Ticks and fleas in cats: prevention, treatment and other issues

A veterinarian answers common questions from pet owners about fleas and ticks in cats.

With a few exceptions, fleas and ticks are a common problem for us and our cats in Ukraine. So we turned to international flea and tick expert Michael Dryden to find out how to control fleas and get rid of ticks. Dryden has a doctorate in veterinary parasitology and is a founding member of the Companion Animal Parasite Research Council. Dryden has researched nearly every major flea and tick treatment on the market.

Question: How can I tell if my cat has fleas or ticks?

Answer: Run your hand over it, part the fur and look. To find out if your cat has ticks, look at the ears and eyes. As for fleas, the easiest way is to turn it over and look at the belly. Look for fleas or their waste products, usually dried blood that fleas excrete.

Q: Can fleas and ticks make my cat sick?

A: Probably the most common problem is that when these fleas feed, they inject saliva into the skin. The proteins in the saliva are often allergenic, and the animal develops an allergy. The most common skin disease in dogs and cats is what is called flea allergy dermatitis. The animals bite and scratch the affected area, and their hair falls out.

If there are a lot of fleas, since they are blood-sucking insects, animals can develop anemia and even die from severe parasite infestation, especially if you have kittens. Fleas also often carry helminths to our animals, at least one type.

Now, cat ticks are different from dog ticks. There are some diseases that dogs get but cats don't. For example, cats don't get Lyme disease. They get ticks, but it doesn't cause the disease. But they can get anaplasmosis. That's not uncommon in cats. Cats can get tularemia. I think they can get Rocky Mountain spotted fever. They also get a blood disease called Cytauxzoon felis, which is a fatal disease. It's a cat blood parasite that's found from central Kansas almost to Jacksonville, Florida. It's rare in some areas and very common in others. There's no effective treatment.

Q: Are ticks and fleas more common in some areas than others? Where?

A: Ticks and fleas can be more common depending on the area, and their numbers can fluctuate seasonally or from year to year. There is a certain predominant species of flea that is found on dogs and cats in North America. This is the Ctenocephalides felis or cat flea. The first determining factor that affects flea numbers is humidity. So why does Tampa, Florida have more fleas than Kansas City? Why does Kansas City have more fleas than Denver? It depends on the humidity. For example, in the Rocky Mountain states or even the western areas of the Plains states, ticks and fleas on dogs and cats are not as much of a problem because it is simply too dry. The Gulf Coast region of North America and the Southeast are where fleas are most prevalent. However, as you move inland, depending on the amount of rainfall in a given area, their numbers may be low or low.

Of course, ticks have different natures and behaviors. And there are different areas that have more problems with ticks than other types. There are very few places in North America now where you don't see ticks, because there are so many different types of ticks. But there are definitely some areas where it's worse.

Q: Can cats get heartworms?

A: Of course, yes. Absolutely. And cats can die from it. Dogs get heartworms much more often than cats. But if cats do get heartworms, it can be fatal. I actually think heartworms are more fatal in cats than in dogs. There is no effective treatment for heartworms in cats. All we can do is try to treat the symptoms, control the disease until the worms die. There are preventatives for cats, just like there are for dogs. If you give your cat a preventative, it will prevent heartworms from coming in. If you give it to your cat when it has heartworms, it will prevent more heartworms from coming in while you wait for the heartworms to die. Some of them can live in your cat for up to four years.

Q: Is it possible to stop using preventatives during the winter months when there are no fleas, ticks or mosquitoes?

A: No. I believe that in most of the United States, preventatives should be continued year-round. There are a few limited exceptions, so that is not true. Let's look at an example. In Cheyenne, Wyoming, there is no need to treat a cat or dog for fleas or ticks. It does not make sense. But in Atlanta, it is. You have to consider the specific climate conditions in specific climate areas and make a decision.

Q: An environmental group has filed a complaint against several pet stores and manufacturers, claiming that flea collars contain high levels of chemicals that are harmful to animals and people. Are these over-the-counter flea collars safe?

A: I'm not a toxicologist and I try to stay away from all that. But I will say that I think the best way to control fleas and ticks is to go to your vet and find out what products they recommend for your area. A lot of the products on the counter contain pyrethroids or synthetic pyrethrins. We know that's a class of insecticides that fleas are generally resistant to. So one of the reasons that the products on the counter aren't very effective is that fleas are resistant to them. This causes people to overuse them because they don't work well and then they start having problems.

Q: It has also been reported that the EPA is investigating an increase in adverse reactions to topical flea products that we commonly apply between the shoulder blades of cats. Does this mean they are not safe?

A: In my experience and our research in this area, I generally think that the products that we get from our veterinarians are generally very safe and effective. But you have to understand that millions of doses are used each year. With that many doses, things happen. Are there rare allergic reactions? Absolutely. We know that they happen. But in general, if a flea or tick product is recommended or prescribed by a veterinarian, if it is used according to the directions on the label, I can tell you from experience that it is extremely safe. I am a veterinarian, I love dogs and cats, and I would not hesitate to use these products on my animals.

Q: Can tick and flea products intended for dogs be used on cats?

A: There are products that are good for both dogs and cats. There are also products that should not be used for cats because they can be very harmful. They can make the cat sick or even kill the cat. Cats are much more sensitive to some of these products than dogs, so you have to be very careful to choose the right product. The dosage is based on weight, so the dosage for a Great Dane is not appropriate for a cat. It's sad, but it happens. People do it. And they end up with a sick or dead animal.

Q: Are there natural ways to control fleas and ticks if I don't want to use chemicals?

A: In terms of naturalness, not really. We've been looking for more natural approaches for years, but I've yet to find one that's truly effective. Garlic, brewer's yeast - all the research shows that they're ineffective. If they were effective, I'd use them. Ultrasound? The data shows that they're not effective.

And just because a product is “natural” or “organic” doesn’t mean it’s safe. Most poisons in the world are actually organic poisons. Lemon extracts that people have used can be quite toxic to cats. Cats’ livers simply can’t handle them. I would be much more careful with cats, simply because they are much more sensitive to certain substances.

Q: How can I control fleas and ticks in my home and yard?

A: Mow the tall grass, trim the bushes and shrubs, then remove all fallen leaves from under the bushes. Leave the soil clean. There is nothing worse than dryness at these stages of the arachnid's life.

There are EPA approved lawn and garden insecticides that can be applied under bushes, shrubs, crawl spaces, and along fences to control flea and tick breeding outside the home. This is very important - people often spray the grass. This is not effective and is definitely not good for the environment. Fleas and ticks are actually sensitive to sunlight and humidity. Most of the time we find them under bushes, shrubs, under porches, in shaded, sheltered areas. So you should limit the application of such substances to these areas only. Then you need to let the foliage dry for 3 - 4 hours before allowing animals or children to be there.

Q: How can you control fleas in your home?

A: If you have carpet, clean it regularly with a rotary brush or beater. This is very effective in reducing the number of fleas in homes. Wash your pet's bedding weekly to break the life cycle of the insects. Steam cleaning your carpet can also reduce the problem. If you have hardwood floors, mop the floor weekly with a detergent.