Fleas are extremely prolific insects. They carry disease and can make your cat's life very difficult. Lots of flea bites can be very dangerous for your cat's health, leading to anemia. Use this guide to learn how to check if a cat has fleas.
Steps
Step 1. Check your cat's coat well
If the flea infestation is bad enough you will quickly see them running through your cat's fur or popping out of it. Fleas are small (1.5 to 3mm) and red-brown in color. They move fast and jump very long, relative to their size
Step 2. Use a special flea comb on your cat
Flea combs are designed to trap them between their teeth. The teeth of the combs are very close to each other and the fleas cannot escape and are therefore carried out of the cat's coat. This also depends on the severity of the flea infestation - if there is only a few, the comb may become useless and fail to trap them
Step 3. Check your cat's fur for flea droppings
Run your hand through your cat's fur in the opposite direction of its natural growth. If you find one or more small areas of black dots, it is flea droppings. The presence of these droppings indicates that your cat has fleas
Step 4. Check your home for fleas
- If your cat has fleas and spends a lot of time around the house, he or she will probably have left them lying around. If the infestation is severe enough, they will start to sting you too and you will have small stings on your feet or legs.
- Fill a shallow container with water and add a few drops of dish soap. Place the container directly under a warm light (lamp). The light will attract fleas, which will inadvertently enter the water and drown from the detergent. In the morning, check for fleas in the container!
