Fleas are extremely common among cats, especially those that venture into the great outdoors. This makes tackling fleas one of the top issues that every cat parent needs to be prepared to handle.
These minute pests can become a big problem if not treated, from causing skin irritation to spreading around the home. By understanding how to check your cat for fleas and what kind of flea treatments are available, you’ll be ready to strike if there’s an outbreak.
What are fleas?
Fleas are small parasitic insects that attach to an animal’s skin and coat to feed off their blood. They’re the most common external parasite affecting cats and dogs in Australia but are also commonly found among other animals like possums, rats and rabbits.
There are lots of different species of fleas, but in Australia, it’s dog and cat fleas that cause the most problems. Despite their names, they aren’t exclusive to cats or dogs and will happily feed on other animals. They’ll even bite humans on occasion, however, they won’t live on us, as our relatively hairless bodies don’t provide enough heat to survive.
How can cats get fleas?
Fleas can transfer from animal to animal by jumping. In fact, they can jump up to 150 times their own height (17cm). This makes it very easy for your cat to catch fleas from another pet, or from animals they encounter when they’re out exploring. Even if they’re an indoor cat, they may pick up fleas that have attached to somebody who has been in contact with an animal with fleas or picked them up outdoors.
Fleas multiply rapidly, laying up to 40-50 eggs every day. These can hatch on your pet, or fall off their fur and onto grass, carpet, and furniture such as your cat’s bedding. Due to the warmer weather, spring and summer are prime flea seasons, but their eggs can lay dormant for up to six months before hatching. This can make an outbreak extremely tricky to get rid of, so good hygiene at home is essential, in addition to treating any fleas already on your cat.
How to check for fleas?
One of the key indications your cat has fleas is persistent scratching, especially around their head, neck, tail and belly. This is because flea saliva can make their skin very itchy, and cats with a flea allergy will also experience severe irritation.
Other signs to look for include:
- Licking and biting themselves
- Bald patches caused by scratching
- Scabs, sore areas, or small bumps on their skin
- Shaking and agitation
Cats don’t always show obvious symptoms when they have fleas, so it’s important to check for them regularly. You can check your cat for fleas by visually looking for them on their skin and coat. Fleas are brown or black and about the size of a grain of rice, and will also leave behind flea dirt, which looks like little black dots in your cat’s coat.
If you suspect your cat has fleas, use a flea comb to brush through their fur and examine their skin as you work your way through. Have a bowl of hot soapy water on hand, so you can put any fleas that come off in the comb straight into the water. Placing a white sheet or towel underneath them will also make it easier to spot any fleas that fall off your cat.
