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Fleas on dogs and cats! These small dark brown insects prefer temperatures of 65-80 degrees and humidity levels of 75-85%... so for some areas of the country they are more than just a "summer" problem. Dogs and cats often get infested with fleas through contact with other animals or contact with fleas in the environment. The strong back legs of this insect enable it to jump from host to host or from the environment onto the host. (Fleas do not have wings so cannot fly!) The flea's bite can cause itching for the host but for a sensitive or flea-allergic animal, this itching can be quite severe and leads to hair-loss, inflammation and secondary skin infections. Some pets, hypersensitive to the flea's saliva, will itch all over from the bite of even a single flea! The flea information presented here will focus on treatment for and prevention of fleas, which, let's face it, is just as important to the pet as it is to the pet's caretakers!
How do you know if fleas are causing all that itching (called pruritus)? Generally, unlike the burrowing, microscopic (Demode x) http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/dem.html or (Scabies Mites,) http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/mites.html fleas can be seen scurrying along the surface of the skin. Dark copper colored and about the size of the head of a pin, fleas dislike light so looking for them within furry areas and on the pet's belly and inner thighs will provide your best chances of spotting them. Look for "flea dirt", too. "Flea dirt" looks like dark specks of pepper scattered on the skin surface. See the image of flea dirt near the bottom-right of this article. If you see flea dirt, which is actually flea feces and is composed of digested blood, pick some off the pet and place on a wet paper towel. If after a few minutes the tiny specks spread out like a small blood stain... it's definitely flea dirt and your pet has fleas! Flea dirt may be your only evidence of a flea infestation but believe the evidence! If there is flea dirt there are surely fleas present. You need to begin your war on the pests.
What else can I help you with?
What is the term for a cat who has fleas?
The cat with fleas is a host
Are dog fleas and cat fleas the same?
While cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) and dog fleas (Ctenocephalides cannis) are two different species, most of the fleas found on dogs are actually cat fleas.
Is it safe to pet a cat with fleas?
It is not safe to pet a cat with fleas because fleas can transmit diseases to humans. It is important to treat the cat for fleas before handling them.
Can you touch a cat with fleas?
Yes, you can touch a cat with fleas, but it is important to take precautions to prevent the fleas from spreading to you or other pets. It is recommended to wash your hands thoroughly after touching a cat with fleas and to treat the cat for fleas to prevent infestation.
Flea bites from a cat?
Fleas on a cat are probably either dog fleas or cat fleas (these are two different species, but despite the name, either can survive on either a dog or cat ... or for that matter on other mammals). Both of them can and will bite humans.
Do cat fleas die after leaving the cat if their no more cats?
No, fleas will live in your home and bite people instead. Your home will need to be treated for fleas if a fleas are seen!
Is it safe to touch my cat if it has fleas?
It is generally safe to touch your cat if it has fleas, but you should take precautions to avoid getting bitten by the fleas yourself. It is important to treat your cat for fleas promptly to prevent infestations in your home.
Why does this cat never had fleas at two years old with no treatment?
this female cat has never had fleas and has a litter of three that also has no fleas with no treatment. i have never heard of such. can someone tell me what kind of cats these are, I'm sure that they are rare. A cat must come in contact with a flea order to have them. In dry climates like Nevada most animals never get fleas and no treatment is ever necessary as the fleas can not survive. Your cat has probably never come in contact with them and if it has may be very good at cleaning itself to remove them.
Will fleas on a cat infect another cat if bitten?
Fleas jump from host to host, so a flea can jump from one cat to another if bitten, but the bite itself will not cause the fleas.
Can you drown fleas on a cat?
Yes, it is possible to drown fleas on a cat by giving the cat a bath with flea shampoo or by using a flea comb to remove the fleas and then drowning them in soapy water.
What are the bugs that look like fleas on your cat's belly?
fleas
Fleas make cat ill?
Yes, fleas can make a cat ill because the bites can get infected
