Cat Health & Fleas

From the insects themselves to the flea treatments you use on your cats and in your home, fleas can affect your cats' health. Learning about flea treatments and prevention will help you keep your cats safe and healthy.

  1. Different from Most Fleas

    • Unlike most fleas, cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) live on the host, where they continually bite and consume the cat's blood. Fleas need meals of fresh blood to survive and reproduce.

    Allergies and Anemia

    • Flea bite dermatitis, an allergic reaction to flea bites, is the most common allergy in cats and can lead to such skin disorders as miliary dermatitis and secondary infections. Cats with heavy infestations of fleas can become anemic. And fleas can transmit tapeworms from cat to cat.

    Treating Your Cat

    • The spot-on flea products and pills sold by veterinarians are less likely to cause serious side effects than the over-the-counter products sold at supermarkets and pet supply stores. Some over-the-counter flea products can be toxic and even fatal for cats.

    Treating Your Home

    • Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a safe, nontoxic way to rid your home of fleas, according to Mother Earth News. Many flea bombs and other insecticides available at supermarkets and hardware stores are toxic to cats and can be fatal.

    Healthy Cats Repel Fleas

    • Fleas "prey on the weak, sick, and malnourished," says author Christie Keith. Feeding cats a high-quality natural diet will keep their immune systems in top shape and will help prevent fleas.