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.

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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.

Should I remove a tick from my cat as soon as possible?

Yes, ticks should be removed as soon as possible. What I like about this photograph - even though it is ugly because of the fact that there are tics attached to this cat's ear - is that it shows you where tics often end up on cats which is, as mentioned, inside the ear flaps. 

I guess this is a convenient height for a tick because they sit on long grass and then crawl off the grass onto a cat that has perhaps been sitting in the grass for a while. Or they are passing through slowly.

Ticks on a cat's ear flap. Image: u/PrashantThapliyal

The ticks walked off the grass onto the cat and attached themselves to the insides of the ear in this case. This particular cat has several tics. Perhaps he or she goes to the same place outside the home all the time and it happens to be a place where there is an infestation of ticks.

The owner asks on social media what they are and what to do about them and whether he should remove them.

This leads me to the next issue. Ticks should be removed quickly. In fact, an owner should check their cat at convenient moments if they are an inside/outside cat. What I mean they should be checked at any convenient moment when the caregiver is handling their cat or interacting with their cat in some way including petting.

Lyme Disease in Cats (reinforcing an indoor lifestyle).

It's important because studies have shown that infected deer ticks (infected with the species of bacteria that causes Lyme disease - Borrelia burgdorferi) begin to transmit the bacteria to the host after they've been attached for 36-48 hours.

This means that there is a window of opportunity between the time that they became attached to their host and the beginning of the time when they deliver the bacteria to the host in their saliva. And that window is around 36-48 hours.

If you remove a tick within that timeframe there is very little chance of the host contracting Lyme disease.

Anyone removing a tick should wear gloves and avoid touching the tick with bare hands. They should wash their hands after disposing of the tick in a jar of alcohol. This is because the aforesaid disease can be transmitted to humans just as easily as it can be to cats or any other animal who is the host for this ectoparasite.

"Although deer ticks have been identified in every U.S. state except Hawaii, they are most commonly found along the eastern coast of the United States from Florida to Maine and as far west as Texas. They are also located in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwest United States." - Tick Check website.