A patch of a cat’s fur is bald, red and swollen and inflamed. Does the cat keep scratching or over-licking its fur? Or do pet parents feel uncomfortable due to being bitten on the ankle? Be careful. There may be flea invasion at home! Fleas are a common external parasite, also known as cat fleas. They are named so because their main host is domestic cats. But they can actually be found on both dogs and cats. [Extended Reading] Encyclopedia of Common Parasites in Cats and Dogs. Pets and people may be infected and special attention is needed! In fact, cats are more likely to encounter flea problems than dogs. Many clinical cat skin diseases are actually caused by fleas. So how to prevent and treat fleas on cats? How to detect cat flea symptoms early? If a cat has fleas, how should it be dealt with? In this article, we will tell pet parents the important steps + knowledge of ‘preventing and treating fleas’: What are fleas? Start prevention from understanding the flea life cycle. Adult stage. Flea egg stage. Larva stage. Pupa stage. How do cats get infected with fleas? How to prevent it? How to find traces of fleas on cats? Judgment method 1: Cats scratch frequently and become irritable and angry. Judgment method 2: Black-brown flea feces appear on the cat. Judgment method 3: Use a flea comb to groom the fur. Judgment method 4: Check the cat’s bed or corner where it often stays. Judgment method 5: Flea allergic dermatitis. Five effective methods to remove cat fleas. Flea removal method 1: Use a flea comb. Flea removal method 2: Bathe the cat with flea cleaner. Flea removal method 3: Clean the home environment. Flea removal method 4: Use anti-flea products (drops) daily. Flea removal method 5: Take the cat to the veterinary hospital. Skin diseases and parasites easily caused by cat fleas. Allergic dermatitis. Anemia. Digestive tract diseases (internal parasites). Bubonic plague (Black Death). Typhus. Cat scratch disease (Bartonella henselae). Daily anti-flea strategies to prevent flea breeding. How to choose a suitable anti-flea drop (insect repellent drop)? Selection method 1: Understand the information of the furry child. Selection method 2: Understand the specification differences of various models (drug efficacy, usage methods, etc.). Selection method 3: Whether the product ingredients are open and transparent. Selection method 4: Whether it meets the budget and satisfies the needs. Selection method 5: Check the brand evaluation. Summary: Cat fleas can cause serious harm and should be faced carefully! Frequently Asked Questions: Knowledge about cat fleas. What are fleas? Start prevention from understanding the flea life cycle! Fleas are an external parasite that is mainly transmitted through ‘contact’. Fleas feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals and suck blood by biting. At the same time, they are also intermediate hosts of many internal parasites. Whether it is biting or accidental ingestion, it is easy for cats and dogs to be infected with other parasites, which is very troublesome. Pet parents can only see 5% of the fleas on pets. The other 95% are larvae or eggs, lurking in the home environment and other places. Therefore, if a cat or dog has fleas, in addition to immediate deworming, the home environment should also be cleaned and disinfected immediately.
To effectively control and eliminate fleas, it is essential to understand their life cycle. The climate in Taiwan is highly conducive to flea reproduction, especially during the spring and summer months, with April to June being particularly peak times for flea infestation. Knowledge of the flea growth cycle helps in assessing the severity of flea infestation in cats and the duration of treatment. The flea development cycle primarily consists of the following four stages: Adult Fleas: Adult fleas are capable of jumping onto cats or dogs at the first opportunity and can lay about 50 eggs within 24 to 48 hours. Egg Stage: Flea eggs are approximately 0.5 mm in size, making them difficult for pet owners to detect. They do not remain solely on cats or dogs but can roll into the home’s corners and quietly hatch and grow in the dark. Larva Stage: At temperatures between 13 to 35 degrees Celsius, flea eggs can hatch into larvae within 3 to 7 days. Flea larvae are about 0.8 to 1 cm in size, do not feed on blood, but can move around 20 centimeters in the environment, relying on organic matter as a food source to continue growing. Pupa Stage: With ample food, flea larvae will pupate within two weeks. The pupal surface is sticky and can adhere to dust for camouflage. It only takes 1 to 2 weeks for the pupa to develop into an adult flea. Even in poor living conditions, pupae can survive for up to half a year, waiting for a host to approach before emerging to infest, which is the source of fleas’ terrifying transmission power. How do cats contract fleas and how can it be prevented? Fleas can jump high and hide in outdoor ditches and grass, ready to infest cats or dogs that come close. Even if a cat is a house cat that does not go outside, pet owners might accidentally step on flea eggs or pupae and bring them home to their cats. Multi-cat environments are also a breeding ground for flea transmission, so if you have just adopted a cat (especially a more challenging kitten to care for), it is recommended to have it checked by a veterinarian and dewormed first. It is usually advised that pet owners bring their cats and dogs for a comprehensive health check and deworming by a veterinarian every six months to ensure the health of the pets and check for any parasitic conditions. [Extended Reading] A list of recommended animal hospitals across Taiwan, and a summary of precautions to take before seeing a veterinarian! The best way to prevent cats from contracting fleas is through regular daily checks and bringing them to a veterinarian for deworming. How to detect signs of fleas on cats? Fleas are very small external parasites and are often difficult to notice. Cats have a habit of grooming their fur, often swallowing fleas and eggs, making it hard for pet owners to detect them. By the time pet owners are bitten, the flea infestation is usually quite rampant… So, what symptoms indicate that a cat might be infected with fleas? Method 1: Increased scratching and irritability in cats This is the most noticeable sign. When you notice your cat scratching and grooming itself more frequently and showing signs of irritability and anger… pay attention to the possibility of a flea infestation. If a cat is scratching frequently and showing signs of irritability, pet owners should be more vigilant about potential flea problems. Method 2: Presence of black-brown flea feces on the cat’s body Compared to mobile and transparent flea eggs and pupae, flea feces are easier to detect.
You can part the fur on a cat’s body and check if there are small black-brown flea feces in the middle of the cat’s fur. If there are, it may mean that the cat is parasitized by fleas! Judging method 3: Use a flea comb to groom the fur. You can place the cat on a large white paper and use a flea comb (a comb with finer spacing than an ordinary comb) to groom the cat. The flea comb can catch flea eggs, pupae, or feces, making it easier for pet parents to find flea traces. Regularly grooming the cat’s fur can effectively check for flea traces. Judging method 4: Check the cat’s often-used cat bed or corner. Flea eggs and pupae can move. Pet parents can check the places where the cat often stays, such as cat beds or carpets, to see if there are traces of flea eggs, pupae, or flea feces. The common areas where fleas are found are usually on the cat’s chin, armpits, and back of the neck. These areas can be checked emphatically. Judging method 5: Flea allergy dermatitis. In particular, flea bites can easily cause allergic skin reactions in cats. Therefore, you can check if there are granules like pimples on the cat’s limbs, between toes, and tail. These red, swollen, and itchy granules not only make the cat uncomfortable, but if the cat scratches the swollen bumps and bleeds, it may lead to secondary infections, which requires more attention from pet parents. Five effective methods to remove cat fleas. If flea traces are found, what should we do? Director Mao shares five effective flea removal methods for pet parents’ reference: Flea removal method 1: Use a flea comb. If pet parents have purchased a special flea comb, they can comb off the fleas and trap them on the comb, and then kill them by putting them in alcohol, detergent, or sticking them on adhesive tape. Note that fleas should not be crushed directly, otherwise flea eggs in the flea’s abdomen may also spill out. Just like dealing with ticks, they need to be drowned in alcohol or detergent. [Extended reading] Manual for dealing with ticks on cats and dogs: How to find and remove ticks? Flea removal method 2: Bathe the cat with flea detergent. You can buy flea detergent at a qualified pet supply store and bathe the cat. When bathing, slowly pour water on the cat’s body (to avoid scaring the cat and making it afraid of water from then on or not cooperate with pet parents to complete the flea removal work), and then slowly wash the head, feet, and tail. When using flea detergent, it can be applied to places where the cat cannot lick (such as the back of the neck) to avoid the cat accidentally eating it. Remember to wash the whole body thoroughly! [Extended reading] A complete guide to bathing cats. Seven steps to train cats to take baths and never be afraid of water again! When bathing a cat, be careful not to scare the cat or let the cat lick the flea removal medicine. Flea removal method 3: Clean the home environment. After bathing, you can first do a thorough cleaning of the home, use alcohol or diluted detergent to thoroughly clean and remove the missed fleas and flea eggs. About 5% of the fleas found on the cat’s body, and 95% of them will exist in the places where the cat rests and inhabits, or in the movable flea eggs or pupae. Flea removal method 4: Use anti-flea products (drops) daily. For daily flea removal, you can also use the power of flea drops. Some flea drops have a ‘bioactivation effect’ because they add an ingredient called ‘indoxacarb’. When fleas jump on the cat, the ‘indoxacarb’ ingredient can trigger and combine with the enzymes in the flea’s body, making the flea gradually lose its coordination function, stop biting, and further lead to paralysis and death.
Ensure that flea eggs and larvae are inactive for about a month, completely disrupting the flea life cycle. This type of topical solution does not affect the biological functions of cats, dogs, or humans, only affecting fleas, making it an effective flea control treatment. You can ask a veterinarian or a professional to recommend an effective flea control solution that contains fipronil. The solution should be applied to areas on the cat that are out of reach of their licking, such as the back of the neck or the head, and care should be taken to keep the cat away from water for 24 hours! Flea solutions can be targeted at fleas, but do not let the cat ingest them. Method 5: Take your cat to the vet. If cat parents are unsure how to eliminate flea traces or if the cat has developed skin diseases due to fleas and appears visibly uncomfortable, it is recommended to seek the help of a professional veterinarian at an animal hospital to thoroughly eliminate flea traces and treat skin diseases. If the flea situation is too severe, the veterinarian may require the cat to be shaved, and in such cases, follow the veterinarian’s instructions for treatment. [Further Reading] How to shave a cat? What are the precautions? This article explains it all! Cat fleas can easily cause skin diseases and parasites. Fleas not only cause skin diseases or internal system diseases in cats and dogs, but they can also cause adverse reactions in humans, leading to illness. In this section, we will introduce the diseases and impacts that fleas may bring! However, according to big data, most cat skin diseases are caused by fleas, so if a cat’s skin shows abnormalities, it is recommended that cat parents first check for flea traces! Allergic dermatitis. Flea bites can make cats and dogs feel uncomfortable, and in mild cases, they may scratch due to itching, resulting in small red spots on the skin. However, severe cases can lead to hair loss and broken skin, turning into allergic dermatitis (or hive-like tissue inflammation). It is less common in humans, but our skin may also become itchy and form scab wounds. If a cat continuously scratches flea bites, it may lead to broken skin inflammation and potentially allergic dermatitis. Anemia. Fleas rely on blood for nutrients to survive, so if they multiply in large numbers, they can cause cats and dogs to lose blood and potentially induce anemia. Gastrointestinal diseases (internal parasites). Fleas are intermediate hosts for many internal parasites, most commonly tapeworms. If a cat accidentally ingests fleas while grooming, it may consume tapeworm larvae, leading to tapeworm infestation in the gastrointestinal tract and causing gastrointestinal diseases. [Further Reading] Common parasites in cats and dogs, are tapeworms and roundworms scary? They might also transmit to humans! Bubonic plague (Black Death). Fleas were the vectors of the Black Death that killed nearly half of Europe’s population in the Middle Ages. Fleas, as intermediate hosts, infest rodents, cats, dogs, and other mammals before transmitting to humans, leading to the outbreak of the Black Death. Although the Black Death is not common in modern times and can be treated with antibiotics, we cannot guarantee that there are unknown viruses hidden in fleas, so we must pay special attention to flea prevention and control. Fleas are vectors of diseases and parasites in cats, dogs, and humans, so special attention must be paid to their prevention and control. Typhus. Typhus is mainly caused by common external parasites, such as fleas, mites, lice, and bedbugs, affecting humans. It is a bacterial infection spread by Rickettsia bacteria.
Usually, only more serious infections will cause this symptom. Common symptoms include repeated high fever, chills, headache and body-wide rashes. Cat scratch disease (Bartonella henselae). Cats scratching or biting humans, or excessive flea infestation may cause cat parents to get cat scratch disease. Cat scratch disease is caused by a bacteria called Bartonella henselae. Common symptoms include: fever, vomiting, nausea, discomfort, fatigue. Usually it can heal on its own, but it is still recommended that cat parents seek medical treatment when there are similar symptoms. If cat parents find that they are unwell, combined with itchy skin, and cats also have the above symptoms, they should check if there are fleas on the cat and take relevant measures! Daily flea prevention strategies to prevent flea breeding. How should we pay attention to the health status of cats and dogs on a daily basis? We once again help cat parents sort out the key points of daily flea prevention strategies! Regularly perform external parasite prevention for cats and dogs: Regular external parasite prevention is very important. It is recommended to do it at least once every six months, and it can be combined with a physical health check to keep cats and dogs in good health. Never think that if there are no parasites on the body, there is no need for parasite prevention. Sometimes internal and external parasites are very difficult to detect immediately. Keep the environment clean: Especially the corners where cats often stay, cat nests, and carpets. Places that are easy to accumulate dirt need to be specially cleaned. If possible, use a vacuum cleaner, and thoroughly use alcohol and detergent to remove dust and clean the inside of the vacuum cleaner. Use diluted disinfectant to mop the floor, and be careful not to let cats and dogs touch the disinfectant. If you love cats, daily flea removal and physical health checkups are very important. Use flea shampoo or drops: There are many qualified pet supply stores and veterinary hospitals on the market that sell flea repellents. You can ask doctors or professionals about how to purchase and use them, and use them regularly. Make a flea trap light: You can make a flea trap light next to the cat nest. Prepare a shallow water pan filled with alcohol or bleach water (be careful to place it in a place where the cat will not accidentally eat it), and place a lamp next to it. Because fleas have phototaxis, hygrotaxis, and thermotaxis, they will jump into the water and drown. How to choose the right flea drops (insect repellent drops)? There are so many flea drops and medications on the market. How should we choose the right product? Director Mao helps cat parents sort out the following key points for reference: Selection method 1: Understand the information of furry kids. Is the furry kid a large breed or a small breed? Body weight will also affect the dosage. Does the furry kid have other parasite prevention needs? Are there any ingredients that cannot be used due to diseases or allergies? All of these must be understood before choosing medications. Selection method 2: Understand the specification differences of each style (efficacy, usage methods, etc.). Refer to the official websites of various insect repellent medications to understand the differences in product ingredient information, specifications, functions, etc., and choose products that meet the needs of your own furry kids. If you love cats and dogs, you must carefully understand the detailed ingredients of flea repellent products. Selection method 3: Whether the product ingredients are publicly transparent. Regular pet supply brands will list detailed ingredient sources for reference on their official websites. For example, our brand, Director Mao, will list international inspection certifications on the official brand website. It will also list all the raw material ingredient lists on the product pages of “Cat and Dog Free Lutein” and “Cat and Dog Probiotic Complex”. Transparent and public to reassure cat parents :). Qualified pet brands listing transparent and public ingredients can make cat parents feel at ease when buying. Selection method 4: Whether it meets the budget and meets the needs. You can purchase products that meet the budget and can achieve the required results.
Expensive products may offer better efficacy, but whether cats and dogs require these products depends on their individual needs. When searching for products that fit within your budget and requirements among various brands and styles, there is no need to overspend on additional features that may not be necessary, and end up purchasing unsuitable pest control products. Selection Method 5: Research Brand Reviews If you find multiple pest control products that meet your cost-performance needs but are unsure about the strengths and weaknesses of each brand, you can make good use of online search functions. Many bloggers share their personal experiences and even post videos of actual usage. In addition to bloggers, life forums such as PPT, Moblie01, and Dcard also provide a wealth of user experiences that can serve as a reference for comparison. Summary: Cat fleas pose a serious threat and should be taken seriously! Cats are easily infested with fleas, and dogs are no exception. Essentially, every furry pet may encounter fleas, which is hard to avoid. Therefore, it is crucial for pet parents to learn how to eliminate fleas, especially since they are difficult to eradicate and can bite pet parents causing uncomfortable symptoms. Preventing your home from becoming a breeding ground for fleas is not only about protecting your furry pets but also for the health of pet parents and family members. Fleas are tenacious external parasites that may transmit tapeworms leading to gastrointestinal diseases. Regular deworming, environmental cleaning, and preventive medication are essential strategies to guard against fleas. Common Questions about Cat Fleas: What are fleas? How do cats become infested with fleas? Fleas are external parasites that primarily spread through contact. They feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals, bite to draw blood, and serve as intermediate hosts for many internal parasites. Whether through bites or accidental ingestion, cats and dogs are prone to infections from other parasites, which is quite troublesome. Fleas can jump high and hide in outdoor ditches and grass, infesting cats or dogs that come close. Even if your cat is a house cat that never goes outside, pet parents may accidentally step on flea eggs or larvae, which can then infest the cat. Do fleas infest humans? Fleas do bite humans and cause red, swollen, and itchy skin at the bite site, similar to eczema symptoms. However, fleas typically do not complete their life cycle on humans. Compared to humans with less hair, fleas prefer to infest cats and dogs with more fur. If pet parents maintain good hygiene habits, there is no need to overly worry about fleas infesting humans. How to remove fleas from cats and dogs? We can use flea shampoos to bathe cats and dogs, or use flea combs to comb the fleas clean and drown them in alcohol or cleaning agents. If you are still concerned about not being able to completely eradicate them, you can take your cats and dogs to professional veterinary hospitals. Ask the veterinarian to assist in handling fleas and purchase flea drops for regular use and health checks to completely eliminate any trace of fleas. Limited-time experience package, only 50 yuan, with free shipping coupon code, click to use. For the latest articles from Pet Daddy: [Cat Posture Meaning] Understand 18 Types of Cat Body Language in 3 Seconds 2023-02-03 [What to Do When Cats Fight] Preventing Cat Fights + Multi-Cat Household Essential Emergency Peacemaking Guide 2023-01-26 New Dog Owners Must Know: 7 Essential Items for Dog Care, Care Tips, and Essential Knowledge 2023-01-23 [What to Do When Cats Keep Meowing] 3 Minutes to Understand the Reasons Why Cats Keep Meowing and How to Handle It 2023-01-08 [Foods Cats Can Eat] 20 Human Foods That Can Also Provide Nutritional Supplement for Cats! Cats Eating These Live Longer! 2022-12-24 Thank you all for watching. If you find the director’s articles very useful, you can click the share button below and share it on LINE, FB to anyone who needs the information.
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Fleas are a common nuisance for both humans and their furry companions. They can cause itchiness, discomfort, and even transmit diseases. Here is a comprehensive guide to help you eliminate fleas from your home and pets effectively.
1. Regular Grooming: Regularly brush your cat and dog to remove fleas and their eggs. This can help break the flea life cycle and reduce their population.
2. Use Flea Treatments: Apply flea treatments specifically designed for cats and dogs. These can be in the form of sprays, powders, or collars. Always follow the instructions carefully to ensure safety and effectiveness.
3. Clean Your Home: Vacuum your home regularly, especially areas where your pets spend a lot of time. Wash pet bedding and toys frequently to remove flea eggs and larvae.
4. Use Flea Preventatives: Prevent fleas from infesting your home by using preventative measures such as flea bombs or foggers. These can help kill adult fleas and prevent new ones from hatching.
5. Monitor Your Pets: Keep an eye on your pets for signs of fleas, such as excessive scratching or small black specks in their fur. If you notice any signs, take action immediately to treat the infestation.
By following these steps, you can effectively eliminate fleas from your home and keep your pets healthy and comfortable. Remember, prevention is always better than cure. Stay proactive in your flea control efforts to ensure a flea-free environment for your furry friends.