What are fleas and ticks?
Fleas and ticks are parasites that thrive on dogs and cats. They can spread diseases to both pets and humans.
Dr. Amanda Shoemake
Haywood Animal Hospital
How do fleas and ticks impact the health and wellbeing of my cat?
Primarily, fleas and ticks spread disease. These parasites cause skin irritation, itching, and can carry blood-borne diseases that impact your cat's health significantly.
How do cats get fleas and ticks?
Many people believe their indoor pets are safe from fleas and ticks. However, even indoor cats can be affected by fleas and ticks. These parasites can be carried into the house on your shoes, socks, pants, or other items. Fleas and ticks can live in the grass, making outdoor cats more susceptible to infestations. Ticks can latch onto your cat and feed off them, while fleas can cause your cat to itch and suffer from hair loss or scabbing, especially around the base of their tail.
Why is flea and tick prevention important?
Preventing flea and tick infestations is crucial because parasites carry diseases that can harm your cat's health. Some of these diseases can be lifelong and may be treatable but not curable. It's always better to prevent these infestations and the spread of diseases than to have your cat suffer from long-term health consequences.
How can a veterinarian help with flea and tick prevention?
There are many options on the market for flea and tick prevention, but some have been available for very long, and fleas and ticks tend to grow resistant to them. Veterinarians can provide prescription flea and tick preventatives, but it is important to remember that not all products are created equal. Veterinarians tend to have only the most effective flea and tick prevention products.
What are some signs and symptoms of flea and tick infestations?
Ticks can often be found attached to your cat's skin, which would be the first sign that they have them. Fleas are a bit harder to detect because cats are really good groomers. If they find a bug crawling on them, they will eat it immediately, so in many cases, you won’t see any fleas on your cat. Common signs of flea infestations in cats include hair loss, itching, skin discomfort, and finding flea dirt (tiny black specks left behind by fleas). Sometimes we’ll find fleas and ticks on cats based on these symptoms. We’ve had cats come in that are lethargic and even anemic because of fleas and ticks. If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian for an evaluation.
What do fleas and ticks look like?
Fleas and ticks are visible to the naked eye. Ticks can vary in appearance based on their species and life stage, where baby ticks are much smaller than the adults, as well as whether they have fed on your cat. Engorged ticks that have been on your cat for a number of days can swell to the size of a blueberry or even a grape, whereas unfed ticks are much smaller. Fleas all look the same and they’re not microscopic, so you should be able to see them with the naked eye. However, because cats are such good groomers, you won’t always see them. You’ll likely see flea dirt, which look like little black specs on their skin and is just the poop of the flea.
What are some possible diseases that can be transmitted by fleas and ticks?
Fleas and ticks can spread a variety of diseases, such as Lyme disease, which affects both pets and humans. Other diseases caused by these parasites can result in anemia or infections, and some are zoonotic, meaning they can spread to humans as well. Preventing fleas and ticks is crucial for maintaining your cat's health and reducing the risk of zoonotic diseases.
What are the most effective flea and tick treatments for cats?
The most effective treatments are prescription preventions that come in many forms, such as oral medications. For cats, we typically use topical preventatives that you put in between their shoulder blades. Overall, it’s best to stick with the prescription preventatives that are safe for cats and tend to be more effective.
What to do if you find fleas and ticks on your cat?
If you find fleas or ticks on your cat, let your veterinarian know right away. Your veterinarian will get you preventatives that are safe for cats that may be sensitive to medications. Some over-the-counter preventatives can cause some major health concerns and may even be fatal, so you want to be very careful. If you find fleas and ticks on your cat, don’t panic, just give us a call and we’ll schedule an appointment so we can figure out the next steps together.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (828) 697-0446, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media https://www.facebook.com/haywoodanimalhospital/, https://www.instagram.com/haywoodanimalhospital/
Cat Flea & Tick - FAQs
Dr. Amanda Shoemake
Haywood Animal Hospital
How do you prevent fleas and ticks?
Prevention is key and it's fairly easy. In cats, we typically use a topical type of prevention, which is a liquid that goes in between their shoulder blades. The frequency varies depending on the type of prevention, usually once a month, once every two months, or once every three months.
What are the different types of flea and tick prevention?
Typically, in cats, we use a topical medication for flea and tick prevention.
How do I know what is the best prevention for my cat?
You should definitely talk with your veterinarian about the best prevention for your cat. There are over-the-counter options and prescription options. Prescription options are always the better choice. Over-the-counter options can be toxic to cats, and even those labeled for cats can sometimes cause problems. Prescription options are also more effective, as many over-the-counter options have been on the market for a long time and are no longer effective, as fleas and ticks have grown resistant to them.
Is prevention needed all year round?
Yes, prevention is needed all year round, especially in areas where it doesn't get cold enough to kill off fleas and ticks. Even during the winter, warm days can cause these parasites to become active again after being dormant during colder periods.
How can I control fleas and ticks in my cat's environment?
The best way to control fleas and ticks in your cat's environment is to keep your cat on preventative treatment 12 months out of the year. Depending on the environment, there may be additional recommendations, but preventative treatment is always the main method of control.
Are there vaccines for flea and tick-borne diseases?
While there are some vaccines for dogs, there are none for cats. Cats are at a higher risk for getting these diseases, so preventing fleas and ticks is crucial.
Will fleas and ticks resolve on their own?
Fleas and ticks will not resolve on their own. They reproduce easily, so once you have one flea or tick in your household, more will follow.
Are there home remedies to prevent fleas and ticks?
While you may find home remedies online, they are not effective and can be harmful to your cat. Please consult your veterinarian for proper prevention methods.
If my dog is on prevention, does my cat need to be too?
Absolutely. All pets, whether indoor, outdoor, or both, should be on flea and tick prevention. Even if your dog is on prevention, it can still bring fleas and ticks into the house, which can then infest your cat.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (828) 697-0446, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media https://www.facebook.com/haywoodanimalhospital/, https://www.instagram.com/haywoodanimalhospital/