How to Rid a Cat of Skin Parasites

Skin parasites can make your cat uncomfortable and itchy, while parasites such as fleas can make the animal ill and lethargic if not treated promptly. Treatment methods depend on the type of parasites feeding on the cat's skin. Consult your vet if the animal is ill, nursing or suffering from another illness before administering medication for parasites.

Things You'll Need

  • Petroleum jelly
  • Flea comb
  • Dish detergent
  • Tweezers
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Instructions

    • 1

      Administer ear drops for ear mites. If your cat continuously scratches its ears and shakes its head, have a veterinarian examine it for these mites. Ear drops can only be prescribed by a vet, who will take a sample from the cat's ear and examine it under a microscope to confirm the mites' presence. Clean the cat's ears before using the ear drops, as this makes the treatment more effective.

    • 2

      Comb the cat's coat to remove fleas. Even healthy, pampered cats get fleas, which move through and around the animal's coat, causing itching and irritation. Get a flea comb from a vet or pet store and comb the cat's coat thoroughly. Smear petroleum jelly on the comb, as this helps the fleas stick to it. Place a bowl of water containing dishwater detergent nearby and drop the fleas from the comb into the bowl or regularly dip the comb into the water. This will not remove all of the fleas and should be followed up with a flea-control product recommended by your vet. Frontline is a commonly prescribed product that kills and repels fleas.

    • 3

      Extricate ticks. This parasite lives in long grass and attaches itself to cats by biting into their skin, into which it buries its head. The tick feeds on the cat's blood and can cause a chronic infection if the cat flicks it off with its paw, but leaves the head behind. Vets use substances to relax the tick, enabling her to remove the whole parasite, including the head. You can remove ticks yourself using surgical spirit as a relaxant and carefully pulling the tick out with tweezers, although its best to let a vet handle it if you don't feel confident about doing this. Cats that develop an infection after a tick bite need feline antibiotics.

    • 4

      Use parasiticide products to kill lice. Cat lice are visible to the naked eye, as are their eggs and nits. Scratching and dry skin are also telltale signs of lice infection. Some products, including Frontline and Virbac Pyrethrin Dip, kill both lice and fleas. Ask your vet about what treatment is best for your cat.