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What symptoms do cats get when they have tape worms2007-11-25 12:29:35

My cat is eating like crazy and not gaining any weight.. I'm just guessing it could be tape worms

Answers:

Tapeworms don't generally cause any symptoms of anything at all in a cat. Tapeworms are not NEARLY as dangerous as the worms you can't see, like hookworms and roundworms (neither of which will cause an INcreased appetite, either.) They're more of a nuisance than anything else. You'll often see the little segments come out in the stool, or occasionally get stuck to the hair around the anus and underside of the tail (those are the ones that look like grains of rice when they dry up.) Tapeworms are caused from swallowing an infected flea when grooming, not from a flea bite as many people mistakenly believe. They can get a different, less common, species from eating rabbits and/or rodents. They do not come from birds. (Eating birds is a common source of capillaria and Salmonella, however.)

Okay..now that we have that all straightened out.tapeworms won't cause your cat to eat 'like crazy' and not gain weight. The first answerer and old cat lady are correct in that that is most often a symptom of hyperthyroidism in cats over the age of 8-9 yrs, and requires a physical exam and blood test for diagnosis. Diabetes is also a common cause of those symptoms, especially if accompanied by increased thirst and urination.

How old is this cat? The very best thing you could do for it, regardless of its age, is to take it to a doctor (your veterinarian) for evaluation. Then, you'll know. The above conditions are fatal if not treated, but CAN be treated if caught early enough.allowing your cat a better quality of life.

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They have segments coming out of their butts. If it is an older cat it could have a thyroid condition. See the vet.

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i think you really need to take it to the Vet because it could be anything, and usually cats eat alot and they sleep to, so its like they are eating and eating but sleeping and sleeping.. See a Vet..