Prevent Fleas on Cats

Your cat seems restless. She’s licking and scratching herself, and her skin might even look red or irritated. These could be tell-tale signs your feline friend has fleas, especially during spring and summer since these parasites thrive in warm conditions. where to buy a kitten online

Knowing how to get rid of fleas on cats and in your home can be tricky. Prevention is easier than getting rid of them once an infestation is underway. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible! Here’s how to tell if your cat has fleas so you can get rid of them quickly and effectively, plus some proactive steps to take in order to keep them from coming back.

How to Tell if Your Cat has Fleas

The most obvious symptoms of fleas on cats are increased scratching and biting of fur. Additionally, the itching from fleas can make your cat groom more frequently and act restless. It doesn’t take many fleas to make a cat feel bothered and irritated. But these tiny, fast-moving parasites are more than just an itchy nuisance. Because they feed on your cat’s blood, they can cause anemia and weakness—and even transmit tapeworm infection. One or two small fleas can quickly turn into a whole infestation, and are great at hiding in your cat’s fur.

In some cases, you might notice your cat develop bald patches from over-grooming, or skin irritation from an allergy to flea bites. But it’s not always obvious that your cat might be suffering from these itchy, irritating parasites. In fact, Michael Dryden, DVM and Distinguished Professor of Veterinary Parasitology at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, points out that fleas can be particularly difficult to identify on cats because they are such fastidious groomers.

If your cat is showing symptoms of fleas, the first place to start is a visual check to look for signs of fleas. Experts suggest focusing your search on the neck and back of the cat, as that is where fleas tend to be the most concentrated (and also where your cat is less likely to be able to groom herself because they are hard to reach areas).

Divide the fur and search for small black dots on the skin. A fine-tooth flea comb can really help identify the parasites, and Dryden says to look for reddish brown or black specks, which could be the fleas themselves, their eggs, or flea dirt.

If you’re wondering what the difference is between flea dirt—another name for flea poop—and regular dirt from the yard, try this trick: Comb the cat’s fur to collect any small black specks. Place them on a dampened tissue or white paper towel. If the spots turn red, you’re probably seeing signs of fleas, which feast on blood that shows up red on the tissue test.

Not seeing fleas themselves, but still suspect an issue? Dryden says it can help to check all the animals in the home. “Sometimes you won’t find any fleas on one animal because it is such a good groomer, but you will notice it losing fur. But you might find a bunch of fleas on another animal.” Be sure to check other cats and dogs for fleas, and even your own legs for bites. If you’re still having trouble identifying signs of fleas on cats, enlist the professional eye of your veterinarian to help track down any hiding fleas or other skin issues that could be causing your cat irritation. kitten for sale on craigslist