Fleas are a common nuisance among cats, and are one of the main reasons for cats being brought to the vet. Cat owners who have never had a cat with fleas before can be forgiven for failing to recognize the telltale signs of flea infestation. However, when a cat has fleas, their condition rapidly deteriorates since fleas may kill a cat within a matter of weeks. The cat flea disease, caused by the flea bites and their effect on itching and skin irritation, is a common yet destructive problem for both cats and dogs. Every pet parent has come to know the importance of combating fleas to preserve pet’s health, particularly at the time when they are most vulnerable such as in summer, fall or spring seasons. Studies reveal that there’s more than one species of flea, the cat flea and the dog flea. The most prevalent flea found on cats and dogs is the cat flea, which can bring discomfort and irritation to your pet. Cat fleas are small insects, which spend their time biting animals, sucking blood and laying eggs on their bodies. You might have noticed these pests when your pet starts to scratch a lot. Sometimes, it is normal for pets to scratch themselves  pet. Pets can become infested with fleas and other parasites when they walk in grass or soil that has been infected by larvae. Fleas are a major problem – these small dark red parasitic insects live on blood. This can lead to anemia, damage to the blood vessels, and “flea allergy dermatitis” also called FAD. The symptoms of FAD vary depending on the type of exposure you have had with the fleas.

Cat With Fleas Symptoms

Introduction

If you have a cat, you’re worried about fleas. We’ve all seen the commercials for products that protect your kitty from getting fleas, but there’s no way to completely eliminate this risk. While fleas are common and often harmless, they can cause your cat a lot of discomfort and result in severe health issues. But how do you know if your cat has fleas? Most cats are extremely good at hiding their symptoms. So keep an eye out for these signs:

Flea dirt

Flea dirt is excrement produced by fleas as they digest their blood meal. The excrement looks like little grains of sand, and it may be visible on your cat’s fur or in the carpet.

It’s possible for you to see this tiny substance without a magnifying glass, but only if you know what you’re looking for: flea dirt will appear as small dark specks on your pet’s coat or in its bedding. If you suspect that your cat has fleas, look for these black dots on its body; if you find them, then chances are high that there are indeed some living insects present as well.

Hair loss

Fleas can also cause hair loss in cats, although it’s not as common. While flea infestations are usually not severe enough to cause your cat to lose all of its fur, they do cause patches of missing fur and baldness in certain areas. If you notice that your cat has bald spots on its sides or back (or under its tail), this could be a sign of fleas.

If you think that your pet might be suffering from a flea infestation, it’s important to visit the vet for diagnosis and treatment before the problem gets worse. The vet will check for other signs of fleas such as scratching, itching or biting behavior; redness around the eyes; sores on various body parts; excessive salivation; diarrhea; lethargy; weight loss; poor appetite etc., which may indicate an underlying medical condition beyond just having fleas.

Excessive scratching

When a cat is scratching, it may be doing so to relieve itching caused by fleas. Cats will also scratch to shed old fur and mark territory. If your cat is scratching excessively that’s not associated with shedding or marking, then you might have a flea infestation on your hands!

Inflamed skin

If your cat is scratching, it could be due to fleas. Fleas can also cause inflamed skin and hair loss in cats.

However, it’s important to note that inflammation can be caused by other things as well. For example, allergies or irritants such as dust mites or pollen may cause inflammation in your pet’s skin and fur.

Scabbing or sores

If you find yourself scratching at the skin on your cat, it could be due to fleas. Fleas can cause skin infections and sores in pets, as well as scabbing and hair loss.

Skin infections or irritation

If a cat scratches and bites themselves, they may develop skin infections or irritation. Inflamed skin can result from fleas, allergies, or other environmental irritants. If you notice redness and swelling on your cat’s skin, it could be a sign of an infection caused by fleas.

Infections from fleas can easily be spread to humans through contact with infected blood or saliva that gets onto our hands. It is possible for people who are allergic to cats (or those with sensitive immune systems) to develop a reaction if bitten by an infected cat.

Fleas can also cause tapeworms in dogs and cats, which live inside their intestines and look like rice-like grains under the microscope.

Hot spots, or areas of extreme irritation

Hot spots, or areas of extreme irritation, are a common symptom in cats who have fleas. Cats will typically scratch and lick at these areas until they become raw. If you suspect your cat has a hot spot, be sure to take him or her to the vet for treatment.

It’s important to distinguish between a hot spot and just regular scratching behavior; if your cat is scratching his/her neck, head or shoulders excessively without any redness around the area then chances are it’s just something he/she does (just like how you might scratch your own neck from time to time).

Excessive licking, biting, chewing or scratching of the skin and hair coat (often accompanied by loss of hair)

Excessive licking, biting or scratching of the skin and hair coat (often accompanied by loss of hair) can be caused by an allergic reaction to flea saliva. The itching is usually worse when the cat sleeps and first thing in the morning. Fleas are also known to cause hot spots (warm red patches on your cat’s skin), skin infections, scabbing or sores.

Look out for these symptoms to identify a cat with fleas.

• Fleas are a common problem for cats, especially kittens. They can carry tapeworms, which are parasites that live in the intestines of fleas and animals that have been bitten by them. Tapeworms can cause anemia in cats, so make sure you check your cat’s stools after treating them for fleas.
• If you notice small red bumps on your cat’s skin or fur, it could be flea bites. Itching is another sign of fleas—this is especially true if there are no other visible signs of infestation on your pet.
• In addition to itching and scratching the affected area, some cats may also develop gastrointestinal problems from having ingested too many flea larvae or even just one adult female flea (which lays about 50 eggs per day).

Conclusion

If you’ve noticed any of the above, check your cat for fleas. This can be tricky and tedious, but it’s worth it to help your best friend!