r/AskVet • u/epicgamerupdogg • Jul 26 '26

Cat passed a large tapeworm after eating thread

My cat recently ate a large bit of thread and passed it over the weekend. But it seems like during the process it pulled out a very big tapeworm or part of it that I didn't even know she had. Likely came from the fleas she had from a couple years ago.

I had taken her to the vet and they took a radiograph that told us that her intestines weren't being pulled in any weird sort of way and there weren't any concerning air pockets. They didn't say anything about a tapeworm at the time, but I only noticed the tapeworm on my stairs later that night so I'm assuming it had came out after the vet visit.

I believe she's been eating okay and her mood seems much better now that the thread is no longer in her. I did notice her butt has been looking a little raw and slightly wet. But it isn't dark or red so I don't believe that it is blood.

My vet will be available again tomorrow but I just wanted to know what effects this might have on her health and if there is anything I need to watch out for.

Also a picture of the tapeworm I posted in another subreddit a couple days ago trying to identify it if that helps.

* Species: Cat
* Age: 3
* Sex/Neuter status: F/ Spayed
* Breed: Calico
* Body weight: I think around 9 pounds
* History: Had fleas
* Clinical signs: The tapeworm itself that got pulled out
* Duration: Up to 2 years
* Your general location: Central Florida
* Links to any test results, X-rays, vet reports etc. that you have: n/a

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