How to Tell If Your Cat Has Fleas

Do you think your cat might have fleas? If your cat is an outdoor cat, then chances are he does have fleas. However, if your cat is an indoor cat there is also a chance that he can have fleas. Some cat owners are unsure if their cat has fleas or not until they have a widespread case of them. It's always a good idea to know how to spot a flea infestation before it gets out of hand.

The best way to determine if your cat has fleas is by checking his fur. The best places to look are in the abdomen region and around the hind legs. These areas usually have less fur and are spots that fleas like to gravitate to. Fleas also tend to accumulate around the lower back region. It may be a little more difficult to spot the fleas in cats that have darker colored fur. Dark colored specks that resemble pepper flakes are an indication that fleas are present. These dark specks are actually flea feces and when wet they are red in color. You may also see visible signs of these dark specks on your cat's bedding. Other signs that your cat has fleas can be excessive scratching and biting.

If the flea infestation is left untreated it can lead to tapeworms. This occurs when cats ingest the fleas. Extreme cases of fleas can also lead to death in some cats. This is a result of anemia caused from the flea bites. Kittens are more vulnerable than adult cats.

There are many different products on the market that claim to rid your cat of fleas. In my experience, flea collars and powders are not very effective. Actually flea collars can be toxic to cats and since fleas are generally in the lower section of the body, the flea collars are pretty much useless. Flea powders can dry out your cat's fur and the residue from the powder can be inhaled and cause respiratory problems. Your best bet for flea control would be to visit your veterinarian. They have some excellent products at kill and control flea infestations.