concerning orphan kitten

Question
Hello Jessica,
First let me thank you so much for your wonderful help with my last question to you concerning my baby orphan male kitten, Lucas! I pray I will gain at least a little of your knowledge about cats.
As I mentioned to you in my first email, Lucas has had diarrhea since day one of his use of a litter box. He is now at least 10 to 11 weeks old, and has never drank from his mother, as she died giving birth. There were three babies and Lucas was the only one to survive. My young sons friend (age 13) tried to take care of him for 1 week then brought him to me. It has been my  first time at raising a baby like this, and because of that I have completly fallen in love with this kitten. I can't let anything happen to him!
I looked over the link you sent me concerning help with seeing a vet, and I understand you must see one first and then find out if it is a life or death situation before they will help. It is a wonderful organization and I really appriciate you sending it to me. Because of it being Memorial weekend of course no one will listen to me. I do have a couple of more questions for you Jessica, and I hope you don't mind.
Yesterday while playing with Lucas and when he rolled over on his back I saw a small white worm coming out of his behind. I placed it on a napkin and saw it was probably this long  ---- and sort of flat looking.  I let him sleep on a blue sheet so I could see if anything was there when I woke up, and sure enough there was. About 5 things that looked like rice. Looking on the net I see this is tapeworms right? I also see the type of medication to get, but my question to you is how much of this pill should I give to Lucas? A grown cat that weighs up to 8 to 10 pounds would take a whole one. I am sure that Lucas doesn't weigh over 3 lbs. if that much. Also is it possible that the tapeworms are causing the diarrhea? After reading that the cats coat will feel dry...I now know that his does. I had thought it was just because he was so young.
I am praying that maybe the symptoms are coming from this and not something that could kill him. He still has the diarrhea around 2 to 3 times a day, but aside from that runs, jumps, plays, eats, etc just fine, with loads of energy. He is now so used to me taking him from the litter box and spraying water on his behind and legs that he waits for me to do it now, bless his heart.

Again thank you so much Jessica!
Vicki

Answer
Hi there!

Yes, what you're seeing are the reproductive segments of a tapeworm, called proglottids.  Tapeworms themselves are actually feet, even yards long!  Once mature, the worm sheds off the last segments (proglottids).  Once those segments dry and break open, thousands of eggs are released into the environment. As I mentioned (I think), tapeworms don't USUALLY cause bad diarrhea.  But they can.  So you're on the right track to treat them.

It's important that you get an accurate weight on him, first.  Tapeworm medications are generally considered safe for kittens over 2 pounds only.  Those smaller should usually not be treated unless directed by a vet.

If you find Lucas is 2-3 pounds, I would give him a quarter tablet.  If he somehow manages to weigh over three pounds, 1/2 tablet would be appropriate.

Tapeworms only come from fleas in kittens this young.  So you should check him over well for fleas and use Frontline or Advantage on him if you see any evidence.  If you don't see fleas themselves, you should check for "flea dirt" (flea feces).  These will be very close to the skin and are most numerous at the base of the tail.  Brush the fur on his back forward at the base of his tail to check.  If you see any black flecks, he's got fleas.

I would really urge you to treat for roundworms, as well.  Again, these are really nasty.  Even though he hadn't nursed from the mother, it's possible that he contracted roundworms through the environment.  Eggs are viable in the environment for 2 years, so if his mother had them and shed eggs into the house, he may have come into contact with them that way and swallowed them, thereby becoming infected.  Roundworm treatments are very safe (again, for kittens 2 pounds or more), so you should give it a shot if you can.

Hope you see an improvement!

Jessica