Cat Fleas

It can be hard to tell whether or not your cat carries fleas. These insects prefer to be in dark places and hide deep inside the cat's coat. If you part your cat's hair, you may just glimpse a flea as it scurries away into safety. What you are more likely to notice are tiny black specs - easier to spot on white cats. Wipe those black specs with a wet tissue and note how they turn into small red dots. These are in fact fleas feces made out of dry digested blood.

Treating the Problem

The fleas that are actually on the cat represent only a fraction of the flea population present in the house, so treatment must include the surroundings as well as the cat.

Regularly vacuum your house, giving particular attention to carpets and upholstery. Because vibrations trigger fleas to come out of their cocoons, they often come alive right after vacuuming, while inside the vacuum bag. To prevent them from returning to your home, make sure the bag is sealed and quickly disposed of.

If you have a major flea infestation you should consult a professional exterminator and treat the house with special anti-flea products. Make sure you use only products that are not toxic to cats.

As for treating your cat, there are several good products on the market that are very safe and effective. Available from your vet, these products can be used orally (Program) or topically (Advantage or Frontline) to inhibit various stages of the fleas' life cycle. There are other products in the form of drops, sprays, collars and shampoos that can be used to fight fleas. While cheaper and available over the counter, many of these are either not safe enough or simply ineffective.

Anne Moss is the founder and owner of TheCatSite.com. She is a cat behaviorist and a member of the Cats Writers Association.