There are few things more frustrating than cat fleas. If you’ve ever had to deal with fleas on your cat, you’ll understand how much of a problem the situation can be and how difficult it can be to resolve. No matter how clean your home is and how well you care for your cat, if you don’t treat them for fleas regularly, chances are they’ll strike eventually.
Indoor and outdoor cats can get fleas. They can pick them up from fellow cats or you could bring them inside your home. Fleas can be brought into the home on the clothes, bags, or belongings of you or visitors. It can be difficult to identify precisely where a flea infestation has come from, especially if your cat doesn’t go outside. The most important thing is that you get rid of them as quickly as possible.
Kittens can catch fleas from their parents, or other kittens in the litter. They are more vulnerable to overwhelming infestations. It is recommended that they are first given preventative flea treatment from 8-10 weeks old. Your vet will be able to discuss flea treatment options at your first vet visit.
Fleas are present all year round, with the recent warmer winters meaning that more fleas survive to the following spring. Centrally heated houses with higher humidity will allow eggs to hatch all year round. In the summer, there are so many fleas in the environment that most outside cats will pick them up.
Fleas are usually very itchy. If your cat is scratching or grooming themselves excessively, it may be because they’re feeling this itch. If your cat has a flea allergy, you may also see red, sore, or bald patches of skin.
Sometimes you can see fleas in your pet's coat – they're usually 1-2 mm (about 0.08 in) long and dark brown in colour. Depending on your cat’s coat, flea dirt in the form of black specks on your pet's hair can sometimes be seen as well. If you’re unsure, don’t hesitate to take your pet to your vet for an expert second opinion.
Caring for a cat with fleas starts with removing the fleas themselves. This can be done with tablets or spot-on medications, or a collar infused with medication. These medications will kill fleas that land on your cat. It’s important to treat the home as well to prevent fleas from jumping back on your cat.
Cats with fleas can be very itchy, and because of their endless scratching they can cause injuries to themselves. If your cat has managed to open a wound on their skin because of itching, you should keep the area clean.
If your cat develops wounds, hair loss, or becomes otherwise unwell, then you should contact your vet.
If you have spotted fleas on your cat, you should respond quickly to ensure they don’t spread. Most importantly, use a flea treatment specifically for cats. You should weigh your cat to ensure they get the correct dose.
Never use dog flea treatment on your cat. The ingredients which treat fleas in dogs can be incredibly harmful to cats, leading to seizures and even death.
The effectiveness, method, and time taken to work will be slightly different with each product and brand. Most commonly used spot-on treatments can take up to 24 hours to remove live fleas from your cat.
If you have found fleas on your cat, it’s also essential to treat their home environment with an environmental flea treatment. Your vet or one of our store colleagues can recommend suitable products for use. Washing soft furnishings at 60 degrees Celsius and vacuuming any carpets and curtains is also important. This kills any fleas that are in soft furnishings and encourages eggs to hatch so they are exposed to the flea treatment.
Cat flea treatment often comes in the form of a spot-on (which is a tube of liquid that you drip onto your cat's skin), or in the form of a tablet. Each of these treatments will have different treatment intervals – varying from monthly to every 3 months.
There are also collars which contain medication that spreads onto the skin surface, some last up to 8 months. Collars on outdoor cats should be quick-release so that if your cat gets stuck it can still escape.
Shampoos and powders are available, however they have no residual action, meaning your cat could pick up fleas again as soon as it is dry. Most cats also aren’t the biggest fan of a bath.
You may wish to discuss with your vet which is best for you and your cat.
The best prevention for cat fleas is a monthly flea treatment, even when there’s no infestation present. This will kill any fleas that jump on and drink the blood of your pet before they spread to your home or other pets.
Cat fleas will not go away on their own and leaving them to breed will only let their population grow. Leaving fleas on your cat can lead to skin irritation, infection, and balding. Severe infestations – especially in kittens - can lead to anaemia, which is a lack of red blood cells and can be fatal.
Once fleas are in your home, getting rid of them can be a long and complicated process. This is why regular prevention is easier than cure. Flea treatment can take up to 24 hours to kill fleas, but if it’s been over 24 hours and you’re still seeing fleas it’s possible your cat is being re-infested because of the environment. When treating your cat, be sure to also treat your home and other pets at the same time.