Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Identifying Symptoms
• Part 2 of 3: Finding fleas
• Part 3 of 3: Preventing fleas
• Tips
• Warnings

Before you start looking for fleas on your cat, think about what gives you reason to suspect that she has these blood-sucking insects. If you have seen fleas on a cat or in the house, it means that your pet has really become infected with these parasites, and he needs a special flea remedy. However, you may encounter this problem even if you do not find fleas on the animal or in the house. The cat is able to clean its coat of adult parasites, but eggs will remain on it, from which new larvae will hatch after a few weeks. Be that as it may, you should be able to identify fleas in a cat.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Identifying Symptoms

1. 1 Pay attention to how the animal cleans its fur. If your cat is sensitive to fleas, she may have an allergic reaction. Even in the absence of allergies, flea saliva causes irritation and itching from the bites. As a result, the cat is grooming its coat more often than usual. Your pet can lick its fur so often and intensely that it will remove fleas from it. In this case, it will be difficult for you to find the parasites: they will jump on the cat only to eat, and then jump off it again. Therefore, the cat may have fleas even if you cannot find them on it.
   • Signs of a flea infestation depend on the cat's health, the number of parasites, and other factors.
2. 2 Watch for symptoms of infection. Flea bites are highly irritating to the skin. Look for the following symptoms of a flea infestation:
   • Small bumps or crusty areas, usually around the neck and along the back
   • irritated skin, especially on the back of the neck and at the base of the tail;
   • the cat often itches, especially in the muzzle;
   • the animal often licks its wool;
   • hairballs due to frequent licking;
   • hair loss;
   • the presence of tapeworms in the stool (fleas carry tapeworm eggs that are swallowed by the cat)
3. 3 Pay attention to your pet's behavior. Your cat may suddenly start avoiding rooms it has liked to be in before, especially if there are carpets in which fleas hide. The animal may appear restless and irritable. When trying to get rid of fleas, the cat may even growl and shake its head.
   • Some cats are more sensitive to flea bites and are more irritating to them. Your pet may behave strangely because of the discomfort.
4. 4 Watch for signs of anemia. In case of severe flea infestation, the cat's fur is full of these insects, and the animal may suffer from blood loss and anemia. At the same time, the cat looks lethargic and very tired, she has pale gums, she loses muscle mass. It is necessary to comb the flea excrement on a wet white towel to make sure that the cat does indeed have these parasites. Regardless of whether your pet has fleas or not, in case of anemia, you should show it to your veterinarian.
   • Flea infestations are more likely to cause anemia in kittens and older cats.

Part 2 of 3: Finding fleas

1. 1 Sit down the cat. Place your pet on a white sheet or pillowcase. Fleas and their excrement will be easier to spot on white cloth. If you are going to keep the cat on your lap while combing its fur, cover your knees with a rag beforehand.
   • Fleas are dark brown wingless insects about 3-4 millimeters long. Perhaps, while brushing the fur, you will see how they jump. Examine the fur on the cat's belly between the hind legs. Spread the fur to the sides and take a closer look at the skin - fleas often hide in this place.
2. 2 Comb the fur of the animal. Comb the cat from head to tail with a flea comb while inspecting the fur and skin of the animal. Pay particular attention to the back of the neck, the base of the tail, and the inside of the paws. It is in these places that fleas like to hide.
   • The flea comb is made in such a way that these insects get stuck between its teeth. Fleas cannot slip out of closely spaced teeth and are combed out of the coat.
3. 3 Examine the flea comb. Even if you haven't noticed the fleas jumping, you may find their excrement and eggs, which look like a mixture of salt and pepper. If you see any suspicious material, place it on a damp towel. Flea excrement contains blood, so it will turn dark red when it gets wet.
   • If you find flea excrement, then your pet is infected with fleas.
4. 4 Check for flea feces. Shake off any dirt and hair left on the comb onto a white sheet and see if there are any blackheads. To distinguish regular dirt from flea poop, sprinkle lightly on whatever you have combed out with water. If the blackheads are flea feces, moisture will cause them to turn reddish brown or orange with a halo around the edges.
   • It is easier to do this by placing the cat on a white towel or sheet before brushing.
5. 5 Check the animal for loose hair. Flea infestations can cause hair loss for several reasons. Constant biting and scratching is highly irritating to the skin, leading to hair loss in some areas. In addition, if your cat is allergic to flea saliva, this further irritates the skin and increases itching and scratching.
   • The cat may not be allergic to fleas, but to something else.If you don't find fleas, but your pet is constantly itching, see your veterinarian.

Part 3 of 3: Preventing fleas

1. 1 Choose a flea remedy. Even if you don't find fleas, consider using a remedy that will help you get rid of the current infestation and prevent similar occurrences in the future. Modern flea remedies are safe and extremely effective. Some are available without a prescription, while others require a prescription from your veterinarian.
   • Choose a product specifically formulated for cats - some dog products can be harmful to cats. Check with your veterinarian about the remedy that works best for your pet.
2. 2 Use a flea repellent every month. When doing so, follow the enclosed directions for use or the recommendations of your veterinarian. This way, you will protect your pet from similar problems in the future and find out if the observed symptoms are actually caused by fleas. If treatment resolves the problem, it is likely that fleas were causing them, even though you were unable to locate them.
   • The monthly flea medication can be given by mouth, by injection, or as a topical treatment.
3. 3 Ask your veterinarian for a flea collar that's right for your pet. There are many of these collars on the market. Some of them are effective, others are not very effective, and still others may even be toxic to the cat. Therefore, check with your veterinarian about which collar will suit your pet.
   • Consider placing the flea collar in a dustbin to eliminate any insects that you can catch with the vacuum cleaner.
4. 4 Protect your home from flea infestation. Vacuum carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture daily. Throw away the used dust bag immediately in an outdoor trash can to prevent fleas from getting out. Washing your pet bedding in hot water will also help kill any fleas.
   • If you are unable to get rid of a flea infestation, you may need a home aerosol generator. This generator releases toxins that kill fleas and their eggs, but can be harmful to children and pets. Read the instructions for use carefully before using the generator.

Tips

• If you suspect that any of your pets have got fleas, take a close look at all pets.
• Fleas are the most common cause of skin disease in cats, and flea infestations are usually easy to detect and treat.
• If fleas are found in your area, be sure to take preventive measures so that the cat does not become infected with these parasites.
• If your cat has got fleas, consider talking to your veterinarian about treatment for tapeworms.
• In addition to flea excrement, you may find flea eggs (white spots) in your cat's hair.
• In case of a serious infection, consider contacting pest controllers.

Warnings

• If your cat has fleas, they may bite you too.
• Fleas can cause anemia due to blood loss, especially in kittens, and can carry diseases, including typhoid (rickettsia) and bartonellosis (bartonella) pathogens. In addition, fleas carry tapeworms and cause skin irritation.
• Flea pupae can remain alive for several months. Therefore, after you find fleas, you need to cure your pet and thoroughly clean the house. In addition, to avoid re-infection, problem areas in the home should be treated with a safe indoor product.