Signs of Fleas in Cats

The most evident sign of fleas in cats is of course, the presence of fleas. Yet, fleas are quite secretive creatures that can be rarely seen beneath the cat's abundant fur. Therefore, owners often must rely on other signs of possible flea infestation in their cat.

Itching

Affected cats will scratch quite persistently, their back muscles may spasm, and they may lick in an attempt to get some relief from the fleas moving about and biting.

Crusty Skin

A cat may develop a condition known as ''flea allergy dermatitis.'. This is an allergy to the fleas' saliva causing the cat's skin to react, becoming very itchy, irritated and developing raised crusty bumps.

Presence of Flea Dirt

Perhaps the most accurate sign of fleas in cats is the presence of flea dirt. Flea dirt may be distinguished from other debris by wetting a white paper towel and depositing some flea dirt on it; if the towel develops red stains, this is proof that indeed it is flea dirt which basically consists of the flea's feces (which are composed mainly of digested blood).

Anemia

Severely affected cats, in particular kittens, can be prone to anemia when the flea infestation is quite heavy. In this case, kittens may appear full of fleas, lethargic and with pale gums, suggesting blood loss.

Tapeworms

The presence of tapeworm segments in the cat's rectal area is proof that the cat has fleas. Tapeworms appear in cats that ingest infected fleas which act as vectors for tapeworms.

Treatment

Once cats exhibit symptoms of having fleas, the most effective treatment is to apply a veterinarian recommended topical product.

References

• Flea Control and Prevention in Cats

Resources

• Flea Allergy Dermatitis