Have fleas moved into your home? You may not even be aware that they're around until your favorite kitty starts scratching. And if you see one flea, you can rest assured that at least 99 of his closest friends are waiting nearby for the party to start, with your cat as the main course.
How Do I Know If My Cat Has Fleas?
The most obvious sign is that your cat is scratching, usually a lot. If you suspect your cat has fleas, look through his fur, especially on his belly. You'll probably see fleas scurrying away through his fur. Even if you don't see any fleas, you may notice black specks of "flea dirt," or flea feces, in his fur.
Are Fleas Dangerous To My Cat?
In most cases, they're not life threatening, but they can make life difficult for your cat, especially if he's allergic to flea saliva. Fleas feed by sucking blood from your cat. When they bite your cat, they inject a little saliva into his skin to make the blood flow better. A cat that develops an allergy to flea saliva suffers intense itching if even one flea bites him.
A cat with a flea allergy will often scratch so much that he'll start losing hair. You'll see crusty, reddish bumps all over him, but especially on his lower back and abdomen, and around his ears and neck.
A kitten with a severe flea infestation can become anemic because every time a flea bites, it sucks out some blood. Hundreds of fleas feeding on one kitten can cause anemia due to blood loss very quickly.
Fleas carry tapeworms, and if your cat should swallow an infected flea while grooming, he'll more than likely become infected with tapeworms. If you notice what looks like grains of rice around your cat's anus, he's probably got them. Tapeworms usually don't cause problems for healthy adults, but they can cause anemia in kittens.
How Can I Get Rid Of Fleas?
To deal with a flea infestation, you have to get the fleas off your cat, and get them out of his environment.
There are many products available to control fleas on cats. Read the label to be sure you're using a product designed for cats. Never use a flea product meant for a dog on your cat. Dog flea products are toxic to cats, and can kill them.
In addition to using a flea control product on your cat, you'll need to vacuum at least once a day, for several weeks. You may need to sprinkle your carpet and upholstered furniture with flea powder and work it in. Let it sit overnight and vacuum the next day. Replace the bag every time you vacuum, and seal the old bag in a plastic bag so the fleas can't escape back into the environment.
If your cat goes outside, you may need to spray your yard to kill the fleas. Otherwise he'll just pick up more fleas to replace the ones you're getting rid of inside.
Your cat will be much happier and healthier if you take steps to control fleas before they become a problem.
Reference:
Fleas: A Source of Torment for Your Cat
