Overview of the diseases that can be transmitted to cats through ticks and fleas

A study looked at the diseases that a cat can acquire through ticks and fleas. This is a summary. It may be useful for cat caregivers.

Amusing but not amusing in reality! Image: DALLE. 

TICKS

Cats can contract several diseases from ticks, although these infections are generally less common in cats than in dogs. Here are some of the key tick-borne diseases that can affect cats:

1. Cytauxzoonosis

• Cause: This disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Cytauxzoon felis.
• Transmission: It is transmitted by ticks, particularly the Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum).
• Symptoms: Symptoms include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, jaundice, difficulty breathing, and sometimes sudden death. The disease progresses rapidly and is often fatal if not treated promptly.

2. Anaplasmosis

• Cause: Anaplasmosis is caused by the bacteria Anaplasma phagocytophilum.
• Transmission: This bacteria is transmitted primarily by the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis), which is also known as the deer tick.
• Symptoms: Symptoms in cats may include fever, lethargy, joint pain, loss of appetite, and anemia. Although more common in dogs, cats can still be affected.

3. Ehrlichiosis

• Cause: Ehrlichiosis is caused by bacteria from the genus Ehrlichia, with Ehrlichia canis being a common species.
• Transmission: Ticks, particularly the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), are the primary vectors.
• Symptoms: Infected cats may show signs such as fever, lethargy, weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, and anemia. While rare in cats, it can lead to chronic infections if not treated.

4. Lyme Disease (Borreliosis)

• Cause: Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.
• Transmission: The disease is transmitted by the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis).
• Symptoms: Cats may experience fever, lethargy, lameness, joint pain, and loss of appetite. Lyme disease is more commonly recognized in dogs and humans, but cats can be infected as well.

5. Tularemia

• Cause: Tularemia is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis.
• Transmission: It can be transmitted by several tick species, including the dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) and the Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum).
• Symptoms: Symptoms in cats include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, swollen lymph nodes, and abscesses. Tularemia can be severe and is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can also infect humans.

6. Babesiosis

• Cause: Babesiosis is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia.
• Transmission: Transmitted by various tick species, though it's more commonly reported in dogs, cats can still be infected.
• Symptoms: Cats may show signs of fever, anemia, lethargy, and jaundice. Babesiosis is rare in cats but can occur.

7. Hepatozoonosis

• Cause: Hepatozoonosis is caused by protozoan parasites from the genus Hepatozoon.
• Transmission: Cats typically acquire the infection by ingesting an infected tick rather than through a bite.
• Symptoms: Symptoms include fever, muscle pain, weight loss, and lethargy. Hepatozoonosis is uncommon in cats.

These diseases highlight the importance of regular tick prevention and monitoring for symptoms in cats, especially in areas where ticks are prevalent.

FLEAS

Cats can contract several diseases from fleas, some of which can be serious or even life-threatening. Here are the key flea-associated diseases that can affect cats:

1. Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD)

• Cause: Flea Allergy Dermatitis is an allergic reaction to flea saliva.
• Symptoms: Cats with FAD experience intense itching, skin inflammation, hair loss, scabbing, and secondary skin infections due to excessive scratching and grooming. Even a few flea bites can trigger this condition in sensitive cats.

2. Bartonellosis (Cat Scratch Disease)

• Cause: This bacterial infection is caused by Bartonella henselae and is transmitted by fleas.
• Symptoms: Infected cats may show mild to no symptoms, but when symptoms do occur, they can include fever, lethargy, swollen lymph nodes, and inflammation of the gums, eyes, or heart. Cats can also transmit this disease to humans through scratches or bites, where it may cause swollen lymph nodes, fever, and other symptoms.

3. Hemoplasmosis (Feline Hemotropic Mycoplasmosis)

• Cause: This disease is caused by blood-borne bacteria known as Mycoplasma haemofelis and related species, transmitted by flea bites.
• Symptoms: Cats with hemoplasmosis may develop anemia, fever, weakness, loss of appetite, and jaundice. The disease can be severe, especially in immunocompromised cats or those with other underlying health conditions.

4. Tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum)

• Cause: Tapeworm infection occurs when a cat ingests a flea that is carrying the tapeworm larvae.
• Symptoms: Infected cats may show signs of weight loss, vomiting, or see small segments of the tapeworm (resembling grains of rice) around the anus or in the feces. While not usually severe, tapeworms can cause discomfort and gastrointestinal upset.

5. Flea-Borne Rickettsiosis

• Cause: Caused by Rickettsia felis, a type of bacteria transmitted by fleas.
• Symptoms: Infected cats might show non-specific symptoms such as fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite. Though more commonly recognized in humans, rickettsiosis can affect cats as well.

6. Plague (Yersinia pestis)

• Cause: While rare, fleas can transmit the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which causes the plague.
• Symptoms: Cats with plague may exhibit fever, swollen lymph nodes, respiratory distress, and lethargy. This disease is very serious and can be fatal if not treated promptly. It's also zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted to humans.

7. Flea-Borne Typhus

• Cause: Flea-borne typhus is caused by Rickettsia typhi, transmitted by fleas.
• Symptoms: Symptoms in cats are generally mild but can include fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite. The disease is more commonly recognized in humans, particularly in regions where flea infestations are prevalent.

8. Feline Infectious Anemia

• Cause: Feline infectious anemia is primarily associated with Mycoplasma haemofelis and similar organisms, which are transmitted by fleas.
• Symptoms: Anemia, lethargy, weakness, and jaundice are common signs. Severe cases can lead to life-threatening conditions if not treated.

These diseases highlight the importance of flea prevention and control in cats. Regular use of veterinary-approved flea preventatives can help protect cats from these flea-associated diseases.

------------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also: sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. Also, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable.

Can kittens be born with fleas and worms?

In short, kittens cannot be born with fleas but they can get them from their bedding or their mother very quickly. For me this means that anyone who's involved in breeding their cat (which should not happen by the way unless they are a breeder registered with a cat association) needs to ensure that the queen's nest is spotless in terms of fleas. No fleas in the mother's den would seem to be common sense. Or on the mother. And around the home generally.

Cat flea. Image: MikeB

I am sure though that in homes where cats are breeding informally there are piles of fleas because the owner is behaving irresponsibly. I can visual that scenario quite easily. Many kittens will have a flea infestation at an early age and it will be a treat to their life.

Resistance to fleas is age related: old and young are more vulnerable. They have less resistance and they will be debilitated and some will probably die.

Worms

Neither can kittens be born with worms but they can be infected through nursing so if the mother has worms so will her kittens.

Once again this points to the standard of caregiving in taking proactive steps before the queen becomes pregnant. Is she in good health? And worm-free?

Mother cat and her newborn kittens. Pixabay.

The problem with kittens being infected with worms is the same as stated for fleas above. How good are the proactive steps in preventing both endoparasites (worms) and ectoparasites (fleas) taking up residence in and on kittens before the mother becomes pregnant?

It is pretty obvious that in most non-cat breeder homes proactive steps are rarely taken. Kittens will have a tough start to life and some will die.

Domestic cats want their fur to be full of particles of dusty earth

There is no doubt in my mind that my cat wants his coat to be full of dusty earth which is why he rolls around on dusty ground at the end of my backyard. He is lying on my bed as I type this which has exposed the copious amounts of soil in his coat as it is deposited on the white sheets. 

What I am saying looks counterintuitive because cats are fastidiously clean and committed self-groomers. But they don't see dusty earth as dirt. They must see it as a beneficial material to assist their health.

I'll have to hoover the bed again. It is happening daily in the dry weather. Actually, it is an official drought in the UK and it is driving me mad. But my cat thinks that dirt in his fur is good for him. It must be. It must help deal with skin parasites and remove them from the fur.

It seems that the parasites get caught up in the dirt and removed. Only my cat does not have any skin parasites (ectoparasites) such as fleas or ticks. But he rolls in dirt instinctively to remove ectoparasites.

My cat Gabs after he rolled around in the dirt. CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE IT NICE AND BIG. YOU'LL SEE THE DIRT BETTER!

Rolling around in dirt must only be done because it is instinctively beneficial to the cat. They just don't mind it when their fur has a ton of dirt in it. He's just come onto my legs so he'll deposit more dirt over me now.

Cat Ear Mites

Brown gunge caused by ear mites in a ferret. Image in public domain.

Yes, I know this is a ferret! It does show the build-up of dark brown to black ear wax caused by the presence of the cat ear mites in the outer ear canal. This parasite is not restricted to the domestic cat, which makes this photo valid and a useful illustration (I was unable to find a suitable photo of a cat with the condition). Photo Stacy Lynn Baum under a creative commons license.

Can cats give ear mites to humans? Very rarely, yes.

Can cats give ear mites to humans? Yes but very, very rarely indeed.

Ear mites (minute crab like creatures) are one of the causes of inflammation of the outer ear canal (scientific term for this inflammation is Otitis externa). The outer ear canal is the tube that runs from outside to the ear drum (the pathway for the reception of sound), which can be seen when looking at the ear. Otitis externa affects humans and often swimmers as it is called "swimmer's ear" in humans.

This YouTube video show ear mites under a microscope. They are not actually in the ear in this video. There are many possible causes of Otitis externa in cats. The cause of the inflammation can be complicated by the instinctive reactions of the cat when he/she scratches an ear than is irritating her. This leads to tissue damage, which can then lead to infection by bacteria and fungi. 

Discharge from cat ear mites can be foul smelling. Image: PoC.

A cycle starts when the cat scratches more and so on. A cat may also shake her head when mites are present in her ears. These are signs of infestation. Cat ear mites are a known possible underlying cause, however, and the most common cause.

One of those damnable parasites which cause so much discomfort in cats.
Photo in public domain.

The scientific name for an ear mite is Otodectes cynotis and the condition of infestation is called Otocarisis or "canker". The term canker is also used for any long-term outer ear canal inflammation. About 50% of Otitis externa is caused by cat ear mites. The percentage is much lower for dogs. Cats can tolerate a higher level of infestation than dogs and if there are dogs and cats in the same household the cat could infect the dog with ear mites as a consequence. 

Apparently, a high percentage of cats have ear mites at one time (one website quotes 90%, although this seems high to me) The mites stimulate the production of wax by glands situated in the ear canal (these wax producing glands are called ceruminous glands).

Some treatments. Image in public domain.

Excessive production of wax forming a thick brown/black layer is a sign of infestation of cat ear mites. They can be seen with the use of a special device called and auriscope (a kind of illuminating magnifying glass). Although some veterinarians may have a Video Otoscope, a device which transmits an image of the inside of the ear to a screen allowing more than one person to see (including the cat keeper). The mites appear as moving/crawling white objects on the brown/black wax, which is sometimes referred to as ear mite dirt. 

Above: Home remedies for cat ear mites (or any animal with eat mites I guess).  Photo above by Stacy Lynn Baum under a creative commons license. There is though not real substitute to seeing a veterinarian. The cure seems relatively straight forward but there can be complications.

It is important to make sure that the symptoms you see are being caused by ear mites as treatments for ear mites can complicate other causes that have not been spotted. An acaricidal drug is administered into the outer ear canal after the ear has been cleaned (with extreme care and in safe manner). If the ears are not cleaned the wax build up can shelter the mites and prevent the drug working effectively. 

I understand this drug to be a kind of insecticide. In order to prevent recurrence of infestation all dogs and cats in contact with the infected cat should be treated. The treatment should continue long enough to interfere with the 21-day cycle of the ear mite and kill the mites that are in the eggs.

Tense and slitty eyes with downturned mouth clearly in acute discomfort due to intense itching from the head mange mites tunnelling into her skin. Head mange mites are not ear mites but the point I am making is that both parasites cause intense itching and distress and in this cat, you can see it in her facial expression,

In addition, the cat ear mites will migrate from the ear to other parts of the body during the treatment (including the tail as it is sometimes near the ear when the cat is sleeping). The cat's body should therefore also be treated with an appropriate insecticide preparation. 

I have tried one of these once for my cat and I didn't like the effect, she licked it off and started foaming at the mouth. I had to take her to the vets but it was OK in fact. Home treatment remedies are, as you can see, available (my cat touch wood has never suffered from eat mites). 

On a commonsense level, if my cat had suffered from this condition in the past, I would regularly inspect her ears and if infected ask the vet for medication that could be administered by me.

 
Note: don't try and clean the ear by sticking a cotton bud down the ear canal. This is very unwise. See a vet instead please. Ear mites are very distressing for a cat so please don't delay. Ear mites can be a condition that is overlooked as cats are stoic and cat owners can sometimes be very busy and pre-occupied. But you'll be allowing your cat to suffer. You can see the difference in the facial expression of a distressed cat.

Source:

• Veterinary Notes for Cat owners
• BBC health
• Myself
• The Veterinarians' Guide to Your Cats Symptoms
• Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook by Drs Carlson and Giffin
  

List of the kind of parasites inside stray cats in the Middle East

It may interest cat owners to understand better the kind of endoparasites (parasites living inside an animal) that inhabit stray cats in the Middle East. It concerns and interest me. I'm interested in the health of stray and feral cats. How healthy are they when left entirely alone? We know that feral cats cared for by TNR volunteers can live quite good lives; even better than domestic cat sometimes. But what about stray and feral cats living without any human intervention? The cats at the bottom of the list in terms of health and welfare.

There are some studies about these sorts of cats and one such study took place in Iran (Gastrointestinal parasites of stray cats in Kashan, Iran by Mohsen Arbabi and Hossein Hooshyar of the Department of Medical Parasitology, Kashan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Kashan-Iran). It was published in 2008. The scientists looked at the species i.e. type of gastrointestinal parasites inside stray cats in Kashan, Iran.

Feeding stray cats in Iran. Not all stray cats are so lucky but these animals are infested with endoparasites. Photograph in the public domain and on Pinterest.

The first point to make is that, perhaps as expected, 95.6% of the 108 cats checked were infested with endoparasites inside the gastrointestinal tract. The second point to note, and a side point, is that all these cats were killed and necropsied. In other words they were cut open and their organs: kidney, heart, liver, lungs, gastrointestinal tract checked for parasites. That is disturbing.

RELATED: 95% of stray cats have worms and 57% scavenge potentially life-threatening refuse.

About two thirds of the cats were male and the remainder were female. They found 15 species of endoparasites including helminths and protozoa. Helminths are parasitic worms i.e. nematodes. Protozoa are single-cells microscopic creatures and parasitic as well in this instance.

RELATED: How do I know if my cat has worms?

Here is the list of parasites found inside these unfortunate cats including the percentage of cats infested:

Nematodea (worms):

• Toxocara cati 13.3%;
• Physaloptera preputialis 39.8%,;
• Rictularia 52.2%;
• Uncinaria stenocephala 1.8%;
• Cestodea (tapeworm):
• Mesocestoides lineatus 7.1%;
• Taenia taeniaformis 15%;
• Diplopylidium nolleri 64.6%;
• Dipylidium caninum 68.1%;
• Joyeuxiella echinorhyncoides 85% (small worm: maximum length of 9 cm , and often being only 2 to 3 cm in length)

Sporozea (a protozoan with a cyst-forming stage in their life cycle):

• Isospora rivolta 5.3%;
• Isospora felis 5.3%;
• Sarcocystis spp 8%,;
• Blastocystis spp 16.8%.

Zoomastigophorea (another species of protozoan which are flagellates):

• Giardia felis 0.9%;
• Trichomonas spp 1.8%.

They decided that the contamination rate for zoonotic parasites i.e. parasites that can be transmitted between animals and people, was greater than expected in this region of Iran. They suggested, therefore, their control measures should be taken to protect people.

What is the point of this article? Answer: to remind ourselves and to highlight the fact that human carelessness leads to animal suffering. It leads to ill health in animals. And let's not brush the problem under the carpet. Let's take responsibility. These cats are in their predicament because we put them there. This is a humankind problem. It is carelessness and thoughtlessness. And to compound the problem these cats are often persecuted as pest and vermin by ignorant people. It's a double whammy of ignorance and inevitably it is animals who face the consequences primarily.

Felpreva a new multi-purpose spot on treatment for internal and external cat parasites

The European Medicines Agency has approved for marketing a new spot-on treatment called Felpreva manufactured by Vetoquinol SA. It's described as a pioneering spot-on treatment as it is multipurpose. It protects against all main endoparasites and ectoparasites such as tape worms, fleas and ticks and is designed for 3-monthly use. The treatment belongs to the endectocide group. Endoparasites those that infest the body internally and ectoparasites are those that are external and on the skin.

Longhaired cat that might benefit from Felpreva. She looks like a chinchilla doll face Persian. Picture in the public domain.

We have spot-on treatments for parasites such as fleas which are well known but a multipurpose treatment has been unavailable until it appears now. I understand that it is still progressing through the authorisation process.

RELATED: 30 facts about pyrethrin and cats.

Insecticides, which is what they are, for domestic cats are believed to be the biggest proportion of the veterinary pharmaceutical market. Educated cat owners, however, have a problem with treating their cats with insecticides because they are dangerous products. I'm told the 40% of cat owners say they felt anxious or concerned and even guilty about using these products on their cat.

This has an impact upon the usage of flea treatments. Personally, I do not administer a spot-on flea treatment to my cat but I flea comb him twice a day and he is clear every day of ectoparasites. He receives a de-worming pill from time to time to kill endoparasites. I feel that he is healthy. I am one of the 40% of cat owners who feel nervous about using these chemicals.

Helen Hunter at Vetoquinol said that "the need for a breakthrough endectocide solution like Felpreva has never been greater. This marketing authorisation is a vital achievement for Vetoquinol UK, and will allow us to bring convenience, longer-lasting protection, and ease of use to veterinary professionals and owners alike, in turn safeguarding the well-being of our feline companions."

The European Medicines Agency state that the side effects are mild and transient and might be present at the side of application if there are any side-effects. They say that the treatment is "generally well tolerated at the recommended dose". They further say that it is....

"For cats with, or at risk from, mixed parasitic infestations/infections. The veterinary medicinal product is exclusively indicated when ectoparasites, cestodes and nematodes are targeted at the same time."

The treatment is for: fleas, ticks, as part of a treatment for the control of flea allergy dermatitis, for the treatment of mild to moderate cases of notoederic mange, ear mite infestations, roundworms (nematodes), lung worms and tapeworms.

It seems to be very useful but let's wait and see. Personally I'm always very cautious about using these sorts of treatments as mentioned and products such as this one are always talked up before launch.

Vet removes huge pulsating parasite from kitten's neck

This is a botfly larva. Quite disgusting. There are a lot of videos on YouTube of botfly larva being removed from kittens. It's a bit mad. People are fascinated with the ghoulish nature of these videos. I've watched it and the size is horrific when you think it was inside this small, fragile kitten's neck. They've been extracted from worse places such as from the nose or the eye. Horror videos. This one is not too bad.

Botfly larva pulled from kitten's neck

See: Picture of a warble pulled from under the skin of a kitten

The botfly lays eggs on the skin and they burrow into it and take up home under the skin where they grow and feed off the cat. Parasites are disgusting. They can cause infections. They present as lumps on the skin. If you see a lump on your cat one possible cause is one of these foul creatures.

Here is the botfly lifecycle if you are interested:

Warble extracted from kitten's nose. Horrible but fascinating.

Unpleasant but interesting if you are in the mood. I can't watch it.

'Gigantic pulsating parasite extracted from 8-week-old kitten'. That is the title to this mega-successful video from Newsflare. Why are people so fascinated with the grizzly and horrible? Answer: the same reason people are attracted to horror flicks and violence and voyeuristic peep shows (of the past). It is human nature and not a great part of human nature. The warble is a Cuterebra botfly larva. 

It seems to me that the larvae has backward pointing spines to help it burrow through the tissue of a living animal.

Larval stage of Gasterophilus intestinalis. This is the horse botfy.

They are a.k.a warble flies, heel flies, and gadflies. They deposit eggs on a host, in this case a kitten, and the larvae burrow under the skin into the animal where they develop. They hatch and become adults. It is part of their parasitic lifecycle. Would the world be a better place without parasites? They are everywhere. God couldn't have made the earth. It is too messed up.

Here is another picture of a warble. This time in a dog's leg. Horror:

Warble in dog's leg. Image in public domain.

Parasites that can infest full-time indoor cats

It may surprise people to know that full-time indoor cats can be infested by a range of parasites. On this page I will briefly list them and how they come to infect full-time indoor cats. I'm not going to go over any other aspect of this discussion in this article but by all means click on the links below to read more about parasites.

CAT PARASITES

CAT WORMS

Fleas are the obvious parasite which can infest indoor cats because they can be brought by their owner into the home. Or visitors to the home can bring one in or if there are other pets in the home which go outside, they may bring a flea inside the home. They will then jump onto the cat. The cat can ingest them when grooming. They can bite the cat causing a flea bite allergy which is most distressing. They transmit tapeworms to domestic cats.

Cat flea the most common cat parasite which can infest a full-time indoor cat. Photo: Shutterstock.

This brings me nicely to the next parasite which is tapeworms. This is a gastrointestinal parasite and the most common internal parasites in adult cats. They live in the small intestines and can be several feet in length. You sometimes see body segments containing the eggs passed in faeces and sometimes attached to the fur on the cat's backside. They are transmitted to cats by an intermediate host. One species of tapeworm is acquired from fleas or lice. Another species of tapeworm is acquired by eating rodents, uncooked meat and raw freshwater fish.

Roundworms are acquired by cats by ingesting the eggs. They can do this inside the home by eating a host animal such as a beetle or rodent which has acquired encysted larvae in its tissues.

Hookworms can be acquired by full-time indoor cat when the cat eats a mouse which is a host to hookworm larvae.

There are some rare worm parasites such as trichinosis which is acquired by ingesting uncooked pork which contains cysts. People acquire this parasite. It would be rare for a cat to acquire this parasite because they would have to eat uncooked pork but it is possible because sometimes people give cats treats such as uncooked meat. They may do so in order to attempt to provide their cat with a raw diet which some people consider to be beneficial.

Stomach worms most likely infect cats living in the south-western United States. Cats acquire them by eating beetles, cockroaches, crickets or lizards. Insects are on the domestic cat's menu.

Protozoan parasites can infect full-time indoor cats. These are single-celled creatures invisible to the naked eye. The first is giardiasis which is acquired by drinking water from streams and other sources that are contaminated with infected cysts. This may affect a full-time indoor cat if the cat it has access to an enclosure outside the home.

Toxoplasmosis is a very well-known protozoan parasite which has been endlessly discussed on the Internet. Although normally cats acquire this disease from consuming infected birds or rodents, they can also get it from eating raw or undercooked pork, beef, mutton or veal and/or unpasteurised dairy products.

Coccodiosis as a gastrointestinal parasite which usually targets young kittens. There are several species. One of the species, Cystoisospora is acquired by kittens from their mother who are the carriers. The mother would have acquired it when they eat a host animal such as a bird. This would be unlikely to happen if the owner keeps all their cats indoors full-time but it is conceivable.

Heartworms are delivered to a cat through a mosquito bite as larvae are in the mouthparts. The larvae burrow beneath the skin.

This list is probably quite comprehensive but I may have inadvertently have missed out one of the parasite species. As you can see a full-time indoor cat can acquire parasites and a veterinarian would recommend that you treat your cat for parasites. 

There are various ways of doing this. The most common parasite is fleas and provided you keep your home clean and tidy my advice is to flea comb your cat daily or twice daily to check for fleas. In this way you can keep fleas down without any harmful insecticides being deposited on your cat. 

My cat hunts mice and he regularly brings them into the home. He also kills birds occasionally but rarely. In the six years of his life he's only had two fleas. I combed them out and killed them immediately. 

It is possible to manage and eradicate fleas without harmful insecticides but you make your own choice on that. If the infestation is bad you will have to treat the entire home and treat your cat with an insecticide. You might like to consider using diatomaceous earth which destroys the exoskeleton of fleas and kills them that way. Click on the link to see what it is all about.

Are cat fleas and dog fleas the same?

No, cat fleas are a different species of ectoparasite to dog fleas but they act very similarly. The dog flea's scientific name is: Ctenocephalides felis and the cat flea's scientific name is: Ctenocephalides canis. I think that you'll find that dogs suffer from cat fleas more than dog fleas. 

Ectoparasites live outside the body as opposed to those that live in the gut such as tapeworms.

This foul parasite that so blights cat owners homes and cats. Image: public domain.

Dangers of treatments

The most important point to make about cat and dog fleas is not that they are a different species but the way that you eradicate them. You absolutely must not use dog flea treatments on cats. There have been cases of cats being killed by dog flea treatments. You must always read the label and never use these pesticides in the wrong way. I can't stress strongly enough. Particularly with kittens.

The best way to deal with fleas is to deal with them physically which is to flea comb and kill the flea physically as it is much more controllable. Using sprays and insecticides is potentially very hazardous. Spot on insecticide treatments are safer than sprays but read the label.When you read the label you can tell why they are dangerous because the manufacturers say that you should not get the product on your hands. I find this extraordinary because we are putting the product onto our cat's skin so were doing something which the manufacturers say is forbidden! On the face of it it looks completely mad.

Some dog flea treatments contain permethrin, which, for me, is a nasty insecticide and a toxic chemical cats. One reason why you can't use dog treatment on cats.

The dog flea lives on the cat as well as the dogs and other animals. The cat flea does the same. I think they were named almost arbitrarily because they appear to be quite interchangeable in terms of their host and their behaviour. They certainly look very similar. You won't know the difference unless you're an expert and you'll have to look at them under a microscope. 

Versatile

It is said that cat fleas are more versatile than dog fleas. They can infect at least another 50 types of animal species. Both these fleas can jump onto people and bite them. You'll see flea bites on people's ankles for example. Although it's rare in my view. And there's nowhere for the flea the hide because we don't have fur like cats and dogs. Therefore the human can't be a very suitable home for an adult flea and they probably jump off and then back onto a cat or dog if they live in the home.

Dog or human carrying fleas

If you live in a home with a cat and a dog it is more than likely that the dog will bring fleas into the home particularly, of course, if your cat is a full-time indoor cat. Even if you don't have a dog and your cat is inside all the time she may get fleas because the owner can bring them into the home. The default situation is to always check your cat for fleas, and if you have to do it daily using a flea comb. This is vital. You don't want fleas to take hold in your home. It requires vigilance to eradicate them completely and on an ongoing basis.

Safest insecticide

What is the safest flea treatment? The safest flea treatment is to use the flea comb and kill the parasite manually. If you want to use an insecticide apparently pyrethrins or natural pyrethrum is the least toxic insecticide used on cats and dogs. You will find them in natural flea-control products and the conventional varieties.

Flea dirt

In addition to flea combing fleas out of a cat's fur (which is pretty obvious because you can see them jumping out) you might see what is called flea-dirt at the base of their tail. This is also indicative of the presence of fleas on your cat.

Holistic

If you feel that you have removed all the fleas from your cat with great commitment and they still come back it is because they are in your home. You have to take what is called a holistic approach meaning a total approach to remove fleas. You can't do it on one and not the other. You can help prevent fleas taking hold in the home by removing those places where fleas like to live and wait before they jump onto your cat such as carpets. A more sheer living area with less clutter and less rugs and carpets is better in my view.

If you want to get rid of your fleas from your home fast you'll have to work at it fast and furiously! I would recommend vacuuming everything, steam cleaning everything, washing your pet's bedding thoroughly, perhaps using diatomaceous earth at entrances and exits of your home as well. This is a naturally occurring product which is a very fine white powder. It slices through the shell of the parasite destroying the creature. You can even dust your cat with it provided it is human grade although it looks very messy. It is relatively safe compared to the insecticides.

Tapeworm

The cat flea transmits tapeworms to cats. The eggs inside of saliva and it delivers these eggs into the cat's bloodstream when they feed on the cat. Yes, they are a particularly unpleasant creature. So if your cat has fleas they may also have tapeworms. When you treat your cat for fleas also treat them for worms. You can get a deworming product from your veterinarian or online these days from for example Amazon but you have to be really careful again. All medicines are poisons and potentially dangerous. Never be careless and bypassing your veterinarian is okay provided you know exactly what you're doing but if you are unsure then ask your veterinarian.

Cat flea treatment

Bobcat scratching - fleas? - almost certain - photo by ehoyer

In my experience, on a day to day basis, cat flea treatment should be fairly straightforward.

These are the factors:

Keep the home clean and well hoovered.

If a I feed a stray cat I check him for fleas and apply cat flea treatment (see below).

Check for fleas daily with a flea comb. Act on the information. The sooner one spots fleas the less likely they are to present a big problem.

Fleas like to inhabit areas around the chin, neck, back of head, the end of the spine (just before the beginning of the tail).

If I find fleas I comb them out.

If there are too many I use Frontline or a similar dropper treatment. The instructions should be followed carefully.

I continue to comb after giving Frontline to check on progress. The fleas will gradually disappear. I comb some out as well.

Important I think in support of cat flea treatment: Hoover around the areas where the cat sleeps or likes to sit and watch. This should be done regularly, at least once a day. Fleas jump off the cat and live in carpets.

Routinely continue to monitor until satisfied the infestation is under control.

When combing out fleas some skill is required to catch and crush. They move fast and jump off the comb. I move fast to beat them. I crush them on the comb with my nails.

Don't use the insecticide sprays as a cat flea treatment. They can be poisonous to a cat particularly Pyrethrin and Permethrin Insecticides. These are for dogs. They are poisonous to cats and cause symptoms such as drooling, spasms etc in about 6 hours from application. I'd steer clear of these. Keep it simple and even monitor the reaction to Frontline as this is a chemical going into the skin of the cat.

If a more major cat flea treatment is needed it might mean a bath with an insecticide but I'd check with the veterinarian on the insecticide. Kittens require extreme care.

Cat Flea Treatment to cat and dog parasite pictures

Cat flea life cycle

This is an outline, in simple language, of the cat flea life cycle:

1. Adult flea is on host, say a cat. The flea sucks blood to feed.

2. After feeding (a prerequisite to reproduction) the female lays eggs in batches of 20s

3. The eggs are not sticky and fall onto the host and then to the ground where the host animal usually spends time (cats have a favorite spot to sleep so hoover this regularly).

4. Eggs hatch over a 2 day to 2 week period. The time frame depends on the conditions.

5. Flea larvae emerge from eggs and feed on any available food - organic matter. The larvae are blind and like dark places.

6. After another 1-2 weeks and having gone through 3 larval stages including spinning a cocoon, and pupating, the full developed cat flea emerges from the cocoon.

7. The adult flea waits for a host to pass by and has about 1 week to do this.

8. Adult flea senses host is close through vibrations, carbon dioxide emissions (from breath) etc.

9. Flea jumps onto host and feeds as at 1 above.

See and read more:

• The Cat Flea: biology, ecology and control
• Cat Flea Treatment

Cat flea life cycle - photo top is a flea - published under Wikimedia® creative commons license license = Attribution-ShareAlike License. Author: Robert Hooke. Greyscale picture of Robert Hooke's drawing of a flea in his Micrographia. See Wikipedia® license generally.

Photo bottom is a flea larva - same license as above - these are not necessarily cat fleas

Cat flea life cycle to cat health problems

---

Feline Mange

I'll write about three types of feline mange (a) feline scabies or head mange (b) demodectic mange and (c) sarcoptic mange. The source material is from Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook - the best on the market.

Generalised feline mange? Puerto Rico - Photo by Gotham City Lost And Found

Feline Scabies - head mange

Head mange or feline scabies, is a fairly rare condition in cats, which is caused by the Notoedres mite (head mite) that only reproduces on cats.

The female mites burrow a few millimeters (that is a lot) into the skin around the head, and neck to lay eggs, which hatch and lay their own eggs. Their presence and activities causes intense itching that in turn causes the cat to scratch.

The scratching will obviously be noticed and it will cause the skin to become red, scratched and worse infected. Symptoms: hair loss and scabs, thick wrinkled skin and grey/yellow crusts form plus the symptoms of scratching.

Feline mange (head mange) is contagious and transmitted by direct contact and can infect humans (zoonotic). People will itch if infected. It passes in 2-3 weeks provided it has been treated.

For cats, treatment includes insecticide dips but there may be modern treatments - see the veterinarian. He may recommend:

• clipping the affected areas in longhaired cats
• bathing the cat in warm water and soap to loosen the crusts
• killing the mites by "dipping the cat in 2.5% lime sulfur dip weekly"to two weeks beyond cure
• that other cats in multicat households should also be dipped once per week for 3-4 weeks.
• an alternative such selamectin (Revolution) and Ivermectin.
• itching be relieved by 1% Cortaid (cortisone).

Demodectic mange

Another form of feline mange is called demodectic mange, caused by another mite, the demodex mite. It is very rare indeed in cats and non-contagious. The mite frequently lives on the cat's skin. No symptoms are usually present unless the cat is ill when the immune system is depressed. It can be localized around the head, neck and ears and/or generalized (over the body).

Treatment should be carried out only under veterinarian supervision for as these are potentially toxic drugs. For localised infestation treatment is carried out by applying a "topical antibacterial agent" such as Pyoben or OxyDex shampoo followed by a lime sulfur dip  or Rotenone.

Generalized infestations are treated with shampoos - please see your veterinarian.

Sarcoptic Mange

The mite causing this form of feline mange is seen more frequently in dogs and rarely in cats. The symptoms are similar to head mange mentioned above.  Treatment under vet's supervision please is Fipronil and milbemycin oxime.

Cat feces and pregnancy

Photo by Maproom Systems

Cat feces and pregnancy go together in a negative way because of the disease, toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite called toxoplasma gondi. Astonishingly up to 20% of American people are affected by this parasite (source: http://www.metrokc.gov/). Cornell University says that the parasite is found in nearly all warm blooded animals (humans are warm blooded animals).

So it is very common. However, in 80% of the cases of people affected there are no symptoms and the person is unaware he/she is infected as the body's immune system deals with the parasite to neutralize it. It is in the body but not doing anything. The same applies to cats, there will be no symptoms.

For people with suppressed immune systems for whatever cause (e.g. chemotherapy or due to another illness such as AIDS) then symptoms can be present, which can include:- fever, sore throat, aching muscles, swollen glands (lymph glands), headaches, confusion, blurred vision, chest pains, trouble breathing and coughing up blood.

So how do cat feces come into this situation? A cat can be infected as well as humans. A domestic cat can become infected if he/she eats the raw meat of another animal or drinks the milk of an infected mother cat. So, for cat keepers their cat might become infected if she/he is an outdoor cat and likes hunting. You'll see clear signs of that in your cat's activity. A lot of cats in the USA are exclusively indoor cats which would mean little or no chance of being infected it seems to me.

In the UK cats are more indoors/outdoors so more chance of infection. If your cat is infected the parasite can be passed to his/her feces and thence to the cat litter is she uses it or to the garden potentially if she goes to the toilet in the garden (on soil in the flower beds). The parasite can live for a long time (about one year) in cat's feces. The chance of being infected by your cat is small (source: Cornell University)

If you're pregnant and you get infected the parasite can harm your baby causing possible: miscarriage, poor growth, early delivery, still birth and if born with the disease can suffer nasty conditions such as water on the brain, eye conditions and convulsions. So it is serious, very serious.

So there is the connection between Cat feces and pregnancy. However, the most common cause of infection in humans of toxoplasmosis is through eating raw meat and not from contact with cat feces.

What to do if you have a domestic cat and you are going to get pregnant or are pregnant. As I understand it some doctors advise to get rid of your cat. This sounds impossibly harsh but understandable as the damage that can be caused is potentially severe. It is all about risk it seems to me.

I would have thought a sensible procedure could be set up to deal with cat feces. I would also have thought that all women with husbands or partners could insist upon the partner doing the cat litter and the gardening (lean on the man a bit). If you are a single woman you may have other children who could be taught to deal with the cat litter. In other words you don't go near cat litter (this also means not breathing in cat litter dust - you might move the cat litter box to a safer place). That to me is the safest method.

But more importantly, it would be wise to deal with the more important and common sources of infection such as raw meat - simple answer, don't eat raw meat or unpasteurized milk and don't touch raw meat and if you do wash hands afterwards and the utensils (this is in fact simple good cooking practice anyway). Cat feces and pregnancy need not be a bad combination but no doubt the situation needs to be taken very seriously for the baby's sake.

One last point: lets not blame cats. I guess they could in theory catch it from us or by our actions (e.g eating raw meat left out in the kitchen - wrong? please tell me in a comment). Perhaps they do....?

Update March 2011: Here is a further page on the subject: Toxoplasmosis and Its Prevention in Cats and People.

Cat feces and pregnancy to cat pregnancy

Cat and Dog Parasite Pictures

Something gross - Cat and Dog Parasite Pictures. You can't have pictures of cats without pictures of the parasites that feed on them. There is a peculiar natural balance to life when you have an extremely ugly parasite that is almost invisible (if it's the flea) feeding on the back of a beautiful cat. That said there is a serious side to looking at cat parasite pictures. As a concerned cat companion one needs to know a bit about cat parasites as they are not uncommon. The most common parasite is the common (oh so common and a pain in the .....) cat flea. A lot of cats get fleas at some stage particularly if they go outside. They are about 2-4mm in length. The photo above is larger than life size. They are an ectoparasite (parasite that on the outside surfaces of their host). I kill them by crushing them with my thumb nail and they go "pop" as the body is shattered.  Be extremely cautious with flea treatments. Read the instructions. Read the label word for word. Flea treatments can kill the kitten or cat. It happens quite a lot.

The pain in the arse cat flea. Image in public domain.

Some cats have a lot of them but put up with them and have no ill health because of them. Whereas white or light colored cats can have severe itching even with one flea. Fleas obtain their food by biting the skin which naturally can irritate the cat, but it is an allergic reaction to the saliva that can be worse than the bite. The adult flea jumps on and off the cat - and can they jump! They are very athletic and for their size jump massive distances. When you comb through fur to flush 'em out they sometimes jump back onto the cat and this happens so fast it is as if they are disappearing. They jump back on to feed. They live in carpet and such places when they are off the cat (see Cat Flea Life Cycle) . The flea larva matures off the cat. 

When adult (after several months) they jump on the passing cat. I recommend combing as the least dangerous and unsettling method to de-flea. If there are too many I recommend the dropper treatment (e.g. Frontline) that you place between the shoulder blades and on the spine which gets absorbed by the skin and then ingested by the flea when they feed. This is efficient and lasts about a month but it makes my cat sleepy and I am little worried about this drug in relation to its negative side effects. Cat and Dog Parasite Pictures -2 - The Ear Mite The medical name is Otodectes cynotis. This is the most common cat mite and is found in the external auditory canal (the bit of the ear you can see). It transfers from cat to cat with ease. Being a very small creature its presence can give the impression of dirty ears. They attach to the mucous membrane and cause damage to it which can lead to secondary infection. Cat and Dog Parasite Pictures -3- The Tick These are common and quite gross to look at. I have discussed these in some depth on the main website. Click here to see the page. In outline they clamp on to the cat's skin and feed on the blood of the cat becoming massively swollen in the process. 

They are therefore quite large (5mm or more in length). They look slightly blue due to the blood you can see under the surface. As you might know the important thing is to remove them carefully ensuring that the mouth parts are not left in the cat's skin where they will irritate and cause infection. You shouldn't just pull them off. You might like to get professional help to do this. These are the most common parasites in my experience. The others are: Maggots, Ringworm, Roundworm, Lungworm, Tapeworm and Coccidia. Photo credits: Top copyright honeybeararmy Middle 1st copyright aisack Middle 2nd copyright akeg Bottom copyright Thejaswi Source: Veterinary Notes for Cat Owners From Cat and Dog Parasite Pictures to Home page Can cat fleas bite humans Tapeworm in Felines (fleas are part of the lifecycle)