Flea protection for cats

How do cats get fleas?

From infested carpets to other animals, there are multiple sources that your cat could get fleas from.  

Fleas can pass from other cats or different animals, while their larvae can survive in or on soft furnishings, especially carpets and particularly when temperatures are high. It’s hard to prevent exposure to fleas, especially if your cat is an outdoor cat, so it’s important to stay vigilant, as fleas can lead to unpleasant and in some cases dangerous issues:

• Flea bites are itchy and uncomfortable for cats, which may lead to excess scratching.

• Frail or young cats can be more negatively affected by fleas, leading to a loss in strength and a sometimes fatal loss of blood.

• Infected flea larvae can pass tapeworms on to your cat, so worming treatments are important if your cat gets fleas.

• Some cats are hypersensitive to flea saliva, which can cause an allergic reaction. 

Signs of fleas in cats

Fleas can be hard to detect, but there are a few telltale signs. If your cat is showing one or more of these symptoms, it may be a sign that they have fleas: 

• Excessive itching or scratching 

• Dark specks appearing in their fur 

• Small but visible insects moving around on their fur or skin 

• Irritation and redness 

• Soreness, fur or hair loss, or patchy fur 

One of the first things you can try to find out whether your cat has fleas is using a fine-tooth comb to groom your cat over a white or pale surface, like a piece of kitchen roll or paper. This may remove some fleas and/or droppings. You can add droplets of water to flea droppings to see if they turn a reddish-brown colour. If this is the case, your cat may well have fleas. 

If your cat shows these symptoms or you’ve identified flea droppings, it’s advisable to speak to your vet for advice.

Top flea treatments for cats

Prevention is the best route to stop your cat getting fleas. While it’s not possible to protect them 100% of the time, you can use cat flea treatments for proactive protection. There are multiple types available, including internal treatments (tablets, chews, and injections), external treatments (shampoos, spot-on, flea collars, and sprays), and treatments for your household furnishings (carpet powders and sprays). 

Phil’s advice

Groom your cat on a regular basis, whether they have long or short fur, to keep them clean and prevent matting of the fur. This will also help you identify signs of fleas faster.