All About Cat Fleas

If you've noticed your cat has been scratching more than normal, they could be hosting tiny parasites known as cat fleas. You may wonder how your cat became infested and how you get rid of fleas. Read on for the answer to those questions and more about cat fleas.

How Did My Cat Get Fleas?

According to the British Pest Control Association, fleas can jump more than 100 times their own body length. Some have even been found to jump 200 times their length! These jumping skills help these non-flying parasites to travel easily from the ground to a new host, or from host to host.

Animals commonly found in your back garden — such as foxes, mice, squirrels and others — more than likely carry fleas, the type of which will vary between the different species. They can leave behind fleas or larvae in your garden, and some of those fleas could potentially enter your home by hitch-hiking on you or a pet coming in from outdoors. Fleas can easily jump between cats and dogs alike, no matter the species.

Your cat could even simply have attracted a flea by sitting peacefully in front of their favourite window.

How to Identify Fleas on Your Cat

Just a couple of fleas (female and male) can turn into a major infestation in a short time, as a single female can lay up to fifty eggs a day, according to the RSPCA. The most obvious sign of a flea infestation is a cat obsessively scratching their body or appearing to nibble at their skin. The PDSA says that you might also notice:

• Bald patches or rough/spiky fur.
• Sore or irritated skin.
• Rashes or bites.

If you suspect your cat has fleas, run a fine-tooth comb through their coat while they stand on a white piece of paper or a white towel. If they do have fleas, you'll more than likely dislodge tiny black specks (flea faeces), which turn red if you moisten the paper. You can see fleas with the naked eye, so you may even be able to easily spot a few fleas on the white background.

What Health Problems Do Fleas Cause?

Cat fleas can be more than an irritant; sometimes they can be the cause of other serious health issues. For instance, fleas may transmit tapeworms. If your cat is still a lightweight kitten or the flea burden is high, bloodsucking from fleas could potentially also lead to anaemia.

Treating and Preventing Fleas

Ready to put the "no vacancy" sign out for these tiny freeloaders? Your first course of action is to call your vet to get advice and treatment options. Your vet might also suggest having your cat tested for tapeworms and other diseases.

Not only do you have to treat your cat, you also have to remove all pests from your property with careful vacuuming and washing to prevent reinfestation. Your vet can recommend how to treat your home to effectively rid it of all pests.

You can prevent fleas from coming back by using one of the proven flea and tick repellent products on the market, even on indoor cats. The PDSA recommends using a prescription product from your veterinarian, warning that other products bought “off the shelf” in supermarkets or pet stores often contain less effective ingredients. They also warn against using dog flea treatments or household flea sprays on cats.

Your vet will likely recommend treating your cat throughout the entire year. Depending on the country you live in, fleas can be a serious problem all year round (the Mediterranean region and African countries, for example), a summer-only problem (milder climates) or no problem at all (Northern Nordic areas). It is important to realise that due to global warming, fleas are becoming happier and happier. You may think you have the cleanest cat in the world, but fleas can affect any pet. So keep a watchful eye to make sure your cat is happy, healthy and itch-free.

Contributor Bio

Kara Murphy

Kara Murphy is a freelance writer and pet parent who lives in Erie, Pennsylvania. She has a goldendoodle named Maddie.

 

Reviewed by Dr. Hein Meyer, DVM, PhD, Dipl-ECVIM-CA