Fleas are a big problem and when it comes to your kitty, the situation becomes even more difficult due to the irritation caused by these pesky parasites. The problem is that your cat scratches and bites itself, which causes skin irritation due to the presence of fleas. The most important thing as a cat owner is to recognize that your tabby is suffering from fleas. This article will give you enough ideas on that along with the serious effects that fleas can have on it.

Before getting started on the main topic, it is very important to understand what exactly fleas are and how they affect your furry friend. Fleas are blood-sucking parasites that are visible when you part your kitten’s fur and examine the skin with close scrutiny. These pests have powerful hind legs that allow them to jump and move easily through the cat’s fur. To confirm the presence of fleas on your feline, keep the pet in an upright position. Keep a piece of white paper under its paws. Try to make the fur rougher. If you see dark things falling gently on the paper, spray them with an anti-fog bottle containing water.

In case the dark things are bleeding on the paper with a reddish stain, it means that it is flea dirt, the fecal matter of adult fleas, which is mainly made up of your cat’s dried blood. If there is sand and pepper-colored residue on the kitten’s fur, it means that there are fleas on its body. The white things you see are nothing more than flea eggs. While the dark ones are ground fleas, on which the newly hatched larvae will soon feed.

Three serious effects of fleas on cats

  • These pesky parasites can have adverse effects on your feline along with other pets that reside in the home. It also harms humans who share the environment. A flea bite can cause irritation and itching in cats. Certain felines are allergic to flea saliva which can result in great distress and discomfort for them. If your kitty is allergic to flea bites, she will chew on the affected area, until the hairs come out and the area is red and raw. It can even result in dermatitis, which can cause further aggravation, if the itching does not go away.

  • Even the dog’s tapeworm can lead to a flea infestation, as fleas become hosts for these worms that the feline ingests while grooming. There are certain fleas that carry a tapeworm cyst. The peculiar thing about these tapeworms is that they grow in the intestine of the kitten, which can be seen in the form of small worm segments near the anus. This is the most common form of tapeworm that can be seen in cats. It is mainly due to fleas.

  • Humans don’t get rid of fleas either. Young kittens have a painful, allergic reaction to a flea bite. The problem is, since these pesky parasites have the ability to fly more than 30 centimeters. They can invade your feet, lower legs, and ankles, while attacking you and sucking your blood.

Since flea bites are extremely lethal to your kitty’s health, it is important to get a good flea preventative treatment on the market; to get rid of these irritating pests.