as possible. I hope this helps!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Precious! I think you should take Precious to the Vet today before the weekend. Three days is a long time to be sick and not be better. We don't like cats going more than 3 days with out eating. I would collect a stool sample to bring with you so the Vet can check for intestinal parasites. Causes of vomiting, diarrhea and not eating in an older cat are: kidney and liver failure, diabetes, overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), intestinal parasites, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease and cancer. Your Vet, after their exam, will likely do blood work, check her stool for parasites and possibly take an X-ray of her belly. I hope this helps and I wish Precious a speedy recovery!

I would get her in to see your vet as soon as possible. It is vital that cats eat because after only a few days of not eating they can suffer liver damage. Take the worms too to see if they can identify them. Your vet will do an exam and labwork and based on these results will be better able to tell you what is wrong and how best to treat it.