Fleas and Ticks on Cats

Fleas and Ticks on Cats

               It’s hard to believe it’s June already and summer is just around the corner.  Hot, humid weather is prime time for fleas and ticks and we are already seeing pets with these pests at Patton Veterinary Hospital.  Despite being more prevalent in summer, there is no real flea or tick “season” and they remain a threat all year long.  Furthermore, fleas (and sometimes ticks) can be difficult to see on cats as they tend to groom themselves and remove many of the adult fleas.  Cats infested with fleas will usually have a black pepper-like substance on their skin and coat which is flea dirt or flea poop.

               Almost everyone knows that Lyme disease is spread by ticks and affects both humans and dogs causing sore joints, fever and sometimes more serious issues like kidney failure.  Cats don’t usually get Lyme disease, but they carry the ticks that do.  Cats can also be affected by anaplasmosis, a bacterial infection spread by Ixodes ticks, better known as deer ticks.  Anaplasmosis also affects dogs. In cats, it can cause fever, loss of appetite and lethargy. The infection can be treated with the antibiotic doxycycline.

               Cats can get tapeworms from ingesting fleas while grooming. Fleas harbor an immature stage of the tapeworm in their gut. When a cat or dog swallows a flea, the immature tapeworm is released and matures in the cat’s intestine. Tapeworm segments or “proglottids” which contain egg packets and look like grains of rice are then passed in stool.  Flea larvae ingest the tapeworm egg packets and start the process over again.

               Cats are also at risk for diseases spread by fleas: Bartonellosis and Mycoplasma.  Several species of bartonella bacteria are spread by flea bites and can cause inflammation and infection of the eyes, heart, muscles and bones.  Bartonellosis often presents as a fever with swollen lymph nodes in cats. Most cats do not become ill, but can be carriers of the disease.   People, especially children, can be infected with bartonella bacteria if an infected cat scratches them or if an infected flea bites them, thus bartonellosis is also known as “cat scratch fever.”   It causes swollen joints and fever in humans.

               Mycoplasma bacteria are also spread by flea bites and can be spread from cat to cat by bite wounds and saliva. Mycoplasma causes a type of anemia known as hemolytic anemia which means the cat’s body breaks down its own red blood cells.  Symptoms include lethargy, fever, pale gums, loss of appetite and an enlarged spleen.  This anemia can be severe and sometimes fatal though treatment with antibiotics and other drugs may be attempted.

               While thankfully not found in Pennsylvania, cats are highly susceptible to bubonic plague (Yersinia pestis) carried by fleas and can spread the disease to humans.

               While outdoor cats are at higher risk of coming in contact with fleas and ticks, don’t think that indoor-only kitties are safe.  An indoor only cat may briefly run outside. Or maybe your cat spends time on an enclosed porch.  Fleas can also “hitchhike” inside on our clothing, jump through an open door, window or hole in a screen, or hitch a ride on another animal.  Make sure to use flea and tick preventative on ALL pets who live in and around your home.  Treating only those pets who spend part or all of their time outdoors and skipping treatment for indoor-only cats sets them up for possible infestation.  If your indoor cat is not using a flea and tick preventative, he or she is at risk.  It is MUCH easier to prevent a flea infestation than to try to treat one after fleas invade a home.

               As you can see, fleas and ticks not only cause skin irritation to our pets, but they can also spread potentially serious diseases to cats, dogs and even humans.  Ask our staff about the best products to protect your cats--whether indoor or out--with a quality flea and tick preventative all year round.

               This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.

Sources:

https://www.cliniciansbrief.com/article/vector-borne-diseases-cats?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Clinician%27s+Brief+Newsletter&utm_campaign

 https://www.merckvetmanual.com/circulatory-system/blood-parasites/hemotropic-mycoplasmas