This morning I was enjoying holding "Good Time Charlie" while he purred and snuggled against my neck. Then I felt something small and sticky on his leg, near his butt. Much to my dismay it was a tapeworm segment. All of a sudden the reason for his farting was clear. He is not "Cooper's baby" after all. He is just another kitten with tapeworms. Gross.
Or maybe not so gross. Actually the scolex (the head of the tapeworm that sticks into the intestine, gross) is kind of interesting when magnified.
Interesting in a disgusting sort of way.
Tapeworms are spread when the host (in this case, Good Time Charlie is the good host) eats a flea that is carrying the intermediate form of the tapeworm. When the flea reaches the warm and nourishing environment of the intestine the tapeworm develops, attaches its head to the intestine and starts to grow. The nasty little segments that make up the body get shed and they crawl out of the butt at night or hitch a ride on an outgoing piece of poo. Then they are discovered (or not, then you will think it is a grain of dried rice you found).
For your edification.
I am still very cute, though.
You may hold me.
