If your cat has been scratching nonstop or suddenly seems restless and uncomfortable, then there’s a good chance that fleas are involved. Cat fleas are troublesome. Once these parasites are in your home, they can be challenging to get rid of.
However, the good news is that a flea infestation in cats can be treated and managed. With that, we’ll discuss all about cat fleas, from the causes to how they’re prevented.
Key Points
All cats are vulnerable to fleas.
Fleas can cause itching, irritation, hair loss, and discomfort.
Fleas can be treated with medications, regular grooming, and consistent home care.
What Are Fleas in Cats?
Fleas are tiny, wingless parasites that love jumping onto pets and getting their blood. They affect animals of all kinds, especially household pets such as cats. While they may seem too small to cause serious damage, they can carry diseases and cause discomfort in cats.
The most common species found in cats is Ctenocephalides felis.
These parasites are a common problem for cats, especially since they bring additional health issues along with their bites. These include:
Tapeworm infections
Anemia
How Do Cats Get Fleas?
Cats can easily get fleas from their surroundings. Here are some of the ways:
Other Animals. Animals coming from outside your home can easily bring fleas with them. These can then easily jump to your cat and cause problems.
Humans. Humans can also become unsuspecting carriers of cat fleas. The parasites can easily attach to human clothes, shoes, and other items that are brought into the house from outside.
Doors and Windows. The area you’re living in could also increase the chance of your cat getting fleas. This means that they can easily enter your homes through the windows, doors, and even the tiniest of openings.
Used Furniture. Used furniture, especially sofas, rugs, and carpets, can have cat fleas and their eggs. This is especially common in furniture that hasn’t been properly cleaned and maintained.
Can Indoor Cats Get Fleas?
Yes, indoor cats can also get fleas. While they stay inside the house, humans can unknowingly bring fleas when these parasites attach themselves to their belongings. Plus, quick visits to unhygienic grooming salons and boarding facilities can be the cause of fleas in indoor cats.
How Do I Know if My Cat Has Fleas?
While they are small, fleas bring a great deal of concern to your cat’s health. Here are some of the signs of cat fleas you’ll see:
Excessive Scratching. One of the most obvious signs of fleas in your cats is scratching or biting. Cat flea bites can lead to irritation. They can also cause infections from the bacteria they carry, which can lead to more itchy areas.
Red and Irritated Skin. Fleas can cause cats to scratch, bite, or lick the areas affected because of skin irritation. In severe cases, some cats can also become allergic to the flea's saliva, causing more pain and discomfort. This is common in the belly and base of the tail.
Visible Fleas. While they are small, fleas can be visible if you take a closer look at your cat’s fur. They appear brown or darkish brown and can be found on the neck, belly, and the base of your cat’s tail.
Flea Dirt. Flea dirt is actually the feces of the fleas. These can look like tiny, black specks on the fur, common around the neck and belly.
Hair Loss. Because of the constant irritation and pain fleas bring, cats may excessively overgroom or scratch themselves, resulting in bald spots or hair loss.
Behavioral Changes. Your cat’s behavior may also change in response to the presence of fleas. Some cats can appear stressed or uncomfortable, while others appear irritable, aggressive, and restless.
Can Cats Die From a Flea Infestation?
Yes, cats can most certainly die from a severe flea infestation, especially when it’s left untreated. The primary factor is anemia, as the loss of blood can be fatal. Other factors can include bacteria and tapeworms, which can both be transmitted by fleas to cats.
That’s why timely treatment and prevention are important factors to consider when discussing fleas. Even mild infestations can spiral into more severe infestations quickly.
How Do Vets Diagnose Fleas in Cats?
Our vets will start with a quick examination of your cat’s skin and coat. We’ll start with the common areas where fleas reside, such as the tail, belly, and hind legs.
Using a fine-toothed flea comb, we’ll brush through your cat’s coat to catch any fleas or flea dirt. This is a natural way to get rid of fleas on cats. The debris will be placed on a damp paper towel. If it turns reddish-brown, then it’s digested blood.
Additionally, the diagnostic process may include other tests, such as skin scraping, cytology, or flea allergy testing. We’ll also test for other health problems that cat fleas cause, such as tapeworms, skin infections, and anemia.
What Is the Flea Treatment for Cats?
Removing fleas is straightforward. We will recommend the appropriate medications and the most effective products your cat needs.
Anti-Flea Medications
Flea treatment for cats is available in both topical and oral forms.
Topical or spot-on treatments are medications that are directly applied to cats' bodies, usually on the back of the neck, to prevent them from licking the ointment. These work by using the skin’s natural oils to spread the active ingredients, eliminating fleas on contact by attacking their nervous system.
Popular choices include Bravecto, Revolution Plus, and Advantage II.
Generally, oral medications work much better and faster when dealing with cat fleas. Once ingested, they are spread through the bloodstream. When fleas come and feed on the cat’s blood, they are then killed or paralyzed.
A prescription is often required for oral cat flea bite treatments. Once we’ve finished your cat’s checkup, we can easily give you a quick prescription and the medicine right at our vet pharmacy.
Additionally, we can also recommend flea collars. Flea collars work by slowly releasing chemicals, spreading over your cat’s skin and fur. This will prevent and repel fleas for several months.
These offer long-term protection for cats, and one of the most popular options currently available is the Seresto collar. It’s an effective flea and tick repellent for cats.
Along with these anti-flea medications, we can also prescribe anti-itch medications, antibiotics, and steroid treatments to alleviate pain, treat secondary infections, and deal with FAD.
Home Improvement
The next step is to treat your home. Your cat’s recovery will greatly improve if its home is clean and free from fleas. Make sure to vacuum carpets and wash bedding, blankets, and your cat’s toys in hot water regularly.
Always have a good schedule when doing this, as fleas are hard to detect. Once your home is free from the cat fleas and their eggs, recovery will go on smoothly.
Natural Ways to Get Rid of Fleas on Cats
Along with some veterinary care, there are natural ways to get rid of fleas on cats. These include:
Flea Comb. Using a fine-tooth flea comb daily is one of the safest and most effective natural methods for getting rid of fleas on cats. Doing so will remove the fleas, the eggs, and their dirt from your cat’s coat.
Apple Cider Vinegar. Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and water, and place the solution in a spray bottle. Lightly mist your cat’s coat, but avoid the eyes, ears, and nose. This doesn’t kill cat fleas, but it does help repel them.
Dish Soap. Dish soap seems to be an unusual natural option, but it’s relatively effective at removing cat fleas. Simply bathe your cat with water and a few drops of dish soap.
Vet Tips: How to Prevent Cat Fleas?
Once you’ve treated your cat’s flea problem, we recommend preventing this from happening again. It only takes a few simple steps to protect your cat from fleas.
Routine Flea Treatments
Having your cat treated for fleas is the best way to protect them. These preventive medications can eliminate the cat fleas when they get on the skin or bite it. It should be noted that these should be given regularly to provide full protection all-year-round.
Home Maintenance
The next step to ensure complete protection against cat fleas is to clean the home. Cat fleas and their eggs can reside within furniture, carpets, and bedding. This makes steam cleaning and vacuuming essential routines.
Regular Vet Visits
Another helpful preventive method is visiting the clinic. Our wellness exams give us the chance to check on your cat’s health and determine possible conditions before they get worse. Plus, we can also recommend the best products for flea prevention.
Regular Grooming
Grooming your cats is an excellent way to make sure their bodies are free not only from fleas but also from other causes of skin problems. Use gentle shampoos that work best on your cat’s skin.
“Protecting your cat from fleas is about safeguarding its health and happiness.”
- Dr. Mafalda Sardinha
Final Thoughts
Cats can get fleas, and it’s our responsibility to help them get rid of these parasites. With a good understanding of what fleas are and how cats get them, we can take the steps needed to protect our best friends from these parasites.
Frequently Asked Questions
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