How do I know if my cat has a flea infestation?

Fleas breed rapidly and they can be difficult to spot on cats, which creates a perfect scenario for out-of-control infestations to develop in your household. It’s important for pet owners to know how to find signs of fleas in their cats and how flea infestations are diagnosed and treated. Read on if you’ve ever asked:

• How did my cat get fleas?
• How do I know if my cat has fleas?
• Can I check for fleas at home?
• How are fleas treated and prevented in cats?

Many cats with fleas are asymptomatic, and infestations can rapidly become overwhelming and affect the entire home. Treating large infestations can be difficult and time-consuming, so prevention is important to stop a flea infestation before it even starts.

Fleas are small external parasites that ingest blood meals from their hosts. They can affect multiple species of animals and are the most common external parasite in dogs and cats. Cats and dogs can be affected by multiple species of flea, but in North America, the most common is the cat flea, or Ctenocephalides felis. Fleas rapidly breed and lay eggs in their host’s fur, and flea infestations can quickly become difficult to eliminate.

Flea control is important for every pet owner, even if you haven’t spotted any pests on your feline friend. Fleas commonly spread tapeworms to cats and can carry diseases, such as plague and Bartonella, that affect humans as well as other pets in the household. Heavy infestations can result in life-threatening anemia from blood loss, especially in young kittens.

How do cats get fleas?

Cats are most likely to get fleas by spending time in an environment shared by other animals with fleas. “Eggs fall off of a host into the environment, hatch, and the adult fleas look for a new host animal once they mature,” explains Dr. Jo Myers, a Vetster veterinarian. “These environments can be outdoors, in a home with another animal that goes outdoors, or even in an apartment complex with a flea-infested neighbor.”

Most cats show few, if any, symptoms of fleas unless they have flea allergy dermatitis. Cat owners often discover their pet has fleas after finding adult fleas or flea dirt on their pet, but flea infestations are also frequently discovered after their cat or another pet in the home exhibits symptoms of flea allergy dermatitis. The most common symptom of flea allergy dermatitis is itching and excessive scratching at the skin. Scratching can cause skin infections, skin wounds, or hair loss.

It’s important to regularly check your cat for fleas, especially if they go outdoors, because they may be infested but asymptomatic. Fleas and flea dirt, or digested blood, are often easiest to spot over the hips and near the base of the tail. Flea dirt may be easier to find than adult fleas, as it doesn’t run or jump away.

To check for flea dirt, use your finger, a flea comb, or a brush to rub against the skin and then brush any collected residue over a white paper towel. Flea dirt appears as black specks on the skin and smears a reddish-brown color when rubbed on a damp paper towel. It is important to note the absence of fleas or flea dirt during a search does not rule out the possibility of a flea infestation in cats.

Flea infestations are diagnosed if flea dirt or adult fleas are found when a vet examines your cat. A diagnosis of fleas is suggested any time a cat has tapeworms or shows symptoms of flea allergy dermatitis. If fleas are suspected, treatment will be recommended even if fleas are not found to confirm diagnosis.

Flea treatments kill adult fleas and some larvae quickly, but flea pupae and eggs are more difficult to get rid of. At least three months of continuous treatment are necessary to kill off an entire population. If a cat has other symptoms, medications for tapeworms, itchiness, and bacterial infections are prescribed alongside flea treatments.

Oral medications, topical solutions, and flea collars are available as flea preventatives for cats. Only use vet-approved flea treatments, as some products contain toxic ingredients that can be lethal, especially for cats. Never use products meant for dogs or a dose meant for a larger cat, and don’t share doses between animals. Once approved by a veterinarian, the type of flea prevention you use depends on your cat’s tolerance and your preference. Flea prevention given on time and year-round is the best way to protect cats from fleas and associated symptoms. An online vet can help you choose a safe and effective flea control medication for your cat.

To successfully treat fleas, vet-recommended flea control products need to be used for a minimum of three months in order to eradicate the entire flea life cycle. Talk to a veterinarian about recommended flea products based on your cat’s size and lifestyle to ensure the treatment you want to use is safe and effective. Home and yard treatments can help limit exposure, but the infestation will not end without flea medication and treatment for every pet in the household. Once the right product is selected, cat owners need to:

• Follow the directions on the medication label
• Administer the medication on time
• Use all of the doses provided by the prescribing veterinarian: do not skip doses or split them between animals
• Treat all other pets in the household
• Know how and when to treat the environment or home for fleas

Treating a flea infestation can last for months, which is a challenging and stressful experience for many pet parents. Connecting with your virtual vet is a great way to make the process easier, as they can provide stress-free access to follow-up, expert support from the comfort of your own home.

Where do fleas hide on cats?

Fleas tend to hide in areas where cats don't groom themselves easily, such as around the head, back of the neck, and inside the ears. However, it is easier to spot adult fleas and flea dirt on the parts of the body where the fur is thin.

What is the easiest way to check for fleas on cats?

Use your finger, a flea comb, or brush to comb through the fur and pick up any loose material from your cat’s skin. Brush any collected residue over a damp white paper towel to check for reddish-brown smears of flea dirt. You might be able to spot adult fleas that appear as dark specks on your cat’s fur. Note that cats may have fleas even if none are spotted.

Can humans get fleas from cats?

Cat fleas infest bedding and other soft furnishings around the home, and they can bite people and any other animals who pass by, causing skin irritation and potentially transmitting diseases.

What do I do if my indoor cat gets fleas?

Indoor cats are less likely to get fleas than outdoor cats but can still become infested. Talk to a veterinarian to choose a safe flea treatment you can maintain for at least three months to kill the entire flea life cycle.