Fleas are the most common external parasite in cats, and many owners only think about them once their cat is already scratching. Here’s how to tell if your cat has fleas, why they matter and how to get rid of them safely, with your vet’s help.
Never use flea products made for dogs on your cat. Many dog spot-on treatments contain permethrin, which is highly toxic to cats and causes tremors, seizures and death. Keep cats away from dogs that have just been treated, too.
Why Fleas Are a Problem
Fleas don’t just bite and feed on your cat’s blood. They can also:
- cause intense itching, and in some cats an allergy to flea saliva (flea allergy dermatitis), with scabs, hair loss and skin infections;
- transmit tapeworms when a cat swallows an infected flea while grooming (read more about deworming your cat);
- spread infections, such as Bartonella (the cause of “cat scratch fever” in people);
- cause anemia, which can be life-threatening for young kittens and frail or elderly cats.
Remember, your cat doesn’t have to go outside to get fleas. You can bring flea eggs and larvae into your home on your shoes and clothes, and other pets can bring them in too.
Signs of Fleas
- scratching, licking or chewing, especially around the neck, the base of the tail and the hindquarters;
- restlessness;
- small scabs, red bumps or hair loss;
- seeing fleas moving in the fur;
- “flea dirt” in the coat or on bedding.
To check for fleas, stand your cat on a sheet of white paper or a light towel and run a fine-toothed flea comb through its fur, especially along the back and near the tail. Fleas and flea dirt will be easy to see against the white background. Flea dirt looks like tiny black specks. If you put them on a damp paper towel, they turn reddish-brown, because they’re made of digested blood.
How to Get Rid of Fleas
Talk to your vet about the best flea treatment for your cat. Your vet will recommend an effective product that’s safe for your cat’s age, weight and health. Modern flea treatments for cats come as:
- spot-on treatments, applied to the skin on the back of the neck, often monthly;
- oral tablets or chews;
- long-lasting collars designed for cats (always with a breakaway buckle);
- some combination products that also protect against ticks, worms or ear mites.
Some of the most effective products are only available from a vet or with a prescription. Products bought from supermarkets, cheap collars and shampoos tend to be less effective.
How to use flea treatments safely:
- Use only products labeled for cats, and choose the right one for your cat’s weight. Never split a dog product or use a larger dose than recommended.
- Follow the instructions exactly. Spot-on treatments go on the skin, not on the fur, usually at the back of the neck where your cat can’t lick it.
- Ask your vet before treating kittens, pregnant or nursing cats, or cats that are sick, elderly or on other medications.
- Check the label for bathing instructions: many spot-ons are less effective if the cat is bathed just before or after treatment.
- If you have several pets, treat all of them at the same time, using the right product for each species.
- If your cat drools, vomits, has tremors, seems unwell or develops skin irritation after a flea treatment, wash the product off with mild dish soap and water if your vet advises, and call your vet or a poison hotline immediately.
Avoid “natural” home remedies, such as essential oils, garlic, vinegar sprays, herbal rinses or homemade flea collars. Many are toxic to cats, and none are reliable.
Treat Your Home Too
Adult fleas on your cat are only a small part of the problem: about 5% of the flea population. Flea eggs, larvae and pupae (about 95%) live in your home, in carpets, furniture, bedding and cracks in the floor.
To break the flea life cycle:
- vacuum carpets, rugs, furniture and floors thoroughly every day or two for several weeks, and empty the vacuum outside;
- wash your cat’s bedding, blankets and your own bedding on a hot cycle;
- ask your vet about a household flea spray. Use it exactly as directed, keep pets and people out of the room until it’s dry, and cover fish tanks. Make sure it’s safe to use in a home with cats;
- keep treating your pets regularly. Because new fleas keep hatching from pupae for weeks, it can take two to three months to get rid of an infestation completely.
Preventing Fleas
The best way to deal with fleas is to stop them before they start. Most vets recommend year-round flea prevention for all cats, including indoor cats, especially if you also have a dog or your cat goes outside. Fleas thrive in warm homes even in winter.
If you’re unsure which product to use, or your cat still has fleas despite treatment, talk to your vet.
