Cats

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How do I tell if my cat has fleas?

Not all cats itch when they have fleas but fleas are the commonest cause of skin problems in cats. Fleas appear to be most common on the lower back and around the tail base. Also look on the belly and inside of the thighs. Look for small, crawling insects among the hairs and tiny black flecks. These flecks are the dropping of the fleas and consist of digested blood. Another way of finding fleas is to place your cat on a white surface or cloth, and to ruffle the coat or groom it with a fine comb. The flea dirt will be dislodged and show plainly against the white background. If the surface is damp then the flea dirt will dissolve and an obvious blood stain will appear.

What harm do fleas cause?

• Severe flea burdens in puppies can cause anemia and sometimes death.
• Fleas transmit the commonest species of tapeworm.
• Flea-bites are irritating and make your cat's skin itchy. Your cat will feel uncomfortable and restless.
• Continual scratching and biting can further damage the skin and cause weeping, scabbing and infection. This makes him scratch even more. The problem has a snowballing effect.
• Fleas bite people causing itching.

Why do some cats suffer more than others do?

Just as some people have allergies to pollen, cosmetics, bee stings and other things, some cats are allergic to flea saliva and develop a very itchy local reaction when a flea bites their skin. As few as one flea is enough to make him very itchy and once the cat starts scratching the further damage causes the cat to be even itchier and the cat scratches more which causes further damage which makes the cat itch more which causes further damage... Get the picture!

If your cat is allergic to fleas then it only takes one to start the process.

Fighting fleas

1. Know your enemy!
   Fleas are not "host-specific". This means that any given flea is just as happy living on your cats, your cats or you! So cats can be a reservoir of fleas for cats and vice-versa. Therefore, all dogs and cats in the household must be treated together. One untreated cat or cat will harbour enough fleas to re- infest all the other pets.
   
   Most of the flea's life cycle is spent off the animal.
   
   The life cycle of adult flea-eggs-larvae-pupae-adult fleas can take anywhere from 3 weeks to a year, and is fastest in warmer weather. The eggs drop off the dog or cat and mature in the environment . Fleas can live for months away from the pet. This means that the flea population on your cat is the tip of the iceberg. Just killing the fleas on your pet is not enough . There are hoards of eggs, immature fleas and adults lying in wait in his basket, his rug, the carpet, the furniture, the cushions and any dry dusty areas such as under the house or in the tan bark. In short anywhere your pet goes there will be fleas and they will be back onto him if you do not kill these fleas in the environment. Cats often go outside their home area and bring back fleas to undo all your hard work.
2. The cat
   Flea powder
   
   Flea powders need to be applied regularly to effective. If the container says once a week it needs to be once a week. Fluff up the coat and apply all over, then using a damp cloth wipe off the excess. Flea powder can be used on bedding as well. "Seven Dust" is recommended from 4 weeks of age in puppies. Other products may be stronger but can't be used until 3 or 4 months.
   
   Rinses
   
   Rinses only kill adult fleas and vary in strength and toxicity. "Fidos" rinse is pyrethrin-based and one of the safer rinses. It is recommended from 4 weeks of age. Using the instructions on the box it can be made up as a spray.
   
   Sprays
   
   Sprays are applied in the same way as powders. Some have an active ingredient that disrupts the life cycle off the host while "Frontline" remains effective for up to 12 weeks and does not wash off unless your pet is repeatedly bathed. Unfortunately some cats hate sprays.
   
   Flea collars
   
   Herbal flea collars are available as well as the more traditional types. Puppy collars are made with pyrrinthrines. Other types are age dependent. Flea collars are generally not recommend forms of flea control, spot-on or sprays - such as Advantage and Frontline - are much more effective and have a higher safety margin.

Tablets and syrups

All these products require the flea to bite the cat to get the poison. For cats with flea allergy dermatitis you don't want the cat to be bitten and these products are therefore better avoided.

Program

"Program" is an unusual product as it doesn't kill adult fleas but causes the female flea to become sterile. Eggs are laid but they don't hatch. If a larval stage bites the protected cat it is unable to moult onto the next stage and, hence, dies. It is a very safe product. It comes as oral doses (packs contain 6 months supply). Where flea burdens are high program is used with another product that kills adult fleas. The flea must bite the animal to obtain the toxin.

Capstar

"Capstar" is a product designed to kill all the fleas on the cat (or dog) rapidly. The fleas are dead in half an hour. It has been designed to be used with other products (especially Program) and is also ideal if you are moving your cat into a flea-free environment such as a new house.

Frontline Top Spot or Advantage

These two products are placed into the fur at the back of the neck and need to be reapplied monthly. Advantage can be applied to the bitch and the pups will obtain protection from the compound rubbing onto their coat. Advantage binds to the fur while Frontline binds to the fat layer. This means that Advantage is shed with the coat and will clear the environment of larval stages like Program does, while Frontline can't be washed off with bathing. Frontline is definitely the best choice on the market to kill adult fleas for cats that swim. Advantage is registered in pregnant and lactating bitches, and in very young pups. It would be the choice for these situations or where the cat is not bathed often and the owner wants activity against adult fleas on the cat and in the environment (it binds to the fur and where it is shed it will kill larvae and stop eggs hatching). They are both excellent products and while scientifically different they are functionally extremely similar.

Revolution

Launched October 1999 this is a combination product for fleas, heartworm and ear mites in cats and dogs, and sarcoptic mange on cats and some intestinal worms in cats. It is applied as a spot-on and statically it is very effective against adult fleas. (Frontline, Advantage and Revolution behaved equally well in Revolution's trials with 99 - 100% effect on adult fleas. All products take roughly 12 hours to begin to work whether when first applied to a cat or if the flea hops on a treated cat.) It is water fast after 2 hours and does have larvical and egg killing effects off the cat. It is also 100 % against heartworm and will remove ear mites and sarcoptic mange with 2 doses. It is available only through vets as an over-the-counter preparation but expect to pay about a 1/3 more than say purchasing Frontline and one of the monthly heartworm tablets.

1. The environment
   Regular cleaning and washing does help to control flea numbers. Where fleas are a problem either use a product on your cat that controls the fleas in the environment or treat the environment directly. "Foggers" released in the house bind to soft furnishings and are effective for up to 10 months (these products have been associated with house fires and it is important to turn off gas heating or pilot lights when using them). Professional pest control companies will also spray the entire house. Under the house is extremely difficult to treat directly and is best blocked off. Also avoid the use of thick padded cushions for bedding that absorb and protect fleas and the use of carpet on kennel floors. All bedding needs to be easily removable and washable.

In a recent seminar given by a veterinary skin specialist it was recommended that a combination of products be used where fleas are a problem. This increased the chance of good control and prevented the fleas developing resistance to a product. What was suggested was the use of Program or foggers to clear the environment with adult flea control of either a spray or Frontline. Most of these cats were being washed up to every day which is why Advantage was not recommended. The sprays recommended were of low toxicity and reapplied after every wash. If your cat has severe skin problems then you should discuss with your veterinarian what products to use and how often to use them.

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