Cats & fleas are
something all pet owners would rather do without. This article
explains what fleas are, which species of flea affects cats, how to
tell if your cat has fleas, how to treat your cat for fleas &
how to prevent future flea infestations in cats & your
home.
What are fleas?
Fleas are wingless,
hard bodied, blood sucking ectoparasites. They belong to the insect
family known as Siphonaptera, which means "wingless
siphon".
What is an
ectoparasite?
An ectoparasite is a
parasite that lives on the exterior of an animal.
Are there
different types of fleas?
Yes, there over 2,000
species of fleas worldwide. The most common domestic flea flea is
the Cat Flea (Ctenocephalides felis). The Cat flea can attack
not only cats but humans also. Cats are most often infested
with the cat flea, although they may also be infested with the dog
flea (Ctenocephalides canis) or the human flea (Pulex
irritans).
Where are fleas
found?
Fleas are found
throughout the world, although they are far more prevalent in warmer
& humid climates.
Life cycle of the
flea
Before you begin your
flea eradication programme, it is important to learn about the life
cycle of fleas. With this understanding you will be equipped with
the knowledge on how to combat them.
There are 4 stages to
the flea life cycle, known as metamorphosis.
1) Egg: At .5mm in
length, flea eggs are barely visible to the human eye, the female
flea lays approximately one egg per hour. The flea egg is whitish,
smooth & dry & easily falls off the coat into the
environment. Flea eggs hatch in around 1 - 10 days, depending on
conditions. Flea eggs & flea droppings are often found together.
When the cat scratches the eggs along with the droppings fall off
the cat. The droppings provide food to the larvae when they hatch.
The eggs & droppings together have the appearance of salt &
pepper.
Environmental
conditions such as humidity, light & temperature determine how
quickly & how many flea larvae hatch from flea eggs. The lower
the temperature, the fewer larvae will hatch. Optimal conditions for
flea larvae to hatch are 70% & higher & temperatures of 21 -
32 degrees C (70 - 89 degrees F).
Flea eggs fall off
the cat when it jumps, scratches, moves & sleeps. Eggs are found
all over the home, but in their highest concentrations in your cat's
preferred spots such as bedding.
2) Larvae: The larvae
are vermiform (maggot like) like in appearance & up to 6mm long,
flea larvae avoid light by residing deep in carpet fibres, under furniture & rugs
& in crevices. At this stage they have no legs or eyes, but have
chewing mouth parts. Flea larvae feed on adult flea excrement,
food debris & dead skin.
3) Pupae: This is the
transition stage between larvae & adult flea. After
approximately 7-18 days the flea larvae pupate. It takes
approximately 7 - 10 days for the larvae to develop into a flea,
although it may be some time before the flea emerges from it's
protective cocoon. They are at their most resilient as pupae,
and resistant to insecticides.
The flea larvae spins
a sticky, protective silken (produced by the saliva of the larvae)
outer cocoon, covered with particles of debris such as dust, hair,
lint etc. The pupae are found in carpet fibres, crevices
etc., and are virtually undetectable.
4) Adult flea: The
adult flea emerges when it is stimulated by environmental factors
such as vibrations, warmth or breath of the host. The flea can come
out of it's cocoon within seconds of stimulation. The lifespan of an
adult flea is around 2 - 3 months. The adult flea is around 1.5 -
4mm long, and dark brown or black in appearance. Adults suck blood
from their host. Adult fleas begin laying eggs within 36 - 48 hours
of their first blood meal. A female flea consumes up to 15 times her
body weight in blood per day.
How do cats become
infected with fleas?
Cats become infected
with fleas via the environment or other pets who have a flea
infestation.
How do you know if
your pet has fleas?
Scratching &
biting at the fur is a good indicator your cat has fleas, although
cats scratch & bite for reasons other than fleas. Upon close
inspection of the fur & skin, you can usually see fleas on your
cat, they are small dark brown insects. It is easier to see fleas if
you have a light coloured cat. You may also notice flea droppings on
your cat's bedding. If you are unsure, stand your cat on a white
piece of paper, rough up it's fur a little & then lightly spray
the paper with a demister. If you have very small brown specks which
leave red stains on the paper then that is a sure sign your cat has
fleas.
Are fleas
dangerous to cats?
If the infestation is
heavy & or prolonged they can in some cases cause death due to
flea bite anaemia. Kittens are more vulnerable than healthy, adult
cats. Fleas can also infect your cat with tapeworm. Flea
bite hypersensitivity (Flea Allergy Dermatitis) can also be a problem in some cats. This will
be covered in another article soon.
Tackling a Flea
Outbreak
Below is a percentage
of the flea population in the environment:
5% of adult fleas live on your cat.
10% are pupae
35% are larvae
50% are eggs
Killing fleas on your
cat is will not solve the problem as most of the flea life cycle is
spent off the animal. You need to focus your attention in three
areas:
1) Kill adult fleas
on the cat.
2) Kill adult fleas,
eggs & larvae in the home.
3) Killing adult
fleas, eggs & larvae in outdoor areas.
If you live in a
multi-cat household or have dogs, it is important to treat all
animals simultaneously.
Treat Your Cat:
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There are several
methods of flea control for cats: These products vary in price &
effectiveness.
Flea collar, shampoo,
flea combs, spray, tablets, powders, insect growth regulators &
topical treatments.
Flea collars: There
are many different types of flea collar on the market. Some are
insecticide only & work by killing adult fleas on the cat. Other
flea collars contain IGR's to kill the eggs & larvae.
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Flea collars often only kill fleas on the cat's head & neck, but
fleas further down the body survive.
Shampoo/Dips: Flea
shampoos contain insecticides which kill adult fleas.
Flea Combs: Flea
combs aren't overly effective, only removing 10 - 50% of fleas on
your cat. If you wish to use this method place a small bowl of water
with some detergent in it close by & drop the fleas into the
bowl. This will drown the fleas. Placing a small amount of petroleum
jelly onto the teeth of the comb will help the fleas stick to it.
Flea Powders: Flea
powders will kill adult fleas on the cat. Powders may cause the
cat's coat to dry out & also may be irritating to the cat's oral
& respiratory mucosa.
Oral
suspensions: Program®
is given to cats via an oral suspension once a month. The product is
added to the cat's food & is absorbed into the bloodstream. When
a flea bites a cat treated with Program it ingests the active
ingredient (lufenuron), which is passed to her eggs & prevents
them from hatching. As this product only prevents eggs from
hatching, an appropriate adulticide will also be needed to kill
adult fleas. Seek advice from your veterinarian before using more
than one product on your cat. It is also extremely important to
speak to your veterinarian if you are considering treating a
pregnant or nursing cat. They will be able to recommend the safest
treatment for your cat.
Spot on
treatments: Topical
adulticide. There are several effective products on the market which
are administered via liquid form to the cat's shoulders. These are
available through your veterinarian or online pet product store.
These products are very effective for killing adult fleas on your
cat. The active ingredient varies from product to product.
Application is generally once a month.
When applying a flea
product to a cat it is important to follow the instructions on the
packet to the letter. Cats are extremely
sensitive to chemicals & if you are using one than one product
your cat may be exposed to too many toxins, resulting in sickness or
death.
Some of the most
effective & popular topical flea control products used on cats
(and dogs) include Advantage, Revolution & Frontline.
Revolution also kills worms
(except tapeworm), so makes life a bit easier for pet owners, according to the
Bayer site,
Advantage also kills
flea larvae in the pet's environment too.
Cat Flea Sprays: There
are some effective cat flea sprays on the market. Frontline make such a spray.
Wear rubber gloves while applying the spray to your cat while ruffling the coat.
Avoid contact with the eyes & mouth.
Warning: Don't ever use flea products designed for other pets on
your cat & ALWAYS follow the dosage chart on the back of the packet.
Treat The Environment:
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Indoors:
To treat the house
& environment you can either hire the services of a professional
pest controller or buy a product from your local supermarket. Most
DIY products come in the form of an aerosol "bomb". Prior
to letting the bomb off you & your pets should temporarily
vacate the premises. Be aware that flea bombs are toxic to
other animals, so all pets (including fish) need to be removed prior
to bombing.
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IGR's: (insect growth
regulators) disrupt the cycle of the flea. They prevent eggs from
hatching, kill larvae & prevent adult fleas from reproducing.
These most often come in as a bomb/spray.
A pest controller
should be able to spray your house & garden for fleas. It is
important to specify that you have cat(s) living in the house, so
they can use a suitable spray which is safe for pets.
Washing your
cat's bedding is important. Wash it in the hottest possible cycle.
Frequent vaccuming will also remove
fleas & their eggs. One useful tip is to put a flea collar in
your vacuum cleaner bag. When vacuuming, pay extra attention to
corners, skirting boards, under furniture & any other nooks &
crannies. Also vacuum furniture, curtains etc. This is where the
larvae love to hang out, eating dust & debris, so it is vital that
you thoroughly vacuum. Once you have vacuumed, clean out the bag &
dispose of carefully. Ensure that every time you vacuum, you empty
it out to prevent any fleas escaping.
Outdoors:
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Fleas can
infest your garden & outdoor buildings too, so while you are
treating your cat & house, also pay attention to your garden.
Spray areas your
pet tends to hang out, and if it has bedding in the garden,
bring it in & wash it.
You may wish to
flea bomb any outdoor buildings you have, especially if your cat
hangs out there. |
Long term flea
control
Regular application
of a good quality flea control on your cat is the best method of
flea control. Ensure your cat's bedding is regularly washed.
Can fleas infect
humans?
As stated previously,
there are different species of fleas, including human fleas.
Generally cat fleas tend to prefer to live on cats, but they will
bite humans.
Can fleas infect
other pets?
Yes they can. This is
why it is important to treat all pets for fleas at the same
time.
Related
articles:
Treating Fleas
on Young Kittens:
Tapeworm in Cats:
Pyrethrin & Pyrethroid Poisoning in Cats
