All outdoor cats will come into contact with fleas and ticks, and even indoor cats cannot always avoid the pests. These parasites not only cause discomfort to your four-legged friends but can carry several diseases that are harmful to both pets and humans, so it's vital to keep them at bay.
What are fleas and ticks?
Fleas are small insects and ticks are small arachnids that feed on the blood of mammals, and are commonly found on dogs, cats, and wild mammals and birds.
Fleas
There are several types of UK fleas but the most common one is the Ctenocephalides felis, or the cat flea, which can be found on both cats and dogs. They have powerful back legs allowing them to jump up to 30cm to reach new hosts, and their eggs can lay dormant on skin or in soft furnishings or the grass for months.
Fleas only grow to 1-2mm in length so can be hard to spot amongst your cat's fur and she can easily miss them whilst grooming. However, whilst they may be small, they can cause a lot of irritation.
Ticks
Ticks are similar to a small spider in terms of appearance and movement. They vary from the size of a pinhead to the size of a coffee bean once they are engorged with blood, so they are easier to spot than fleas. However, as they bury their mouthparts into the skin, they can be much harder to remove.
The most common form of ticks found on cats in the UK are the Sheep Tick and the Hedgehog Tick, which are most active in spring and autumn. Like fleas, these ticks not only irritate the skin but can pass infections.
Some ticks, especially deer ticks, carry a bacterial infection called Lyme disease. It is unusual for a cat to catch Lyme disease, but it can affect both cats and humans. In cats it causes lameness due to inflammation of the joints, a lack of appetite and lethargy.
How do I know if my cat has fleas or ticks?
If your kitty has been infested with fleas she may be agitated and excessively grooming herself. You may also notice thinning of the fur in affected areas, or even scabs and red patches if she has developed a flea allergy. Whilst cats are avid groomers and very agile, this is unfortunately not enough to remove fleas from hard to reach areas such as behind the ears.
You may notice flea droppings (black dots) or eggs (white dots) on you cat's fur or on the skin. You are most likely to spot fleas in areas where the skin and fur are thinner, such as behind the ears, around the armpits and groin, and around the base of the tail.
If your pets have fleas it's almost certain your home is infected too, so you may spot fleas or eggs down behind the cushions on your cat’s bed, your chairs, sofas or around the edges of your carpets, or notice yourself being bitten.
Ticks tend to hide between the toes, under the legs, and around the head, ears and tail. You should be able to spot them by inspecting the area and feel them by running your hand through your cat's fur.
How do fleas and ticks spread?
Fleas have an impressive jump so they can easily hop onto your cat from other cats and dogs or hop on from the grass as your cat passes by. Catteries and grooming facilities can inadvertently spread fleas, and soft furnishings and carpets in the home can harbour fleas and infest any animals and people that visit. Fleas can even survive in sheds or in piles of garden refuse and can be brought into the house on shoes or clothing.
Ticks cannot jump or fly but their hooked front legs can grip onto cats that pass them by. They tend to hide in grassy areas and woodland, climbing up onto cats' feet from below or dropping from leaves above. It's also possible for humans to bring ticks into the house on shoes and clothing, so be sure to check your clothes after walking in an area known for ticks.
How to treat fleas and ticks
If you find fleas on your cat, it is recommended that you wash them thoroughly with a parasite shampoo, use a flea comb to remove as many as possible as you go. However, we all know that giving a cat a bath is far easier said than done and prevention is probably better than cure!
There are several alternative methods of killing fleas on your cat and preventing an infestation in the first place. There are sprays, spot-on treatments, flea collars, and medications available.
Note: It is important to read the suitability of any product you use very carefully as they can be very breed specific. Some products designed for eradicating fleas on dogs or larger mammals can be fatal to cats, so always get your vet’s advice on the correct product to use for your cat.
If your cat has been infested with fleas, you will also need to treat your house with parasite killer. You can get sprays to kill flea eggs and larvae that may be hiding in soft furnishings. You usually need to repeat the flea prevention treatment of carpets and soft furnishings 3 or 4 times to make sure your home is flea-free.
Removing a tick from a cat
- Removing ticks is difficult as they hook their mouthparts into your cat’s skin. Removing them incorrectly could cause serious infection if the mouthparts break off, or blood goes back into the wound.
- Wearing rubber gloves, use a tick removal tool to carefully slot the tick's mouthparts into the head of the hook at skin level.
- Ensuring that you do not squeeze the bloated belly of the tick, carefully rotate the hook to free the tick and remove it. You can rotate either clockwise or anti-clockwise but stick to only one direction.
- Place the tick into strong alcohol to kill it.
- Wipe your cat's skin with antiseptic wipes and check for any broken off pieces of the tick in the skin.
It is probably best to ask your vet to remove ticks for you, and show you how to do it safely. You should remove ticks as soon after you spot them as possible.
How to prevent fleas and ticks
Preventative treatments for your cat
Spot-on treatments and flea collars are the most popular methods of preventing ticks and fleas. Spot-on treatments involve applying a small tube of ointment to your cat's neck once a month, or as directed, to repel parasites. If you choose this method be sure to observe your cat for a while after application in case she tries to rub it off.
Flea collars work in a similar way and last longer than the monthly treatments. However, they require do your cat to wear them 24/7. This can be uncomfortable for some cats, especially if they are not used to wearing a collar, and some will be able to slip out of it when you're not looking.
Your vet can also advise you on available tablets and injections to prevent fleas and ticks in your cat if using the spot-on medication or a flea collar doesn’t suit your cat.
Protecting your home
Keeping your home clean is also key to preventing an infestation, especially as ticks and fleas can be brought in from outside on clothes and shoes. In fact, vets estimate that for every flea you see on your pet, there are 100 more in your home!
Wash your cat's bedding regularly and empty the vacuum after every use. Fleas can lay 40 to 50 eggs a day so it's easy to see how infestations can quickly appear from nowhere.
It is impossible to avoid fleas and ticks completely so prevention methods are the best way to protect your cat.