Housecats that go out on outside adventures often face a risk not just from larger predators such as dogs and coyotes, but are also exposed to various pollutants, insects, and fleas.
Housecats that go out on outside adventures often face a risk not just from larger predators such as dogs and coyotes, but are also exposed to various pollutants, insects, and fleas. In fact, fleas are one of the most recurrent issues in cats that can lead to physical ailments, discomfort, and even skin allergies. So, as a cat parent, it is important to understand flea bites and check your furry munchkin for fleas from time to time.
Fleas have a flat body and a grown flea can measure up to 3 mm in length. Fleas can be commonly found in places such as:
These pests prefer a moist or humid environment with plenty of shades. So, they can be found in gardens or areas with shrubbery and tall grass, and can latch onto cats on adventures.
in a household, fleas can be commonly found in damp and moist places, such as rugs or bedding. Floor cracks and furniture also serve as ideal nesting grounds for fleas.
Fleas derive their nutrients from the blood of other animals, such as cats and dogs. They latch on to the skin of their prey and bite to reach the blood vessels that lie within. Both male and female fleas bite not only to fulfil their nutritional requirements but also for reproduction. Having their nutritional requirements met, female fleas lay flea eggs on cats. Some flea larvae also feed on the blood content in adult flea poop. Flea bites are painful and can cause discoloured bumps and itchy skin.
Although flea bites are considerably rare in humans, but they can cause significant pain and discomfort. Flea bites are characterised by a discoloured bump or ring around the bite and can develop into blisters or open sores and wounds. Severe cases of flea bites in humans can cause an infection leading to extreme pain, redness, and swollen glands. Flea bites in humans can also result in transmittable diseases like plague and typhus.
In addition to skin irritation, pain, and discomfort, flea bites in cats can also lead to severe effects. Apart from swellings, open sores, and lesions, fleas in cats also increase the risks of transmittable diseases like:
Since flea bite cats to draw blood to feast on, it is a leading concern for anaemia in cats. Anaemia in cats can result in physical weakness and difficulty in breathing, lethargy, and can even lead to life-threatening severity if left untreated. Fleas in kittens pose significant risks and may require professional attention.
Flea allergy dermatitis or FAD in cats is an allergic reaction by the feline's immune system triggered by the protein present in the saliva of fleas. FAD in cats can cause significant discomfort and irritation which extends beyond the location of the flea bite. In advanced stages of FAD, cats may start showing symptoms like excessive shedding and loss of hair from the tail and inner thighs. Flea allergy in cats also result in small bumps and scabbing on the skin, open lesions, and skin infections.
Cats might end up grooming themselves excessively if they are suffering from flea bites, and ingest infected fleas in the process. Infected fleas can cause worms in cats through tape worms in cats where eggs to be released within the intestine or stomach.
Cats suffering from tape worms can display symptoms of worms in cats and digestive disorder caused by worms in cats, such as loss of appetite, frequent vomiting and diarrhoea, and physical weakness.
When a flea in cat bites, it releases its salivary juice into the bloodstream of cats, which is a potential allergen and can trigger the cat's immune system. In order to remove the allergen from the body, the feline immune system releases histamine, which causes itching.
The signs of a flea infestation are cats constantly scratching or grooming itself and small scabs and bumps on the skin. Excessive shedding and bald patches on their coats are symptoms of worms in cats too.
Mentioned below are some symptoms of flea bites and other ways that can help you find out if your precious fur baby is suffering from fleas:
Cat flea bites have unique characteristics, such as small, discoloured bumps at the location of the bite, which can also develop discoloured rings around it. Although cat flea bites can cause inflammation, they do not swell up as much as mosquito bites. As fleas are likely to latch on to a cat in a group, fleas in cats bites can be noticed to appear in clusters or in a straight line. Cat flea bites are more commonly noticed in the belly, paws, loins, and inner thigh areas.
Unless your cat is anaemic, cat flea bites do not often deteriorate to severe conditions, and are easily treatable with home remedies and worm medicine for cats. Here are some failsafe flea treatment for cats:
Flea bites do not always require veterinary attention. Here are some helpful tips for treating your cat with at-home remedies and flea treatment for cats.
Keeping your home clean can help in getting rid of flea larvae and flea eggs on cats. If your cat already has fleas, make immediate attempts to change its litter tray and bedding. Thoroughly washing their toys, blankets, and accessories can also help.
If home remedies do not work to remove the fleas from your furry munchkin’s body, you should seek professional help. Professional flea control treatment consists of:
To prevent fleas harming your cat again, you should also hire the assistance of pest control who can help to find the source and kind of fleas and get rid of them.
If your furry feline has fleas, you can consider giving them a sulphur bath or using flea and tick management shampoos to get rid of fleas in cats. Regularly brushing their coat using a flea comb can also prove beneficial.
Although rare, but humans can still get fleas from cats. Flea bites in humans can cause blisters and lesions at the location of the bite, severe cases may also lead to open wounds, infections, and flea-borne diseases like plague and typhus.
Although flea bites can cause significant irritation and skin injury to fur babies, they do not usually lead to life-threatening situations. However, having a flea infestation can cause cats to become anaemic, and can often prove lethal for smaller kittens.
Fleas in cats do not usually cause mortal harm, but can often lead to severe anaemia, weakness and allergies. Furthermore, cats can be exposed to the risks of tape worms in cats, flea allergy dermatitis, and open wounds if untreated.
