Wild rabbit parasite

Question
Hi,
My cats brought a wild rabbit into the house and were proceeding to eat it, when I caught them and removed the remains of the poor creature. Next to it was a huge (about 1.5 x 1 inch larval parasite looking thing. It's shapes like a football and it's hard to tell which end is its head until it starts moving. It doesn't seem to have any legs, but stretches out lengthwise and kind of inches along. It's greyish brown and yucky looking. WHAT IS IT?!!!!

Thanks,
Juliette
San Diego, CA

Answer
Dear Juliette,

It sounds as if the poor bunny had a botfly larva.  The parasite might have made the rabbit sick enough for your cats to capture it.

If the cats ate it, no harm will come to them.  It's basically a large maggot, but it will not reproduce inside a cat.

Hope that helps.  (And I hope you can keep your cats from capturing and killing wildlife in the future.)  

Dana