There are a few factors that determine how long it takes for tapeworms to be eliminated from a cat’s system after deworming treatment. Here’s a quick overview of what to expect:
Tapeworm Life Cycle
Tapeworms are intestinal parasites that attach themselves to a cat’s small intestine. They have a segmented body and can grow quite long. Tapeworms shed segments containing eggs that are passed in the stool. These eggs are ingested by fleas or small animals like mice, which serve as intermediate hosts.
When a cat grooms itself, it may swallow an infected flea and the tapeworm larvae stored inside. Or a cat may become infected by eating a small infected animal. Once inside the cat’s intestines, the larvae develop into adult tapeworms that attach and start shedding segments.
How Dewormers Work
There are several deworming medications that are effective against tapeworms in cats, such as praziquantel and epsiprantel. These drugs paralyze the tapeworms and cause them to detach from the intestinal lining so they can be passed in the stool.
The deworming medication only kills the adult tapeworms present at the time of treatment. It does not continue working to kill new worms that may hatch or be ingested afterwards.
Timeframe for Elimination
Within 24-48 hours after deworming, most of the tapeworms are partially or completely paralyzed and detached from the intestines. You may see tapeworm segments passed in the stool during this time. It takes about 3-6 weeks for all of the paralyzed worms to be completely expelled from the body.
Here is a general timeline of what to expect:
- 24-48 hours: Majority of tapeworms paralyzed and passed in stool
- 1-2 weeks: Remaining immobile tapeworms expelled
- 3-6 weeks: Complete elimination of tapeworms from body
Reducing Reinfection Risk
To prevent your cat from getting reinfected, be sure to:
- Treat all pets in the household to remove sources of infection
- Flea control to prevent ingestion of infected fleas
- Stop cats from hunting and eating rodents
- Pick up dog stool which may contain tapeworm eggs
You may need to repeat deworming treatment in 2-4 weeks to clear any new immature tapeworms that have developed. Regular deworming may be recommended by your vet depending on your cat’s lifestyle and risk factors.
Signs Tapeworms are Gone
You can be confident the tapeworms have been eliminated when:
- No more worm segments are visible in the stool
- The cat’s belly feels firm vs. bloated or distended
- There’s no evidence of reinfection such as hunting or fleas
If you are still seeing tapeworm segments or fresh tapeworm eggs after 6 weeks, contact your vet, as your cat may need an additional dose or different dewormer.
Conclusion
In summary, most tapeworms are passed within 24-48 hours of deworming a cat. However, it takes 3-6 weeks for complete elimination from the body. This is because of the tapeworm’s lifecycle and the time it takes for all paralyzed worms to fully detach and exit through the feces. Keep up with flea control and limit hunting to prevent reinfection during this time frame.