Cat fleas are wingless, external parasitic insects that can jump quite high. They have six legs, and are capable of infesting not just the cats, but also your furniture, carpeting and even you.
Ticks are external parasites as well, but have eight legs and are classified as arachnids. They normally latch onto the cat and such its blood until they are full. It then drops off the cat, leaving behind an irritation where it had bitten the cat.
These two parasites present some effects on the felines. As they bite the cat, they will inject some saliva which causes an allergic reaction. An example of this is flea allergy dermatitis. This causes the cat to scratch and bites the area, losing hair in the process. If it proceeds too long, it can cause the cat to become anemic. This could lead to the death of the cat.
Fleas also can transmit a type of tapeworm to the cat. Apart from this, the ticks can also transmit anaplasmosis, tularemia and another deadly condition that introduces a blood parasite that at present has no known complete treatment. There is also the danger of your cat getting Lyme disease, no matter how much as a cat may be said to be immune.
You can control the infestation of fleas and ticks from your cat through certain means. You can invest in flea sprays and mists. These are sprayed directly on the cat to kill any fleas that may be attacking it. They will also repel them if they haven't already started their onslaught.
You can also get a cat pill from the vet. This will prevent the fleas from producing eggs once they ingest the cat blood. This will however not stop an ongoing infestation.
There are forms, powders as well as a monthly application of liquid between the cat's shoulder blades that can help control the flea. You can get these at the vet's clinic too.
You should also give the cat a good bath with a flea and tick shampoo treatment. This kills them off on contact, as well as their eggs for a while.
There are ways to prevent a flea and tick infestation, to begin with. You need to do a daily check on the cat. Put it on a white surface and part its fur. If there are black specs dropping on the surface, there is an infestation. Do this especially when it has been outside. Vacuum your furnishings, as well as al the areas that the cat usually lounges. Pet owners can also visit this site to learn more https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flea_treatments.
Ensure the cat's beddings are washed regularly and spray the flea and tick medicine on them if there was an infestation. These medicines need to be approved by the vet before you use them on the cat and beddings. er breeding sites. For more cat products click here.