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What's this dark, rice-like thing on my cat's hip? Is it a tapeworm?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Longhair | Male | neutered | 11 years and 10 months old | 12 lbs

We found this on our cats hip. When we first found it, it looked a lot more lighter in color and kind of like rice. After a while it turned dark and we are concerned if it was a living thing. He did have flees about a month ago and we treated him June 16th, but we are wondering if it might be a tapeworm. What can you tell from these pictures? The second picture is between two glass slides so it’s flat. Thanks

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1 Answer

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Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on July 27th, 2020

Hello. There does not appear to be anything organic about this, so I don't think it was ever alive. It just looks like some kind of goo that got on him. If there are no obvious lesions on the area l would not be concerned at all. Thanks for contacting us.

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