What Do Fleas Look Like On A Cat? 8 Easy Flea Remedies For Cats

June 3, 2022

What-Do-Fleas-Look-Like-On-Cats?

Does your cat's behavior seem disturbed, and is its physical health deteriorating over time?

Several things can annoy your furry friend, including fleas, and it is your duty as a pet parent to get rid of them.

Fleas are a recurring issue with household pets, and that is why we have brought you an extensive guide on the subject so that you can battle the problem with relative ease and ensure your beloved feline’s comfort.

What Do Fleas Look Like On A Cat?

Your cat might be victim to fleas if they are showing a majority of these 7 symptoms:

Brownish red insects crawling on the fur
Excessively scratching
Hair missing from spots
Avoiding warm areas of the home
Restlessness behavior
Wheatish rice grains around the anus or on bedding (indicates having tapeworm)
Black small flea dirt ( basically, flea feces combined with pet’s blood)

Where Do Fleas Hide On A Cat?

Where-Do-Fleas-Hide-On-A-Cat

Fleas play better hide and seek than us, and it is difficult to spot them in the early stage.

If your cat checks most of the symptoms mentioned above, but you do not see any insects crawling on its fur, you should check more thoroughly in the warm spots on your cat's body for fleas.

The neck, armpits, and groin area are their favorite spots.

Where Do Fleas Lay Eggs On A Cat?

Even though a flea dies in 8 days, they are still not easily vanished.

As they reproduce quite fast, the female fleas lay their eggs on the neck, back of the tail, or belly as they are the easiest spots for the eggs to consume your pet's blood.

Do Fleas Live In The Cat Litter?

Since the cat’s urine provide an ideal environment for these eggs to hatch and grow, fleas consider the litter box as their dream home as your cat’s feces provides necessary nutrients for their growth.

Can Fleas Kill Cats?

Although the cases are pretty rare, there is a possibility that fleas can be fatal for cats. Kittens, cats with pre-existing diseases, or old cats are usually at risk.

How Do Fleas Affect Cats?

Fleas can cause severe diseases such as:

Anemia
Feline Homotrophic Mycoplasmosis (FHM)
Flea Allergy Dermatitis
Plague

If ignored for a long time, these deadly diseases may become the cause of your cat's death.

Can My Cat Get Sick From Fleas?

This painful infestation affects horribly on your cat’s physical health. As mentioned earlier, cats that have infested fleas are more prone to getting sick and developing severe diseases such as

Flea Allergy Dermatitis
Anemia
Bartonella
Tapeworm
Feline Homotrophic Mycoplasmosis (FHM)

Can Fleas Cause Cats To Lose Their Hair?

Apart from these health problems, your cat will also start to lose its gorgeous mane.

An infected cat will have bald patches, commonly at the tail or lower back. This happens as an allergic reaction to flea saliva as they excessively lick or chew on a specific spot.

Consequently, if the fleas continue to bite on the same spot, the cat gets irritated and starts to aggressively chew on the area, which develops open sores or scabs.

Therefore, it is advised to immediately get your cat treated by a vet so that the situation won’t worsen over time. Usually, the vets suggest liquid solutions, sprays, or chewable tablets to eliminate the infestation.

Can Cats Get Fleas From Dogs?

Yes, fleas can transfer from a dog to a cat quite easily.

However, in the USA, there are typically more cases of cat fleas than dog fleas which is why when you are treating your dog for fleas, it will most likely receive the treatment commonly meant for cats.

Are Cat Fleas And Dog Fleas Different?

There are many different types of fleas, but the two most common ones that affect our pets are cat fleas and dog fleas.

While they are both technically the same species (Ctenocephalides felis), they have some key differences.

For starters, dog fleas are more common in warmer climates, whereas cat fleas are more prevalent in locations with a cooler climate.

However, both types of fleas can live on either animal if the opportunity arises. Although dog and cat fleas differ from each other, they serve a common purpose: to make life harder for your furry friends.

Can Cat Fleas Live On Humans?

No, cat fleas don’t typically live on human skin. Fleas may bite you but they won’t be able to survive on your body.

Where Do Cat Fleas Bite Humans?

They may bite you on the ankles and lower legs.

Can Cat Fleas Live On Clothes And Hair?

It is a complete myth that cat fleas can host on human hair.

Although they may get on your clothes and probably live there for a little while, they will eventually die after 24 hours as they won't be able to consume blood.

How To Get Rid Of Fleas On Humans?

If your skin has become irritated because of an allergic reaction to a flea bite, the first and foremost thing you must do is avoid scratching that area to ensure that your skin barrier is not broken.

You should not worry since a flea attack is easily treatable for us humans. You can use aloe vera gel or cream and rub it on the area, whereas a medicinal lice shampoo will do the trick for the hair or beard.

Can You Get Fleas Without Having Pets?

Yes, you can get fleas without having pets.

It can be for two reasons - either a stray or neighbor animal having fleas has passed near your porch, deck, or backyard. These fleas are blood-hungry, so they jump into your clothes, or your previous tenant could have owned pets infested with fleas.

On top of that, fleas can infest your home because of you as well. Since these tiny fleas can easily jump up to 7 inches high, they can easily stick to your skin and clothes from any random animal you petted in the street.

Can Indoor Cats Get Fleas?

Although cats that live indoors are less susceptible to flea attacks than outdoor felines, they can also fall prey to these annoying insects.

You probably might be wondering how your cat ended up having fleas. The answer lies near you.

It can be because of these 4 possibilities:

A Neighbor
Another Pet
Wild Animals
Used Furniture

A Neighbor

If you live in a closely packed complex, there is a possibility that your indoor cat got infected by fleas from a neighbor’s home.

Another Pet

If you take your furry buddy outside for a walk in the morning, it might be possible that fleas have hopped on their fur.

Wild Animals

Fleas are parasites, ready to consume blood from any animal they can find.

Since outdoor animals such as raccoons, squirrels, or rabbits live around your home, they can leave flea eggs there, which find their way inside your home and your precious feline.

Used Furniture

The most significant risk of using old furniture is that they are most likely to hold parasites. When coming across a lively pet, these parasites hop on them and make their fur their new home.

Fleas are always looking for a warm, cozy place to sneak in, which is why your bed is the perfect place for them.

Another thing you should know is that the adult fleas will lay their eggs within the mattress fabric and produce feces to feed the larvae. Thus, it is crucial to keep your bedding clean at all times.

Not only that, but these fleas also quickly adapt to a new environment, meaning they can sneak into your carpets or any stuffed furniture that you have lying around.

How To Get Rid Of Fleas On Your Cat?

Now that you know all there is to know about how your furry buddy can get fleas and how to identify the problem, let’s move on to how you can get rid of them.

Here are 5 steps you should follow as a responsible pet parent:

1.Treat Your Cat For Fleas

The first step is to get these fleas off your cat's fur. You can use formulated solutions, shampoos to bathe your cat or use sprays for aquaphobic cats.

It is recommended to contact a vet; they can best guide you on the application and precautionary measures that you should take when getting rid of these annoying pests.

2.You can also make a homemade flea repellent spray to get rid of cat fleas.

Mix equal parts vinegar and water together, fill it in a spray bottle, and then precisely spray it on your cat's coat. After 10-20 minutes, use a flea comb to brush the flea out.

3.Bathe Your Cat

According to Maranda Elswick, DVM, Diluted oils can help to repel fleas.

Diluted lavender oil is known to repel fleas. You can add a few drops to your cat's bath water or apply them directly to your cat's fur. It’s recommended to ask your vet to get the correct dosage.

It also should be noted that not all essentials are safe for cats. Never give your pet oils that say “all-natural” or “organic oils”. Oils that are not diluted are not safe for pets.

4.Bathing your cat in soap and warm water is another effective way to get rid of fleas. This will not only drown the fleas, but the dish soap will break down their exoskeletons, so they can't survive. Be sure to use a mild soap so as not to irritate your cat's skin.

5.You can also use a flea comb to remove fleas from your cat's fur.

6.Treat Other Pets

Your other pets might be at risk too. Thus, it is essential that you provide them with the necessary care as well.

7.Treat Your Surroundings

It is vital for you to maintain a clean space for your pets. Thus, make sure that you regularly clean your cat's litter box and change your bedding.

Additionally, suitable termite or parasite sprays will help get rid of cat fleas in your surroundings as well.

Can I Put Coconut Oil On Cats To Kill Fleas?

8.Coconut oil is another oil that can be used as a natural flea treatment for cats.

Since every cat’s health is different it is recommended to talk to your holistic vet to get the right dosage and whether it is safe for your cat.

Simply apply a small amount of coconut oil to your cat's fur and massage it in. You can also add a few drops of essential oils to the coconut oil, like lavender or eucalyptus, before applying it to your cat.

Leave the mixture on for a few hours or overnight, and then shampoo your cat as usual.

How to Bath A Kitten With Fleas

How To Get Rid Of Fleas In Carpets? 4 Tips To Get Rid Of Carpet Fleas

Fleas love to hide in carpets, and they can lay up to 50 eggs a day, so getting rid of them can be a real challenge.

There are a few things you can do to get rid of fleas on your carpet without resorting to chemicals.

1.Vacuum regularly-This trick will help remove any fleas that are living on the carpet. Vacuuming can kill 96% percent of adult fees and eliminate the small ones.

2.You can also sprinkle baking soda or diatomaceous earth over the carpet. Leave it for a few hours, and then vacuum again.

3.You can also steam clean your carpet as fleas cannot survive high temperatures. Make sure to follow the directions on your steamer carefully.

4.Finally, if you have a pet, make sure to treat them for fleas as well. This will help to prevent the fleas from coming back into your home.

Final Words

There you go; now you know what fleas look like on cats and home remedies to get rid of cat fleas.

So, if you notice signs such as brownish-red insects crawling on the fur, hair loss from different spots, restless behavior, flea dirt, or excessive scratching, your cat might be a victim of fleas.

But you don’t have to worry as there are many easy home remedies to eliminate these fleas. These include making a simple homemade flea repellent spray with vinegar, giving your cat a bath, and keeping your surroundings clean.