How to Check for Fleas in Cats

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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.

Table of Contents

Look at your cat’s symptoms

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Pay attention to your cat’s grooming. If the cat is sensitive to fleas, the cat will have an allergic reaction. Even cats who are not allergic to flea saliva will experience irritation and itching from their bites. This condition leads to the cat’s excessive grooming behavior. Your pet cat may “bathe” itself more and more thoroughly to get rid of fleas. It can be difficult for you to spot fleas on cats because they jump on the cat to suck blood and jump out again, so they are only temporary. This explains why cats can get fleas even if you can’t find them. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Signs of a flea infestation will vary depending on your cat’s health, flea population, and other unique factors.

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Look for symptoms that indicate the presence of fleas. Flea bites are very itchy. Look for the following in cats: ^{[2 ] X Source Sue Patterson, Manual of Skin Diseases of the Dog and Cat, (Chicester: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009), 123-129.}

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}

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Pay attention to your cat’s behavior. Your cat may suddenly avoid rooms it used to love to be in, especially rooms that are carpeted and have been a haven for fleas. Cats may also appear restless and irritable, and may even growl and shake their heads. Maybe it’s trying to get rid of fleas.

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}

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Watch for signs of anemia. If the flea infestation is too severe, your cat will not only have fleas on her coat, but she may also lose blood and develop anemia. If so, look out for listlessness or extreme fatigue, pale gums, and decreased muscle mass. You should also check for flea droppings on a wet white towel. Regardless of whether there are fleas or not, you should take your cat to the vet if it is anemic. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Kittens and older cats are more susceptible to anemia when infected with fleas.

Find fleas on cats

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Hold the cat still. Place the cat on a piece of white cloth or pillowcase. The white cloth will help you see the fleas or flea droppings more clearly as they fall off. If you want to keep your cat in your lap while brushing it, you’ll need to put a piece of cloth over your lap.

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.

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Brush the cat’s hair. Brush from head to tail with a flea comb, and check the coat and exposed skin while combing. Pay special attention to the back of the cat’s nape, the base of the tail, and the inside of the cat’s four legs. These locations are favorite hiding places for fleas. ^{[7] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}

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.

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Check comb. Even if you can’t see fleas, you can still find flea droppings or eggs, which look like salt and pepper. If you find anything suspicious, place it on a wet paper towel. Flea droppings contain blood, so it turns crimson when wet. ^{[8] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}

If you find flea droppings or their droppings, fleas are lurking somewhere on your cat.

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Check for flea droppings. Rub the comb over a piece of white paper so that the black spots can be seen. To distinguish between soil and flea droppings, sprinkle some water on the spots. If it is flea droppings, the black spots will turn reddish brown or orange with a diffuse effect. ^{[9] X Research Source}

You will most likely see it if you place the cat on a white towel or white sheet of paper when brushing.

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Look for hairless patches. There are many reasons that fleas can contribute to cat hair loss. Your cat may itch from constant biting and scratching, leading to patchy hair loss. Or cats may be allergic to flea saliva, which causes skin irritation and requires a lot of scratching. ^{[10] X Research Source}

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

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Find a flea treatment. Even if you can’t find fleas, you should still consider using a product that both prevents and treats fleas. Current flea prevention products are quite safe and extremely effective. Some products can be purchased without a prescription, others can only be purchased at a veterinarian’s office.

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.

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Treat your cat with a monthly flea medication. Follow the directions on the package or as directed by your veterinarian. This will protect your cat from fleas and let you know if your cat’s symptoms are caused by fleas. If symptoms go away after treatment, fleas are probably contributing to the problem, even if you’ve never seen them.

Monthly preventive therapy comes in oral, injectable, and topical forms. ^{[11] X Research Source}

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Purchase a veterinarian-approved flea collar. There are many types of anti-flea collars on the market. Some have good effects, others can be toxic to cats. ^{[12] X Research Source} It’s therefore important to talk to your veterinarian before putting a flea collar on your cat.

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}

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Prevent fleas from spreading in the home. Vacuum all carpets and upholstery every day. Be sure to dispose of the dust bag in the vacuum cleaner to the outside trash so that the fleas cannot return. You should also wash your cat’s bedding in hot water to kill any fleas hiding in it.

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.}

Steps

Look at your cat’s symptoms

Find fleas on cats

Apply flea prevention for cats

Advice

Warning

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