Cats and Fleas!
Every year we have hundreds of cats and kittens admitted
into our care with severe flea infestations. A number of these cats will need
urgent vet treatment due to flea bit anaemia, most cats will survive once they
receive vet treatment, sadly kittens are more vulnerable and don’t always
survive. In this blog we discuss the
flea life cycle and what steps are needed to make sure you cat stays flea free
Fleas can be found on most animal species but are
more commonly found on cats and dogs. A flea is a small wingless insect which
feeds on the blood of animals. There are more than 2,000 types of fleas that
can be found on animals around the world. An adult flea can grow around 3mm in size and can
jump up to 50 times the length of its body! In the summer months we see a big boom in fleas.
This is because the flea’s life cycle happens at an accelerated rate when the
weather is warmer. Another contributing factor is that our pets spend more time
outdoors in the summer.
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| Flossy - 1 year old heavily pregnant female admitted into our care with a severe flea infestation |
The
life cycle of fleas
An adult flea will live on its animal host permanently. The
entire cycle from egg to flea will take between twelve to twenty two days,
depending on temperature and humidity. Warm homes with fitted carpets are ideal
conditions for fleas to reproduce all year round.
Female fleas will produce 50 eggs daily. These eggs will
fall off the cat where they will hatch out into larvae within two to sixteen
days. After this stage they then change into immobile pupae within a cocoon.
While in the cocoon the pupae will grow into an adult, it will stay in the
cocoon until it senses the presence of a cat, such as heat or vibrations. When
it senses these it will emerge and attach itself to the cat within seconds. If
no host can be found the flea can stay within its cocoon for up to two years!
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The signs of fleas
·
Itching
·
Flea dirt
·
White eggs in the cats sleeping areas
Fleas move around fast so sometimes they can be difficult to
spot. An effective way to check your cat for fleas is to comb your cat with a
fine toothed flea comb while placed on a white sheet of paper. Fleas may be
trapped within the comb or black specks (flea dirt) may be visible on the paper.
Flea dirt is the droppings of fleas which consist of undigested cat blood.
Treating
fleas
For an effective flea treatment we recommend a
licenced product. This will come from your veterinary surgery in a spot on,
injection or table form. Flea collars and unlicensed products should be
avoided. Do not use a product intended for dogs on your cat
as it can be toxic.
To control a flea infestation adult fleas must be
killed and the environment treated so prevent re-infestation. The most common product
used to treat households is in a spray form. This spray should be applied to
carpets and furnishings. This spray
should never be used on the cat itself. Regular vacuuming will also help
reduce the number of fleas within the home.
To prevent re-infestation regular, monthly
treatment of your cat is recommended. It is also recommended that any other
pets within the home are also treated regularly. It can be hard to get an
infestation under control, sometimes taking weeks or months. This is why it is
important to take the necessary steps to prevent fleas before an infestation
can occur.
It is important to treat your cat as fleas can cause
many other health problems to your cat:
·
Fleas feed on blood, this can cause anaemia
which can be life threatening.
·
Fleas can transmit other infectious agents.
·
Many cats develop allergies from flea bites
which can cause hair loss, scabby skin and sores.
·
Cat fleas can bite humans which will result in
an itchy raised bump.
·
Fleas can carry the larval stage of a tapeworm
which a cat may ingest while grooming.
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| Licenced products from vets is the most effective way to control fleas |
Hope our blog helps you keep your cats flea free!
Purrs for now!
