Fleas and Ticks on Cats: Everything You Need to Know
Aside from looking quite nasty, fleas and ticks can also cause a slew of different issues for cats. This becomes even more worrisome when you consider how susceptible cats are to both fleas and ticks. Because of this, we thought it would be useful to put together a brief article discussing important information on these parasites. If this is something that you want to learn more about, read on as we break down everything you need to know about fleas and ticks on cats.
How Do Cats Get Fleas and Ticks?
Contrary to popular belief, even indoor cats can fall prey to fleas and ticks. While it is less common, there are still ways fleas and ticks can get on your cats. One of the most common culprits is another pet. If you regularly host playdates for your pets, then a cat (or any other pet) from outside your home can be carrying fleas or ticks. Rodents are also infested with fleas and ticks that can hop onto your cat if they are ever exposed to rodents with fleas or ticks.
Aside from other animals, you may be surprised to know that fleas and ticks from people can easily migrate to your cat. While fleas don’t have wings, they can jump huge distances so it’s quite easy for them to land on your cat.
How Do Fleas and Ticks Affect Your Cat?
Aside from being annoying for your cat, fleas and ticks can cause a wide range of different issues. If your pet is covered in sores or scabs and they have fleas, they may have flea allergic dermatitis (FAD). This occurs when your pet is bit by a flea, gets flea saliva in the wound, and develops an allergy. To alleviate itching, they scratch constantly, causing bare spots in their fur.
If your cat swallows a flea, they're at risk for internal complications. Internal complications can include tapeworms and even anemia. This can happen if the flea itself has a tapeworm and if your cat swallows the flea, then your cat will have tapeworms.
Anemia can also occur in extreme cases. This is most common in kittens who are simply so bitten up by fleas that they lose too many red blood cells. If you notice any changes with your cat, it would be best to bring them to the vet as soon as possible.
How Do You Prevent Fleas and Ticks?
Flea and tick collars have been greatly improved, but they still don’t provide permanent protection. Most flea collars should be replaced every 30 days, but newer products can last up to half a year.
To be quite frank, there is really no way to completely prevent fleas. With that being said, bringing your cat in for routine physical examinations will help prevent flea and tick issues from becoming too serious. For the best results, bring your cat in for preventive physical examinations at least once every six months.
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Conclusion
We hope this article proves to be useful when it comes to helping you keep your cats safe and healthy. While fleas and ticks can be quite problematic, the information that we’ve laid out above should help you keep fleas and ticks away from your furry friend.
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