When still alive they will usually move by increasing and decreasing in length. Microscopic examination of fecal samples may not always reveal the presence of tapeworms, because eggs are not passed singly, but as a group in the segments. Although the discovery of tapeworm segments can be quite alarming to cat owners, tapeworm infections only rarely cause significant disease in cats. Cats usually become infected with tapeworms by ingesting infected fleas while grooming or by eating infected rodents. Fleas and rodents become infected by eating the tapeworm eggs that are in the environment.
Modern medications are highly successful in treating tapeworm infections, but reinfection is common.
Controlling the flea and rodent populations will reduce the risk of tapeworm infection in cats. Adult whipworms reside in the large intestine of infected cats but do not cause serious disease. Cats become infected by ingesting the parasite-laden vomitus of another cat. Chronic vomiting and loss of appetite, along with weight loss and malnutrition may be seen, although some infected cats show no signs of disease. Diagnosis of Ollanulus infection can be difficult, and depends upon detecting parasite larvae in the vomitus.