Once your cat has been diagnosed with fleas, you can start treating them. Many of these signs are also symptoms of common skin conditions, so it’s important to speak to your vet before beginning treatment to ensure your cat isn’t suffering from another skin problem, such as skin allergies or feline acne. Visible fleas on fur or bedding: While fleas are small, they can still be seen on your pets, carpet, bedding, or anywhere else in your home.If there’s a significant infestation, your cat may lose too much blood, leading to anemia and lethargy. Lethargy caused by anemia: Fleas feed on your cat’s blood.If your cat is grooming more than usual, it can be a sign of irritation. Excessive grooming: Itchy cats may excessively groom themselves as a way to relieve their itchy skin.Skin irritation: Flea bites can cause skin irritation and lesions, but so can excessive scratching that may result in open wounds. ![]() Scratching: Many cats are allergic to the saliva of a flea, which can cause them to scratch their skin uncontrollably.Common signs of flea bites on cats include raised pink or red spots. The first step to treating flea bites on cats is to diagnose them. It’s best to start treating your cat for fleas immediately. Fleas lay eggs in large numbers, so infestations can grow rapidly. Fleas can attach to your cat within a few seconds, but many wait for the perfect moment to find a host. Because flea larvae prefer darkness, they will find their way into nooks and crannies you may not be able to see.Įventually, the cat flea larvae develop into pupae and go into a cocoon with an adult flea emerging. The larvae then hatch in a few days and can be found where cats spend their time, typically on carpet or bedding. ![]() 3Īdult fleas can live for years, and females lay eggs within just a few days of finding a host. ![]() 3 Cat fleas may also appear red due to the blood they consume. If you’re wondering, “what do cat fleas look like?” They’re typically about ⅛ inch in size and have flattened bodies, ranging from brown to black. 2 Adult cat fleas remain on the host and require fresh blood to reproduce. 1 Despite their name, cat fleas can also affect dogs since it’s the most common type of domestic flea in the United States. Two common types of fleas can affect cats, including Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea) and Ctenocephalides canis (dog flea). Cat fleas are tiny wingless insects that move around the environment by jumping.
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