Many owners of cats and cats mistakenly believe that the problem of flea infection of an animal is relevant only for owners of pets walking on the street. Unfortunately, these annoying parasites can also appear in the domestic cat, which sees the street only through the window. How to determine in time that a cat has fleas and how they look?
Those who dislike cats often call these pets "flea". Fortunately, not every cat has these small blood-sucking creatures on the body, but if they do appear, then this becomes a real problem for both the cat and its owners. What do cat fleas look like, how to determine their presence, and how are they dangerous?
What are fleas in cats, and how does the infestation occur?
Cat fleas are fairly noticeable wingless brown insects, the body of which is flattened. If you look at this parasite under a magnifying glass, you will find that it has three pairs of legs, the most noticeable of which is designed for jumping. The flea has a sufficiently developed oral apparatus, with which the insect easily pierces the skin of the animal before sucking its blood.
A cat can become infected with fleas on its own - for this, even a second contact with a yard cat will be enough for a pet. The flea's powerful limbs allow it to easily jump from one animal to another, thereby changing the owner. Many fleas can be in the sand or on the grass, so a cat can become infected with them very quickly, even if it is outside for a few minutes. In addition, people can accidentally bring home flea larvae on their shoes or clothes, and then the young individual is quickly released from its protective cocoon and begins to feed on the cat's blood.
How do you know if a cat has fleas, and why is it so important?
In order to quickly get rid of the blood-sucking insects parasitizing on the body of a cat, you need to detect their presence. If the owners of the cat do not pay attention to this, then it is possible that the animal will become infected with one of the many diseases, as well as tapeworms, the eggs of which are carried by fleas. If there are a lot of insects, then there is a danger of anemia in the cat due to significant blood loss. Some individuals may generally be allergic to fleas, which will lead to frenzied scratching of the skin until scabs appear and a neurotic state.
At the very beginning of the infection, when there are only single specimens of parasites on the cat's body, it periodically scratches its head, stomach and sacrum. If the owners do not pay attention to this and do not take action, then the number of parasites increases rapidly and the infection becomes more severe.
How to find out in a timely manner that a cat has fleas? To do this, examine the animal at least once a week, spreading the fur on its back and stomach to the sides. If you see small dry crumbs of a dark brown color on the cat's skin, then this may be flea excrement, which indicates a more or less severe infection. At a pet store or veterinary clinic, you can consult with a specialist what steps you can take to treat the animal.
