Cats are prone to flea problems. These parasites are capable of laying eggs and multiplying in
as short as two weeks. For this reason, it is quite easy for your pet to get infested by fleas and
since a cat flea egg has a tough and sticky outer exterior, they adhere easily to their hosts and
can reside in their fur and skin for a long time or until they mature. They have a life span of
between thirty to seventy-five days and undergo 4 different stages.
They also have the ability to jump so although they cannot fly from host to host, they can easily
jump to a location. And as their name suggests, they are parasites to cats most specifically, but
also have some predilection to dogs.
It is very easy for cats to catch fleas. Coming into contact with other animals that have fleas
is one, so if your cat is rather fond of playing outside and mingling with other animals, then your
pet becomes susceptible to infestation. Fleas can also be obtained at random. It could be picked
up right from the environment, so your cat could merely be walking around the garden and can catch
fleas.
For this reason, avoiding flea infection is rather difficult. As these parasites are minuscule,
it will be hard for you to see them and it will even be harder for you to keep your pets away from
it.
How Do You Know If Your Pet Has Fleas?
The first sign of flea infection is always itching. You cannot see fleas as they are rather tiny,
but if you see your cat itching all the time then most likely your cat is suffering from a flea
infestation.
The groin and the rump area is the most flea-prone places in your pet’s body. If you suspect that
he has fleas, inspect that area by spreading the cat’s fur and run your finger through it to look
for the menacing fleas. You can also try rubbing the rump with a wet paper towel. Since fleas are
mostly consisting of blood because of their diet, if the towel ends up smeared with blood or is
speckled with black spots, then this could be a strong indication of flea infestation.
In some cases, cats may develop an allergic reaction to the flea’s saliva. If this happens, it may
cause hair loss to your pet as well as skin scaling localized at the back area, and if your pet
is very fond of itching then you can find scratch marks all over the body.
The most severe symptom that your pet can obtain from flea infestation is anemia. This, often, is
a threat to kittens as they are weaker and more vulnerable compared to older cats. This may be fatal
for them. So if your kitten appears lethargic and her gums lose its natural pink color, then it
would be best for you to consult a specialist right away.