Fleas

Disruption of general well-being

Cat flea
Ctenocephalides felis

Fleas are among the most common ectoparasites of cats. All free-roaming cats will make the acquaintance of fleas at some point during their lifetime. Usually, the species they encounter is the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis). C. felis has quite a low host specificity. In towns it maintains its lifecycle mainly indoors using the buffered microclimate of buildings. The fleas are carried from animal to animal and can reproduce very rapidly. C. felis is also able to feed on humans. Since contact between cats and pet owners is often very close, people can suffer from itchy flea-bites, too.

In animals, flea infestation can disrupt general well-being, cause itching, redness, hair loss, severe skin infections in certain cases, and an allergy to flea saliva in many cases. The hypersensitivity to flea saliva is a major cause of miliary dermatitis (feline form of flea allergy dermatitis; FAD) and other pruritic skin diseases in cats. Other harmful effects in cats are anemia in cases of severe infestation (younger cats may even die), the transmission of bacterial diseases and the transmission of tapeworms.

Prevention and treatment

The key to prevention of flea infestation is adequate general care by the pet owner. First of all the fur has to be brushed regularly, because matted fur is a perfect breeding ground for parasites. For permanent prevention a flea collar is most feasible.

If flea infestation has occurred, the cat can be treated with specific topical solutions, spot-on products, powders, sprays, oral formulations or shampoos.

Learn more about fleas and flea control.