Fleas & Cat Skin Problems

Fleas are a common problem for cats, especially in warmer weather. Typically fleas cause itching and discomfort, but sometimes a flea infestation can result in more serious skin reactions. Some cats are allergic to compounds in the flea's saliva, and can develop a condition called flea allergy dermatitis. Other flea-related skin problems include hot spots and hair loss.

  1. Flea Allergy Dermatitis

    • According to the website Pet Education, there are over 15 antigens in the saliva of fleas. An allergy to any of these antigens can result in immune reactions of the skin. It is very rare for a cat to become desensitized to flea antigens once she has become allergic.

    Symptoms

    • In addition to the classic symptoms of flea infestation (scratching, irritability, and crying) there are some symptoms that are specific to flea allergy dermatitis in cats, including characteristic hair loss around the tail, inflamed skin, raised red papules (small, solid rounded bumps on the skin), eosinophilic plaques (raised, well-defined, ulcerated and extremely itchy lesions) and granulomas (raised, bleeding nodules). While hair loss, inflamed skin and raised red papules can occur as a non-allergic response to flea infestation, plaques and granulomas are both conditions that develop as a result of chronic inflammation, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual, and are sure signs of allergy.

    Treatment

    • The primary treatment for flea-related skin conditions is eradicating fleas. Once the fleas are gone, skin reactions will usually get better on their own. According to the website Vet Info, if your cat has been infested with fleas for a longer period of time and her skin is not healing on its own, a veterinarian might prescribe steroids to calm her immune response, or antibiotics to fight infection.

    Hot Spots

    • Sometimes inflamed skin or skin that has been broken from scratching will get infected. Hot spots, also known as acute moist dermatitis, are localized bacterial infections of the skin. Hot spots can result from any skin irritation, but are commonly found on animals with fleas, according to the website Pet Place. Hot spots can result in a itch-scratch cycle (itching causes the cat to scratch which makes the infection worse) and often will not get better without treatment.

    Hair Loss

    • According to the website Pet Education, allergic reactions to flea saliva can result in hair loss, also called alopecia. Hair loss will often start around the tail, where fleas congregate and cats can easily scratch or bite. Hair loss can also occur as a result of the cat's immune reaction.