How to Check for Fleas on Your Cat

Before beginning the flea hunt, take a moment to consider why you suspect your cat might have fleas. If you spot fleas on your cat or around your house, you can be sure that you’re dealing with fleas and will need to use veterinary flea treatment. However, you may encounter flea problems even if you’ve never seen fleas on your pet or inside your home. Cats can remove adult fleas from their fur on their own. Flea eggs may fall off the pet and hatch in the coming weeks. In any case, it is crucial to determine with certainty that your cat has fleas.

Pay attention to how your cat grooms itself. If it is sensitive to fleas, your cat may have an allergic reaction. Even if your cat is not allergic to flea saliva, it will still experience irritation and itching due to the bites. This condition leads to excessive grooming behavior. Your pet might groom itself more often and more thoroughly in an attempt to remove the fleas. It may be challenging to spot fleas on your cat, as they hop onto its body to feed and then quickly jump off, making them only temporarily visible. This explains why cats can be infested with fleas even if you don’t find them.

Identifying Symptoms Indicating Flea Infestation Flea bites cause itching. Observe the following signs in your cat:

• Small lumps or hard scabs, typically found on the neck and along the back
• Skin irritation, especially around the neck and base of the tail
• Increased scratching, particularly around the face
• Excessive grooming
• Hairballs obstructing the digestive system from over-grooming
• Hair loss
• Presence of tapeworm segments in the feces (fleas carry tapeworm eggs, which enter the digestive system and are excreted outside)

Pay Attention to Your Cat's Behavior Your cat may suddenly avoid rooms it once enjoyed entering, especially carpeted areas where fleas may be hiding. It could also become agitated, irritable, or even growl and shake its head, possibly in an attempt to shake off the fleas.

• Some cats may be more sensitive to flea bites and show discomfort through unusual behaviors due to the irritation.

Watch for Signs of Anemia If the flea infestation is severe, your cat may not only have fleas on its coat but also experience blood loss, leading to anemia. Look for signs like lethargy, extreme fatigue, pale gums, and muscle loss. You should also check for flea dirt on a wet white cloth. Regardless of the presence of fleas, it's essential to take your cat to the vet if it shows signs of anemia.

• Kittens and older cats are more susceptible to anemia when infested with fleas.

Keep Your Cat Still Place your cat on a white cloth or pillowcase. The white fabric will make it easier to spot fleas or flea dirt as they fall off. If you prefer holding your cat in your lap while grooming, lay a piece of fabric on your thigh.

• Fleas are small brown, wingless insects about 3-4mm in length. You may notice them jump off as you groom your cat. Check the underside of the cat's belly, where it meets the legs. Part the fur to find fleas, as these are areas they tend to inhabit.

Brush Your Cat's Fur Use a flea comb to groom your cat from head to tail while checking both the fur and exposed skin. Pay special attention to the neck, base of the tail, and inside of the cat's four legs—these are the areas where fleas tend to hide.

• The flea comb is designed with closely spaced teeth that trap fleas, preventing them from escaping and pushing them to the surface.

Inspect the Comb Even if you don't spot any fleas, you may still find flea dirt or eggs that resemble salt and pepper. If you notice anything suspicious, place it on a damp paper towel. Flea feces contain blood, so they will turn dark red when wet.

• If you find flea dirt or their excrement, it indicates that fleas are hiding somewhere on your cat.

Examine the Flea Dirt Shake the comb over a white sheet of paper to look for black specks. To differentiate between dirt and flea feces, sprinkle a little water on the specks. If they are flea feces, the spots will change to a reddish-brown or orange color with a spreading effect.

• You will have the clearest view if you place your cat on a white towel or sheet of paper while grooming it.

Look for Bald Patches There are various reasons why fleas may cause hair loss in cats. Your cat might scratch excessively due to constant itching from flea bites, resulting in bald spots. Alternatively, your cat could be allergic to flea saliva, causing skin irritation and further scratching.

• Cats can also have allergies to other factors besides fleas. If you don't find fleas but your cat continues to scratch incessantly, take it to a vet.

Find a Flea Treatment Even if you don’t spot any fleas, it’s still wise to use a product that both prevents and treats fleas. Many flea prevention products are safe and highly effective. Some can be bought without a prescription, while others are only available at your vet’s office.

• Choose a product specifically for cats, as some dog products can be harmful to cats. Consult with your vet to select a product that suits your cat’s needs.

Treat Your Cat with Monthly Flea Medication Follow the instructions on the package or your vet's recommendations. This will protect your cat from fleas and help you determine whether its symptoms are flea-related. If the symptoms disappear after treatment, fleas likely played a role in the problem, even if you never saw them.

• Monthly prevention treatments are available in oral, injectable, and topical forms.

Purchase a Vet-Approved Flea Collar There are many flea collars available on the market. Some work well, while others can be toxic to cats. Therefore, it’s crucial to speak with your vet before using a flea collar on your cat.

• You can also place a flea collar in the vacuum cleaner bag to kill any fleas that get sucked up.

Prevent Fleas from Spreading Indoors Vacuum your carpets and upholstered furniture every day. Be sure to dispose of the vacuum bag in an outdoor trash can to prevent fleas from returning. You should also wash your cat’s bedding in hot water to kill any fleas hiding there.

• If these methods don’t seem to eradicate the fleas, you may need to use a household flea spray. This type of spray releases toxins to kill fleas and flea eggs, but it can be harmful to pets and children. Be sure to research flea sprays thoroughly before use.

• Inspect all pets in your home if you suspect that one of them may have fleas.
• Fleas are the leading cause of skin conditions in cats and are typically easy to identify and treat.
• If you live in an area prone to flea infestations, you should use preventive treatments for your cat to avoid getting fleas.
• Consult your veterinarian about treating tapeworms in your cat if your pet has fleas.
• Along with flea droppings, you may also find flea eggs (tiny white specks) on your cat's fur.
• If the flea problem becomes severe, you might want to consider contacting a pest control service.

• If your cat has fleas, you are at risk of being bitten by them as well.
• Fleas can cause anemia, particularly in kittens, and can also spread other diseases such as Rickettsia fever and Bartonella. They are also responsible for tapeworm infestations and can cause skin irritation.
• Flea larvae can remain dormant for months. Therefore, when signs of fleas appear, it's crucial to start preventive treatment and thoroughly clean your home. You should also treat areas that might be infested with fleas using safe, indoor-use products to prevent them from returning.