Cat Flea Infestation And Skin Problems

The cat flea (scientific name Ctenocephalides felis) is an extremely common parasitic insect whose principal host is the domestic cat, although a high proportion of the fleas found on dogs also belong to this species.

Some common signs of fleas on dogs and cats are "flea dirt" in the animals coat, seeing fleas on the less hairy portions of the body, excessive scratching, licking or biting at the skin, and loss of hair. Other signs of cat flea infestations are the observable symptoms of flea bites on people.

Here are some common types of illnesses due to a flea infestation: Skin and Coat problems. Kittens with fleas on their bodies can have this problem in their skin. It will make them scratch at the back of the neck, making the cats skin red. Therefore, causing wounds.

Not only are flea infestations difficult, time-consuming, and frustrating, but fleas can cause trauma to your cats skin, as well as cause allergic reactions in some cats (known as flea allergy dermatitis ). They can also carry tapeworms , a nasty intestinal parasite.

The Flea Detective. Finding fleas on Shebas skin or coat gives you the hard evidence you need to give these pesky parasites their marching orders. Black or dark copper colored and roughly the size of a pinhead, fleas crawl along the surface of their victims skin.

Infestation with Notoedres cati mites is a rare and a highly contagious skin disease of otherwise healthy cats. The mites appearance and life cycle are very similar to that of the sarcoptic mange mite (see above). Mange is readily transmitted between cats by contact.

Visible dog or cat fleas and flea dirt are other telltale signs that youre having a flea infestation. To confirm a fleas presence, heres a list of steps to guide you: Check the pets fur, especially around the neck and tail.

Before starting treatment, confirm that fleas are causing your cats discomfort rather than other skin conditions or parasites. Accurate identification prevents wasted effort on treatments that wont address the actual problem. Diagnostic methods for confirming flea presence