Fleas on Cats

Fleas on Cats
There is no doubt that cats make fantastic pets – easy to care for, affectionate and a calming influence, our feline friends are among the most popular animals kept as domestic pets across the world. They come, however, with a problem – not unique to them by any means –that any cat owner past or present will testify to: fleas.
It is estimated that every single domestic cat – and, it must be said, dog – will succumb to an infestation of fleas at some point, and it is likely that the problem will recur many times. The reason is simple – fleas are ubiquitous, they are absolutely everywhere, they are very resilient, hard to find and spread quickly and easily.
Fleas on cats are generally of a specific type known – unsurprisingly – as cat fleas; these are distinct from dog fleas which make up the majority of cases of fleas on dogs, but it must be remembered that each can survive on the alternative host quite comfortably.
Fleas on humans are a distinct species entirely and while we are frequently bitten by fleas that live on our pets these parasites will not live on our bodies for long.
If your cat is one that goes outdoors and roams its territory then it is guaranteed to contract fleas at some point; many cats that also roam around will have them, and the flea – although it cannot fly – jumps extremely long distances in order to move from host to host, laying its eggs and breeding at will and, thus, creating new and rapidly expanding colonies as it does. Rest assured, if you have a cat it will get fleas – it is inevitable and also very annoying.
Getting rid of fleas involves a lot of patience and the use of either one of the common insecticide treatments available over the counter or a natural home remedy, of which there are many available for perusal on the internet; flea collars are not as effective as many of the insecticide treatments and should be considered only as a second line of attack.
Despite the fact that the majority of flea infestations cause no problem other than the incessant itching, that they suck blood for food means they can be a cause of anaemia, especially in very young cats, and for this reason fleas on cats rank as something that should be treated very quickly indeed. Keep an eye out for uncharacteristic scratching and you know your cat is in need of treatment.