Does your Pet have Cat fleas?

Cat Fleas are a very common problem and most cats will become infected at least once during their lifetime. It's nothing to be ashamed of, it doesn't mean you have a dirty house.

In fact we have had to deal with a flea problem at least once with every cat we have ever owned. Cats can pick up these little parasites from a variety of sources at any time of the year, the main ones being:

Other cats and dogs they come in contact with.
Hedgehogs and rabbits found during their nocturnal garden wanderings.
Second hand furniture may also harbour some unwanted fleas as they can survive quite some time without being anywhere near a cat.

Why you should control fleas!

cat scratching a flea by mahalie flickr.com

There are several reasons to make sure your pet is flea free as well as the fact that you don't want to pass cat fleas onto anyone else.

The specific cat flea carries the larva of the tapeworm, which can then get inside your cat whilst they are grooming themselves. They can also carry a number of other nasty infections, which you would rather not be passed onto your furry friend.

Adult fleas feed on your cats blood, so small cats or kittens are prone to anaemia.

Some cats can be allergic to the cat flea bite. Our cat Mo was and it was terrible to see her scratch herself almost to bleeding and running around the room frantically trying to get away from the discomfort she was obviously in. We took her to the vets straight away for treatment.

Does your cat have fleas?

Feline Target Spray for Cat Fleas - $ 31.95
An herbal formulation, Feline Target Spray is a safe alternative to insecticides, which can cause liver damage. Its insect repellent action deters cat fleas from making their home on your furry friend.

Even indoor cats can pick up fleas due to the fact that fleas are great at hitchhiking a ride from anything which comes its way and so keeping an eye out for tell tell signs of an infestation is a priority for all caring owner.

So how can you tell if your pet does have cat fleas? Sometimes it is very obvious that your cat has fleas, sometimes less so, but the main signs are:

The first sign is usually noticing your cat repeatedly scratching and being a little edgy and dashing around the room suddenly as if bitten (which they probably have been)
You may notice bites on your own ankles, little red itchy marks are the main indication.
You may see them on your cats fur. They look like little reddish brown pin head size particles on the fur. Most commonly around the neck and tail areas.

If you see any of these symptoms or even if you just want to make sure your cat is flea free, the best thing to do is to buy a special flea comb and stand your cat on paper while you gentle comb through their fur. A couple of fleas may get caught in the comb but you are more likely to find flea droppings. They are black in colour and when squashed will contain little amounts of blood. Yuk!

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

The best way to control fleas is to make sure your cat never gets infested in the first place. This will prevent a lot of bother and fuss for both you and your feline friend and makes sure you have a happy cat.

Your first step is to make sure you know what you are dealing with and so finding out about the life cycle of the flea with help you understand the problem and so be able to tackle it more effectively.
Preventing cat fleas in the first place also start's with a clean environment for your cat to live in. Regularly cleaning their bedding and vacuuming the whole house will help to remove any eggs which may be lying dormant.
Good cat nutrition is also vital. It has been observed that cats in poorer health and in a weakened state are more prone to flea infestations. So making sure your cat is in tip top condition and being fed the best quality food will also help prevent the little critters from invading your home.
Grooming your cat regularly can also help prevent fleas becoming a problem as you will be able to remove any eggs which may be caught in the fur. The eggs are quite sticky and so are more difficult to remove by your cat alone. Regular brushing and the use of a fine comb will help remove any eggs.
The simplest way to prevent fleas is to treat your cat with a special flea repellent/killer which is dabbed onto the skin on the back of the neck. This needs to be done once a month to ensure continued protection. There are several different types of flea treatments available both over the counter and from your vet.
You could also use a flea collar for your pet. However some cats may be allergic to the collar. If you do use one look out for signs of a rash around your cats neck just in case they are. I personally would recommend you try something else other than a flea collar as they can have some terrible side effects. See this story for more on this.

Getting Rid Of The Critters

Once you know for sure that your cat does have fleas it is important that you treat both your cat and your home as soon as possible. While doing this is it is good cat care to make sure you eradicate them for good, so as not to have a reoccurrence of the problem in a few months time.

Firstly, you will have to treat the cat fleas on your cat and any other animals in the household.. There are a number of powders and sprays available for you to choose from, but look out for ones that say they kill fleas quickly. Follow the manufactures guidelines, but usually it will involve you combing through your cats fur whilst applying the products.
The neck area is where fleas are usually worse; so pay special attention to this area being careful not to get any products into their eyes or ears.

Secondly, you will have to treat your home, especially areas where your cat spends a lot of time. If you do not do this your cat will become re infected and a vicious circle will begin. There are several things you will need to do to eradicate fleas from both your indoor and outdoor environment to make sure that a re-infestation does not happen.