Fleas are parasites that feed on their host’s blood. They prefer to nest in warm places, especially on warm-blooded animals such as cats or dogs. If there is a massive flea infestation, you can see the little bloodsuckers jumping around. But even if you do not necessarily see the annoying insects with the naked eye, a flea infestation can be present. More information is available at https://petfriendlybox.com/resource-center/how-to-get-rid-of-fleas-on-cats.

There are several ways to find out whether your fur nose is affected by cat fleas:

Monitor your cat: For example, if you notice your cat scratching more and cleaning excessively, this could be a sign of fleas.

Stroke your cat’s fur with a flea comb: If you can see small black crumbs in the teeth of the comb, brush them onto a white paper towel and moisten them with a little water. Reddish discolouration of the wet crumbs is a typical sign of flea droppings. Small bites on the skin are another indication of cat fleas.

This is what cat fleas look like: 

• two to four millimetres in size
• a laterally flattened body
• reddish-brown colour
• six legs, the hind legs being particularly strong

Typical symptoms of cat fleas:

• frequent scratching
• excessive cleaning
• Bite marks on the skin
• black crumbs in a flea comb

The cat flea is the most common flea on pets. Over 90 per cent of fleas live on mammals and only a small percentage on birds. Fleas are one of the most common parasites in pets. They are a problem, especially in the cold season: due to the drop in temperature, the animals seek warm places such as apartments or stables to breed there.

Fleas are usually brought in from outside. But the home environment can also be infested with fleas, their eggs or larvae: the fleas jump on the cat and look for a warm place in the fur and the home to multiply. In rare cases, visiting animals in your home can also be the cause of a flea infestation in your house tiger.

Not only outdoor cats, but also indoor or house cats can get fleas. The fleas can enter, for example, through the window, the balcony or the terrace. Because even small rodents such as hedgehogs and rabbits as well as birds can bring in fleas if they run across the terrace or through your flower bed, for example.

Risks of cat fleas

From unpleasant itching to skin irritation and diseases to anaemia and a tapeworm infestation – the consequences of cat fleas vary depending on the intensity and type of infestation.