Skin Problems in Cats Caused by Fleas

Unlike dogs, cats are not pack animals and are independent. They like to spend their time relaxing, sleeping and grooming themselves. Fleas and other parasites often can cause symptoms that aggravate the skin and cause over grooming, which can worsen the underlying problem. When determining the overall health of a cat, fleas and their destructive consequences must be a major focal point.

  1. Allergies

    • Fleas are hardy and they also thrive on their host animals. Fleas are a big problem on cats and other house pets as they usually will hitch a ride while the animal is outside and stay on the animal to multiply and feed. Fleas feed on the blood of their hosts. The saliva is a strong allergen to the cat's system and the cat will become irritated as a result of trying to fight off this substance. This causes discomfort and itching.

    Hair Loss

    • Prolonged itching and subsequent scratching by the cat as they become more and more irritated by the saliva allergen can promote hair loss. You may notice whole patches of the cat's fur missing in various places on the cat's body. This hair loss is known as alopecia.

    Bacterial and Disease Infections

    • Fleas sometimes carry a variety of bacteria with them on their journey to their new home on the cat. When a flea inserts its proboscis into the skin of the cat to feed on the blood, other diseases and bacteria that the flea may have come in contact with can be transmitted to the cat. This can cause system-wide reactions within the cat or local area infections at the insertion site on the skin itself.

    Stress and Immune System

    • Having skin problems due to fleas can become much more serious if not treated. Itchy, scratchy, irritated skin that starts with an allergic reaction the flea's saliva can cause discomfort and over grooming by the cat. This, plus any other diseases that may have been introduced by the flea to the cat, can cause acute stress, which can weaken the cat's ability to fight any secondary infection that may occur. Cats, in an effort to deal with the irritation, can bite and scratch their skin until it is raw and bleeding.