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This article was co-written by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Elliott is a veterinarian with more than thirty years of experience in veterinary surgery and pet treatment. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary surgeon. She has worked at a veterinary clinic in her hometown for more than 20 years.
There are 15 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 31,355 times.
Before hunting for fleas, think about why you suspect your cat has fleas. If you see fleas on your cat or in your home, you can be sure that you are dealing with fleas and must use a veterinary drug that is specially formulated for cats. However, you can have a flea problem even if you’ve never seen fleas on your pet or in your home. Cats can remove adult fleas on their own. Flea eggs can fall off your pet and hatch within a few weeks. Either way, it’s important to make sure your cat has fleas.
Steps
Look at your cat’s symptoms
- Signs of a flea infestation will vary depending on your cat’s health, flea population, and other unique factors.
- small lumps or scabs, usually on the neck and along the spine
- irritated skin, especially on the nape and base of the tail
- scratching more, especially around the face
- more grooming
- There is a blocked hairball in the digestive system because the cat licks her hair too much
- hair loss
- tapeworms are present in the feces (fleas carry tapeworm eggs, enter the cat’s digestive system and excrete them) [3] X Research Source Patrick J. McKeever, Tim Nuttall and Richard G. Harvey, A Cpour Handbook of Skin Diseases of the Dog, Second Edition, (London: Manson/Veterinary Press, 2009), 41.-42
- Some cats may be more sensitive to flea bites and appear more upset from being bitten by fleas. They may behave strangely out of annoyance. [4] X Research Sources
- Kittens and older cats are more susceptible to anemia when infected with fleas.
Find fleas on cats
- The flea is a brown insect without wings, about 3-4 mm long. [6] X Research Source William J. Foreyt, Veterinary Parasitpogy Reference Manual (Ames, Iowa: 2001), 40. You may notice them jumping out when you brush your cat’s coat. Check under the cat’s belly where it meets the legs. Trace your cat’s fur for fleas, as these are where they usually live.
- Flea combs are designed to catch fleas with comb teeth. This type of comb has teeth so tight that the fleas cannot get out and are pushed to the surface.
- If you find flea droppings or their droppings, fleas are lurking somewhere on your cat.
- You will most likely see it if you place the cat on a white towel or white sheet of paper when brushing.
- Cats can be allergic to things other than fleas. If you can’t find fleas but your cat is constantly scratching, take him to the vet.
Apply flea prevention for cats
- Choose a product specifically designed for cats, as some dog products can be harmful to cats. Talk to your veterinarian to choose a product that meets your cat’s needs.
- Monthly preventive therapy comes in oral, injectable, and topical forms. [11] X Research Source
- You can put a flea collar in the garbage bag in the vacuum cleaner to kill all the fleas that are sucked in. [13] X Research Source
- If the methods above do not seem to get rid of fleas, you may need to use a household spray. This medication sprays poison that kills fleas and flea eggs but can be toxic to pets and children. You should carefully research the flea spray before using it. [14] X Research Source
Advice
- Check all pets in your home if you suspect one of them has fleas.
- Fleas are the most common cause of skin disease in cats and are often the easiest to diagnose and treat.
- If you live in a flea-infested area, you’ll need to use cat preventative therapy to avoid getting infected with fleas.
- Ask your veterinarian about treating your cat for tapeworms if your pet has fleas.
- In addition to flea droppings, you may also find flea eggs (white spots) on your cat’s fur.
- If your flea infestation becomes severe, you should consider calling a pest control service.
Warning
- If your cat has fleas, you are also at risk for flea bites.
- Fleas can cause anemia, especially in kittens, and transmit other diseases, including Rickettsia and Bartonella fever. They are also a source of tapeworm infection and skin irritation. [15] X Research Source
- Fleas in the pupal stage can hibernate for months. So when you notice signs of fleas present, it is important that you apply preventive treatment and general home cleaning. You should also treat potential flea areas with a product that is safe to use indoors to prevent fleas from returning. [16] X Research Resources McKeever, Nuttall and Harvey, A Cpour Handbook of Skin Diseases of the Dog, Second Edition, 41-42.
This article was co-written by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Elliott is a veterinarian with more than thirty years of experience in veterinary surgery and pet treatment. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary surgeon. She has worked at a veterinary clinic in her hometown for more than 20 years.
There are 15 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 31,355 times.
Before hunting for fleas, think about why you suspect your cat has fleas. If you see fleas on your cat or in your home, you can be sure that you are dealing with fleas and must use a veterinary drug that is specially formulated for cats. However, you can have a flea problem even if you’ve never seen fleas on your pet or in your home. Cats can remove adult fleas on their own. Flea eggs can fall off your pet and hatch within a few weeks. Either way, it’s important to make sure your cat has fleas.
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