Cat Fleas: Causes, Prevention & Treatment - Purina

What are cat fleas?

The most common type of flea found on cats is the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis), but rabbit and hedgehog fleas can also show an interest in your cat! Flea bites are itchy for all cats, and can lead to some developing allergies (known as flea-allergic dermatitis). As if fleas weren’t pesky enough, they can also provide a thriving environment for certain types of tape worm, and heavy infestations can cause anaemia in kittens.

However, there’s no need to worry, as there are a number of different cat flea prevention options for you to look at.

Cats are excellent groomers, so it might be tough to imagine your preened pet catching parasites! The most obvious sign that your cat has fleas is persistent scratching, or sometimes over-grooming, which can result in bald patches on their coat. If your cat develops a flea allergy, they may also have scabs and red, sore areas on their skin. Regularly grooming your cat won’t necessarily prevent parasites, but at least you’ll have a chance to check their fur for any signs of unwanted visitors, so that you can quickly seek treatment.

What do cat fleas look like?

Cat fleas are dark brown and 1-2mm long. You might spot them in your carpet or notice tiny black specks of flea waste in your cat’s fur during combing. A good way to test for fleas is to put these black specks onto some damp tissue paper – if it is from a flea, the specks will turn red because of the digested blood they contain.

Fleas thrive in warm, humid environments, which means late summer is the peak season for fleas on cats, however central heating in the winter means that flea prevention is a must all you round.

Does your cat have fleas?

Finding it hard to tell whether or not your cat has caught this tiny parasite? Here are the most common signs of cat fleas to watch out for:

• Non-stop scratching
• Spots showing hair loss
• Skin irritation
• Excessive grooming
• Lethargy and pale gums caused by flea-related anaemia
• Black speck in the cat’s fur or bedding

How do cats get fleas?

Roaming outdoors all day long seems like the sure recipe for bringing home a family of fleas. But even if your feline is a homebody, parasites such as fleas might have plenty of occasions to land into the luscious fur of your indoor cat. Here is how cats can catch fleas: