How to know if a cat has fleas

Get rid of fleas for good with the help of preparations in the form of drops . They can be used for the complete elimination of all parasitic insects, as well as in the prevention. They are ideal for animals that spend most of their time outside.

What are the dangers of fleas?

Fleas are blood-sucking insects that live on the surface of a pet's skin. They often appear in members of the feline family. They are adapted to a life of dwelling in thick fur, and the peculiarities of their body structure, and precisely the growths of chitin, allow them to move quickly. It is for this reason they are quite difficult to catch.

Interesting! Fleas have long hind legs, which allow the insects to jump distances that are hundreds of times larger than their bodies.

The peculiarities of the insect's mouth ensure easy biting of the animal's skin, and a special substance is excreted together with the saliva, which impairs blood clotting and facilitates its sucking.

Get fleas out of cats is not easy, this process requires patience and a lot of effort. The main thing is to do it in time, otherwise the parasites can have a negative impact on the condition of the pet.

The main unpleasant manifestation is considered an allergy to fleas in cats . In this condition, animals exhibit severe itching, irritation of the skin, which can eventually cause the development of dermatitis with an allergic nature.

If the cat has fleas, then you should be alert, because the bite of the parasites can cause a variety of diseases:

If you are wondering whether cat fleas are dangerous to humans, there is no definite answer to this question. Although parasites mainly attack animals, they can also bite humans, although they do so reluctantly. They prefer to feed on the blood of only one host.

And whether fleas can be transmitted from cats to humans, we can say at once that no. These parasites cannot live on the human body, and if they do get on its surface, they quickly leave it.

How to understand that a cat has fleas

To begin with, it is worth finding out where a domestic cat gets fleas. These parasitic organisms can appear even in animals that live permanently in the house and do not go outside. Causes of infestation may include the following:

• Communicating with animals that live outside;
• walking on contaminated ground, also parasites can pass from contaminated grass, plants;
• A pet can catch parasites through a person's outer clothing and shoes. Since eggs and insects can easily be brought indoors on clothing from the street, be sure to shake off your clothes well outside before entering the house.

Worth noting! Before you start eliminating insects, you need to know if the cat has fleas.

To do this, you need to consider the main symptoms of the presence of parasites. And for their elimination, you can use special products with anti-flea effect.

• The manifestation of a feeling of itching on different parts of the body. During this, the animal may constantly scratch the body with its paws in different places, but mainly the back and sides area;
• Beforehand, look at how fleas look like in cats, this will help to identify them faster in animals. When examining the coat of the pet, you will be able to see traces of eggs or parasite activity, which may resemble grains of salt or black pepper;
• Fleas in the pet will cause an intense itching sensation, which causes scabies. This results in extensive wounds and scratches;
• A strong allergic reaction may appear under the pet's fur;
• It is possible to detect the presence of parasitic insects in the pet during water procedures. Parasites when wet can not move, and this will make it much easier to remove them;
• Detect the presence of parasites can be detected by combing the pet's hair with a comb.

What a flea looks like

When viewed under a microscope, this blood-sucking insect looks like a scary monster. The flat body (1.5 to 4 mm long) is equipped with paws covered with spines to enable it to move comfortably in the coat. The hind legs are particularly powerful, because they help the flea to jump as much as half a meter in length (it's like a person jumping 200 meters). The flea has a mouth cavity on its small head, which is capable of biting through rather tough hair of an animal. A real monster, you say. And you'd be right.

Although due to their small size fleas seem to be inconspicuous and harmless insects, in fact this little gnat is about 3 millimeters in length, but can bring a really hellish torment to its owner. So if you notice small brown, flat-bodied insects in your cat's or cat's fur gathering in groups near the ears (where the skin is softer), it's definitely them – fleas.

Where do cat fleas come from?

As it turns out, it's just a myth that a domestic cat that doesn't leave the apartment and doesn't walk with street cats can't get fleas. These parasites are quite capable of moving long distances on their own in search of prey, even feeding forays without using the animal. Therefore, it can be difficult for owners to detect whether a cat has fleas.

If you suspect your pet has a flea infestation, the doctor may suggest a test with scotch tape or wet paper, when a large number of black "dots" – "flea feces" are released from the coat, this is done when the fleas themselves are not visible on the body (they may run in, bite, but not live on the animal).

If the fleas are not a concern, then as a preventive measure, monthly drops on the withers are used. Note that they should be selected taking into account the weight of your pet. Apply such preparations to the neck area, spreading the hair, squeezing the entire dropper, it is not allowed to bathe the pet for several days after treatment.

With severe flea infestation, flea atopic dermatitis, it is recommended not only to treat pets with local remedies, but also to treat apartments, bedding, porches, basements.

There are permethrin-based products available for indoor treatment, such as: Cypermethrin, Parastop, you can also use Neostomazan, Butox.

– Treatment of the room should be done without cats: treat and close the room for a few hours. I recommend to read carefully the instructions of all preparations. Soft furniture can be treated with FLY spray. And you must vacuum more often. The beds better to replace with new ones, – recommends veterinarian Marina Mikheenko. veterinarian Marina Mikheenko.

Vaccinations. For cats, having access to the street, vaccination against fleas is a very effective way to prevent infection. Once a year, in spring or summer, you can vaccinate your cat once a year, and then the whole year you won't have to worry about your cat's health. Preventive vaccinations are given in veterinary clinics; you should discuss the state of your cat's health with your doctor beforehand, check if the cat is pregnant, and clarify at what age vaccination for kittens is indicated.

Pet exam

Assuming the cat has been infected with parasites and judging by its behavior, the owner should examine the cat. All animals in the house should be examined. Parasites can jump from an adult to a kitten. The insects willingly change hosts by gaining access to different food sources. Cat fleas will bite a dog and vice versa.

Parasites and their products are convenient to look for on the neck (chin) and belly of the pet. Here the hair grows less often, and the animal will willingly expose these areas to a person it trusts. Bites may be found on other areas of the body as well. Small blisters and scabs are found on the neck, along the back and in the armpits. Parasites are also based at the base of the tail. They can be difficult to find on a cursory inspection because of the color, thickness of the coat, and behavior of the pet.

1. Catch the pet in a calm state. It is advisable to examine the cat while it is sleeping or resting. If the cat is agitated, wait until it calms down – you should not use sedatives when examining for fleas.
2. Sit the cat on a smooth, light-colored cloth. A pillowcase will do – you can spread it out on your lap or in your pet's favorite spot.
3. Comb it out with a special flea comb or a fine-toothed comb. The tool pulls parasites, their eggs and products together with hair. They are easy to see on the light, smooth fabric.

When examining a cat, with or without a comb, it is advisable to take a deep container filled 50-75% with water. You can throw the fleas you find there. An alternative would be a container with a solution of alcohol, cologne or vinegar. But it will emit a strong odor that will irritate the pet. Eggs that look like grains of salt or grains of rice on a reduced scale are better crushed or placed in an aggressive medium (acetic acid). Inspected animals are isolated from pending specimens.

What can be confused with fleas

Indirect signs (black dots on the coat, redness and swellings on the skin) do not always indicate the presence of fleas. The cause of their appearance can be:

It is important to understand the cause before treating. Fleas and other parasites are killed by complex agents that disrupt the arthropod's nervous system and prevent larvae from developing. Injuries, inflammations and internal pathologies require other remedies.

Flea repellents

One of the most well-known repellents that people use against mosquitoes, DETA, can also be used for cats, but its constituent fragrances and short duration of action (up to 8 hours) make it extremely inconvenient to use for flea protection. Fortunately, the industry has begun to produce plenty of flea repellents in recent years. Most of them contain essential oils of various plants as an active ingredient.

One of the most effective substances, which is also often used in industrial cat repellents, is citronella essential oil. It reliably relieves cats from insect bites and causes almost no allergic reactions. It is included in various veterinary preparations, but you can also buy it separately, in essential oil stores. It is important to choose outlets with a good reputation, because in untested stores you can buy low-quality oil, which can cause allergies and be not very effective.

The use of veterinary drops on the withers and collars with essential oils is convenient because the effect of oils (any, not just citronella) in this case is longer, up to 30 days. The application of an ordinary oil will protect the animal for 3-7 days, or until the first shower.

For emergency repellent treatment you can use ordinary diethyltoluamide known to all the lovers of woods and cottages DETA. Be sure to make sure that the repellent contains this active ingredient!

DETA is uncomfortable for constant treatment, it requires regular application once every 8 hours, and it is undesirable for a cat to lick it off. But if you see a cat covered in fleas before you leave the cottage, it's a great option to avoid bringing the insects home.

Treating the room

Use the same groups of drugs that are used to treat animals. FOS and cyanopyretroids have proven themselves for treating premises. But first they apply mechanical cleaning with vacuum cleaner (paying special attention to cracks, upholstered furniture, backs of cabinet furniture), wet mopping and only then apply agents. You can use more than one product at a time, or you can use one at a time. Keep in mind: you will need both the liquid to dilute in water, to wash the floor so that the water with the product flowed into the cracks, and sprays. If the flooring is sensitive to excessive moisture, then you can use a spray to treat baseboards.

It is almost impossible to get rid of fleas. But getting rid of them before they form a nest in your apartment is quite easy. Ask your canine neighbors if they treat their pets against fleas. You can also treat the doorway with essential oils.

If you live on the first and last floors, it is worth using essential oils and periodically treating with any insect repellent the possible gateways for fleas – hoods, bathroom cabinets and other such places in the apartment.

Due to the high volume of questions coming in, free veterinary consultations have been temporarily suspended.

Cat Flea Development Cycle

As soon as the first signs of a flea infestation have been noticed, it is worth taking immediate action and treating the pet with, for example, drops, since the parasites multiply very quickly: a female can lay up to 30 eggs per day.

The egg. Flea eggs are small and do not have a sticky shell, so they easily fall off the animal's fur. In addition, the female shoots them at high speed and over long distances. As a result, they end up in crevices of the floor, in furniture, behind the baseboard, in the carpet. Under favorable conditions, the egg develops in a few days.

Larva. Worm-like larvae emerge from the egg, feeding on adult feces, dead skin scales, and other things. They continue to live on the floor, in carpets, cracks, or grass. Over time, the larva grows to 4-5 mm and pupates in 3 to 4 weeks.

Pupa. If the conditions are suitable, an adult emerges from the pupa in 7-10 days. On the surface of the cocoon there are many different receptors that determine the optimal conditions. If they are not suitable, then the pupa can be "conserved" for up to a year. At this stage, the flea is almost invulnerable, no disinfectants have any effect on it. As a pupa, the flea is ready for overwintering.

The adult fleaor imago. When an adult flea is born, it immediately begins to look for a "host" – a dog or a cat, whose blood it will drink. Moreover, the parasites need blood not only as food, but also for successful reproduction: without it the eggs won't develop inside the female flea. Insects can mate either on the body of an animal or in any other place.

The whole life cycle of the flea lasts about 15 days, except for the fact that the pupa can extend it to a year under unfavorable conditions.

How to get fleas out of a cat, cat or kitten

Once the owner realized that his pet has fleas, then he immediately faces the question of how to get rid of these parasites. This procedure consists of several stages:

1. The choice of the drug. Not every flea remedy is suitable for every pet. It is important to understand the degree of parasite infestation and limiting factors (age, health characteristics of the pet). In some cases, it is better if the owner takes the pet to a veterinarian rather than self-treating. For example, when the cat is pregnant or if the animal has an intolerance to some components of the medication.
2. Treating the pet with a flea treatment. It is important to strictly follow all instructions, observe the dosage, expiration date and expiration date of the drug.
3. Apartment treatment. Since the eggs and larvae of fleas are often not on the pet itself, but on the floor, on its couch, in the carpet and other places, you should treat the room itself to prevent the risk of reinfestation.
4. Prevention. It is always necessary to take precautions and monitor the pet to prevent another flea attack on the kitten.

Know your enemy by sight: what a flea looks like

The most common type of flea that defeats furries is the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis. The female flea with eggs can reach a length of up to one and a half centimeters, but usually fleas are very small insects (2-3 mm) of dark color with flattened sides. This body shape allows them to be little vulnerable: it's virtually impossible to crush a flea with your fingertips, but only by squeezing it between your fingernail plates. Because of this cunning shape, which relieves fleas of the fear of being caught, nature has not provided a "disguise" for their bites: they have no anesthetic secretion like other parasites, and fleas bite really badly. When they bite, they feed – they suck blood.

How you can tell if a cat has fleas

If a cat has fleas when they first appear, they may not be visible to the naked eye, sitting deep in its undercoat. The first warning signs of fleas: the cat begins to scratch often and sharply, gnaw into the skin, scratch wounds appear on the body. If the animal behaves restlessly, it is worth to follow it closely, and if the behavior peculiarities do not stop – go to the search for the pest.

Put the cat on a clean sheet of paper and brush it. If it has fleas, small black-brown crumbs will fall on the paper – this is flea feces. To make sure it's really the parasite's feces, drop water on the crumbs, which will turn brownish-red in color.

Finally, you can look for fleas right on your cat's body. You can do this by taking a fine-toothed comb and sliding it through the hair in several places. If you don't see the flea itself, you may find the same excrement, which looks like black dust on the skin. And, of course, there's always the safe option of going to the vet, who will immediately advise the most appropriate treatment.

At the first alarming symptoms, we advise not to delay diagnosis. Flea bites can be very disturbing for a cat and not only damage its physical condition (constant scratching and wounds), but also literally drive it crazy and lead to neurosis. In addition, cat fleas don't disdain humans: they can settle on their bodies and bite them. If you have already found parasites on the body of a very small kitten, be especially careful: not all anti-flea products are suitable for fluffy babies, in this article we tell you in detail how to get rid of fleas in a kitten.

Characteristic symptoms

As the disease develops and the insects spread around the house, the following characteristic signs appear:

1. Constant itching in the cat in different places, from which she may twitch, jump up sharply, shake her head and vigorously scratch the flea bites.
2. Residual "debris of black dots and hair" after the cat sleeps or on the owner's clothes. Observed when the pet has a high degree of flea infestation.
3. Deterioration of the pet's coat quality (dullness, brittleness, shedding).
4. Jumping fleas on carpets and furniture in the house (parasites are especially noticeable on light-colored things).
5. Occurrence of bites on children and other family members (on legs and arms).
6. Infection of other pets.

The appearance and intensity of the listed symptoms will depend on the size of the flea population in the room. If the cat is not helped and without disinfestation measures, the symptoms will only increase.

Itching, scratching

This is the first characteristic symptom that is the fastest way to know if your cat has fleas or other ectoparasites. A healthy cat has a ritual of coat and body hygiene that includes licking, brushing and biting its claws to clean the dirt off. But a flea-ridden pet performs all these procedures with intensive scratching and biting.

As a result, hair begins to fall out in shreds. Spots appear on the body (especially at the base of the tail), bald spots on the muzzle (under the ears) increase.

Due to the constant itching and scratching, the cat's body becomes covered with unhealed claw wounds, which the animal will additionally lick and scratch. All this further complicates the healing process.

Kitten anemia

Anemia is a disease of the circulatory system that is described as a decrease in blood volume in the body or a reduction in the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin. Anemia develops as a consequence of some pathological condition of the animal's body (in this case it is a flea infestation).

How to check a cat for fleas

Contributor(s): Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and treating companion animals. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. He has worked in the same animal clinic in his hometown for more than 20 years.

Number of sources used in this article: 17. You will find a list of them at the bottom of the page.

Before you start looking for fleas in your cat, consider what gives you reason to suspect she has these blood-sucking insects. If you've seen fleas on your cat or in the house, it means that your cat does have these parasites and that he or she needs a flea treatment. However, you may encounter this problem even if you don't find fleas on the pet or in the house. A cat is able to get rid of adult parasites from its coat, but the eggs will remain on it, from which new larvae will hatch a few weeks later. Be that as it may, one should be able to identify fleas in a cat.

Identifying symptoms.

• Small bumps or crusted areas, usually on the neck and along the back;
• irritated skin, especially on the back of the neck and at the base of the tail; [3] X
• The cat is often itchy, especially in the muzzle area;
• The animal frequently licks its hair;
• hair clumps due to frequent licking;
• hair loss;
• presence of tapeworms in the stool (fleas carry tapeworm eggs that are ingested by the cat) [4] X Source of information Patrick J. McKeever, Tim Nuttall and Richard G. Harvey, A Colour Handbook of Skin Diseases of the Dog, Second Edition, (London: Manson/Veterinary Press, 2009), 41.-42

How to get fleas out of cats

A large number of effective and safe chemical remedies for outdoor parasites for cats are now available. The most popular among them are:

Shampoo .

Shampoos are one of the most common but time-consuming methods of getting rid of fleas from a cat. Usually they contain several active substances at once, so they can kill external parasites of different species.

Shampoos are recommended for minor infestations or in combination with other flea control products. Before using a shampoo, owners should make sure that it is intended for cats, because products for dogs can lead to the death of the purring pet. After rinsing off the product, the cat's fur should be rinsed very thoroughly under warm running water so that the cat will not be poisoned when licking it.

Many shampoos can be used even if the kitty is only 1 month old – they are based on plant extracts and are therefore safe.

Spray

Sprays are considered the fastest way to eliminate external parasites in a cat. With their help, you can get rid of fleas within a few hours.

Sprays are recommended for short-haired animals: they cannot penetrate deep into very long hair, so the insects will not die after application.

Treatment of the pet with the spray should be carried out outdoors or in a well-ventilated room. During the procedure, a protective collar must be worn on the cat to prevent licking of the drug and to prevent it from getting into the eyes and nose.

Important: With the anti-flea spray, it is also recommended to treat all places in the house with which the pet comes in contact.

Worming Drops

Withering drops are a very convenient way to combat fleas and other external parasites for adult cats and kittens. It is suitable for long-haired and short-haired pets and protects them from infestation for up to a month.

Preventing fleas in cats

Observance of the following recommendations by owners will help them keep their cat from getting fleas:

1. Do not allow your pet to come into contact with infected animals.
2. Do not only wet clean the apartment regularly, but also use a vacuum cleaner.
3. Treat the cat every 3-6 months with preparations against external parasites.
4. Do not let the pet go out on its own.
5. Take your pet to the veterinarian each year for a check-up to detect the presence of parasites in time.
6. Wash clothes only with hot water and put them in the closet only when they are completely dry.
7. Regularly comb out your furry pet's hair.

A responsible and caring owner must necessarily know where fleas come from in a domestic cat, and follow all measures to prevent infection. After all, these insects are very dangerous and unpleasant parasites that harm the health of not only the pet, but also its owner.

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