Page 54 - Complete Cat Care: How To Keep Your Cat Healthy and Happy

External parasites

External parasites, or ectoparasites, are tiny creatures that infest a cat’s
skin, such as fleas, ticks, and mites. Saliva from their bites can irritate
the skin, and the parasites can also transmit disease.

pets that you have, and you
may have to spray your carpets,
Signs of a problem furniture, and car. Never treat your
cat with products designed for
■ Thinning of the fur, patches dogs; these can be toxic to cats.
of bare skin
■ Scabs and crusting Ticks
■ Itching, discomfort Like fleas, ticks feed on blood—but
■ Over-grooming they are much larger. These eight-
■ Shaking head legged creatures are most commonly
■ Itchy skin lesions on owners found in long grass, woodland, or
52 or other pets
■ May see actual parasite moorland, mainly in spring or fall.
They hold onto the skin and feed △ Checking a cat for fleas
with their mouthparts. They look
Your cat’s health The most common external larger as the ticks feed. Ticks can Using a fine-toothed flea comb, especially on
Fleas
like gray or black pimples that grow
the neck and the base of the tail, may help you
cause anemia due to blood loss,
parasite is the flea, which feeds on
find fleas or flea feces.
blood. Heavy infestation in kittens
and the mouthparts can irritate the
can cause anemia due to blood
skin. Ticks can also pass on
form. Bright orange harvest
loss. In some cats, flea saliva may
trigger dermatitis (see p.51) or a bacterial and other infections, mites, which feed on tissue fluid,
are another. These can cause
some of which can be serious—
severe allergic reaction. Fleas such as Lyme disease and intense itching, and pimples or
may also pass on tapeworms (see tularaemia (rabbit fever). crusting, on thinly furred areas
opposite) and transmit diseases Your vet can show you how to such as the head in front of the
such as bartonellosis (cat scratch remove a tick using a tick hook, ears and between the toes. Other
disease) between cats. twisting gently to persuade species include Cheyletiella mites,
A cat with fleas may scratch and the tick to let go to ensure that the or “walking dandruff,” and the
groom himself excessively, causing mouthparts are not left behind. To head mite Notoedres cati. The
hair loss and inflamed or broken prevent infestation, ask your vet for latter causes feline scabies, an
skin. You may see fleas or black advice on tick-repellent products. uncommon but serious condition
specks (flea feces) in the fur. Other that results in itching and raw,
pets or humans may be bitten. Mites crusted, thickened skin. A vet may
Your vet can recommend a Several species of these tiny take skin scrapings to identify the
treatment for effective flea control. creatures may infest cats. Ear mites and recommend species-
You will need to treat any other mites (see p.49) are one common specific treatment.

▷ Parasites
Four common external
parasites are shown here.
Cats may easily pick up
these parasites from their
outdoor environment or
from other cats.
Flea Tick Ear mite Harvest mite

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