Treating
and Preventing Fleas on Cats
The usual cat flea is the most common parasite on the cat’s skin. All cats can be affected
except for those living at higher elevations, because fleas do not live above
5,000 feet. Cats living indoors can have fleas year-round.
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Fleas usually survive by
jumping onto a host animal, cutting their skin, and feeding from the blood. In
most cases, they cause only a mild itch; but a heavy infestation, especially of
kittens or older cats, ill cats, might cause severe anemia or even death. Fleas
also are an intermediate host of tapeworms. Some cats experience
hypersensitivity to flea saliva. This produces intense itching and a localized
or generalized skin reaction.
Flea infestation can be
diagnosed by finding fleas on the skin of cat or by seeing black and white,
salt-and-pepper-like grains in the coat. These particles are flea feces (the
“pepper”) and flea eggs (the “salt”). Fecal material is made up of digested
blood. When brushed onto a wet paper, it turns to reddish brown.
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