Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

My cat has small white worms. What are they and how do I treat them?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered

I have spotted small white worms less than an inch long coming from my cat's anus. Which worm is this and are tablets enough to get rid of them?

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Mariya Gugel, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on April 9th, 2018

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The worms in the photo appear to be tapeworms or, less commonly, pinworms. these can cause impactions and diarrhea, especially in kittens. Unfortunately, I am unable to prescribe medication for Coco without having examined her. However, your veterinarian can quickly determine the exact type of parasites present with a fecal sample and prescribe the appropriate treatment. Because many parasites are transmitted by fleas, it is important for Coco to be on a monthly flea preventative. You should also be careful when cleaning out her litter box to make sure you wash your hands well with soap and water, as some of these parasites can infect humans. I hope all is well!

Vote icon

24Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Image profile

    Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    These look like tapeworms, they basically come for fleas which means your cat also has or had fleas recently. treatment for these worms is with a dewormer such as Drontal plus or Profender, i of course also recommend treating him for fleas to avoid getting reinfested.

    Vote icon

    10Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Image profile

    Answered By David Darvishian

    Veterinarian

    Published on July 12th, 2020

    Hello and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sounds like you are seeing tapeworms or more specifically tapeworm segments. The tapeworm stays inside the intestinal tract and the segments break off from the adult worm. These segments are loaded with tapeworm eggs and this is how they spread tapeworms to other hosts. Most common tapeworm is from ingesting fleas that are on the pet. The tapeworm eggs then hatch inside the intestinal tract and develop into adult worms and the process starts all over. Other tapeworms can come from pets eating certain prey animals outside like mice. Yes an OTC medication is available. Praziquantal is the actual drug that you want to use and it is available OTC in many forms. Pet stores usually have these products. One thing to remember is you must use flea/tick medicine on your cat which will kill fleas/ticks and stop the transmission of tapeworms. If your cat goes outside, this is critical and most outside cats should be dewormed with a broad spectrum dewormer at least every 3-4 months if not monthly depending upon where you live. I hope this helps and good luck with your cat! Thank you again for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!!!!

    Vote icon

    3Pet Parents found this answer helpful

See More Answers

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Can you please tell me what parasite/worm this is? And what is the recommended treatment?
Hello and thank you for reaching out to Boop by Petco. This appears to be a tapeworm. This can be treated with praziquantel, a type of deworming medication. This can be obtained from your primary veterinarian. I hope this is helpful!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My five month old kitten has these little white not even inch-long around her fur and butt area within the last day or so she supposedly was dewormed but I think it needs done again I ordered the Bayer free tablet deworming tapeworm medicine from Pet
Puppies and kittens need a series of repeated deworming medications. And even if they have been dewormed, it is common for them to have other intestinal parasites since there are so many different types of parasites and they each require a specific type of deworming. What you are describing is likely tapeworms, so hopefully the tapeworm medication will work. I am including more information about tapeworms below. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951442 Since tapeworms are transmitted by fleas, you will also need to make sure that Ariel doesn't have fleas or she may have tapeworms again. I would also make sure that your veterinarian has checked a fecal sample on her to see if there are any other microscopic intestinal parasites that need to be treated, but may require a different type of dewormer. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
When my cat gets out of his bed I notice besides his shedding hair that there is these little rice sized yellowish things are what you call him. They're hard and you can print them with your nail. I checked his skin nothing there he plays eats sleeps
Thank you for posting on Boop by Petco! From the photos you provided, it appears that your cat may have tapeworms. The little rice-like grains are the tapeworm segments that are passed in the stool. You have two options for treating tapeworms. You can either contact your veterinarian for a prescription dewormer to kill the parasites or you can purchase an over the counter product. If you opt to get an over the counter dewormer, be sure it is a product labeled for cats and follow the instructions carefully. Usually products containing the dewormer praziquantel are effective in killing tapeworms. Cats can get tapeworms from fleas or from ingesting rodents. I recommend treating the pets in the household for fleas and also the environment. It is also a good idea to deworm all of the pets in the household with a broad spectrum dewormer if any of the pets are hunters. You can also take a fecal sample in to your veterinarian for analysis to determine if any other parasites are present. I
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Recently I have found a worm on my cats butt area. I've never had this problem before with pets. How do I know when it's a big problem and what would be the best medicine for her?
If you are finding any worms on Coco's hind end, now is the time to treat! Some of the more common worms that are found include roundworms (which resemble spaghetti) and tapeworms (which resemble grains of rice). Prescription dewormers, such as Drontal Plus or Profender, tend to work best for both of these parasites in my experience. There are many other over the counter dewormers that can treat roundworms well, but few that are successful for treating tapeworms. Call your vet if you are concerned about tapeworms to better discuss deworming options.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
what can I do for my cat with a worm in its diarrhea
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! There are different dewormers and which one is used depends on which worm is affecting the patient. I recommend that you have Dusty evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They may choose to check for parasites and to start medications for diarrhea depending on the results. Good luck! Hoping for a speedy recovery!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
small moving white worm like things on my cats fur
It could be Pants has intestinal worms such as tapeworms. You will need to take him into the vet to get this diagnosed and to get medication, as tapeworms require praziquantel to treat, which is prescription only from the vet. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My son saw this worm (? flat worm) coming out of our cat? Is there an over-the-counter treatment?
Hello. This is definitely a tapeworm. Go to https://www.chewy.com ( or check with your local pet retailer ) & pick up Bayer tapeworm de-wormer for cats. That will take care of the problem for now. To prevent further tapeworm problems, prevent your cat from hunting & use a good flea preventative on a regular basis. Thanks for contacting Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I noticed these white things on my cats butt. They look like worms.
They look like they may be tapeworms. I would recommend putting flea prevention on Panda and calling your veterinarian in the morning. The reason I would make sure he was on flea prevention is because tapeworms are caused by the animal ingesting fleas. Your veterinarian can dispense medication for the tapeworms. Thank you for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My 5 month old kitten has been having these ‘hiccuping’ type of flare ups almost everyday. But she acts fine after them, plays, eats and acts like s normal kitten. But today She threw up three times, one had s roundworm in it. Please tell me what I c
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! She likely vomited due to the worms however there are other possible reasons. The first thing is determining the specific type of worm that is affecting her so that therapy can be recommended based on that. Walmart does not have any available safe therapy to be used for undiagnosed worms causing vomiting. I recommend you visit a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to diagnose the specific cause of the vomiting and recommend accordingly. Best of luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hello. My 7 week old puppy has had worms in his poop. It's not in every poop but I do see them every few poops. They are white and not really that long they are more short. I thought it was a roundworm which is common in puppies but he did have a fle
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Based on your description, the pictures and the fact that Meeko recently had fleas confirms he has tapeworm. Fleas are the intermediate host for tapeworm. Treatment is simply a pill. You can call your Vet to have them dispense medication. Either Droncit, Drontal or Cestex will get tapeworms. Be sure you have Meeko on a good flea and tick prevention. I hope this helps and good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Prescription Dewormer for Cats Cat Food Cat Supplies Dewormer Treatments for Cats Prescription Dewormer for Dogs Heartworm Prevention for Cats Cat Medicine Cat Laxatives Prescription Flea & Tick Medicine for Cats Cat Antibiotics Cestex Prescription Dewormer for Cats HomeoPet Dewormer Treatments for Cats Profender Prescription Dewormer for Cats Elanco Dewormer Treatments for Cats Cestex Prescription Dewormer for Dogs Profender Heartworm Prevention for Cats Interceptor Heartworm Prevention for Cats MilbeGuard Heartworm Prevention for Cats Profender Cat Medicine Cestex Cat Medicine
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored