In countries with changing seasons, escaping from the cold is always appreciated to welcome warmer times, such as spring and summer, but the presence of the sun may not be so beneficial for your cat, as it unleashes the activity of parasites.
Fleas and ticks are the most well-known invaders of your cat's fur, but unfortunately they're not the only ones. The detection and treatment of these unwanted guests are crucial to prevent diseases, so our site presents you in this article the most common types of external parasites in cats
What are external parasites?
The RAE defines a parasite as "an organism that lives at the expense of another of a different species, feeding on it and impoverishing it without killing it". When we talk about external parasites of the cat, known as ectoparasites, we refer to small insects that live in the dermis of the feline feeding on his blood
The presence of parasites causes discomfort in the host such as itching, pruritus, hair loss and can even transmit different diseases and intestinal parasites. For this reason, although the ectoparasite itself is not fatal to the cat, the bacteria, viruses or internal parasites that it can transmit can be lethal.
Despite this, the external parasites that affect cats are not difficult to eradicate A visit to the vet will indicate the necessary treatment, which usually consists of the application of a product for topical use and perhaps some pills, in addition to the hygiene measures that must be applied at home.
External parasites in cats: fleas
Fleas are the most common ectoparasite on cats, especially the Ctenocephalides felis felis variety. The annoying thing about fleas is not so much the insect itself, which can be seen with the naked eye, especially in cats with light or short fur, but also that there are larvae, pupae and eggs that are impossible to see that do not remain in the cat's body. animal, nesting in carpets, furniture and any dark and cozy place they find in the house.
Aside from scratching, the presence of fleas can be seen in scabs, the coat looks dirty to the naked eye or with reddish areas, consequence of the extraction of the feline's blood. They are capable of living up to 60 days, and their biggest drawback lies in their bite, through which they suck the feline's blood, and which generates various he alth problems:
- Flea bites can cause allergic dermatitis in cats, which causes enormous pain and itching, which can cause the cat self-injures. In addition, if the cat scratches constantly it can suffer a secondary infection from the first injury.
- They can transmit a bacterium that contains endemic typhus.
- Fleas can transmit internal parasites, as is the case with flatworms, such as tapeworms, known as Diplidium.
In addition, blood loss causes weakness and risk of anemia, apart from how exasperating it is for the feline to feel the sting of the flea and the dozens of them walking on his body.
Remember that removing fleas from cats is not particularly complicated. You simply have to apply the treatment recommended by the veterinarian (generally a bath with an anti-parasite shampoo) and, later, apply a repellent (in a pipette, collar or spray) that ends with those that have resisted in the dermis of your feline and that prevents the appearance of other new fleas that may remain in your home.
External parasites in cats: lice
Lice are very common parasites in humans, but also in cats, specifically those belonging to the Felicola subrostrata family. It is important to highlight that the presence of lice is unusual in domestic cats and usually affects those felines that are immunocompromised or in poor hygienic condition.
The cat louse is not very contagious (it does not survive more than 1 or 2 days outside the host) and does not represent a danger to humans, so it is usual for the feline to acquire it in outside, in places where this parasite nests.
We can detect the presence of lice by the appearance of whitish eggs very attached to the animal's fur, which we must remove with a brush for lice or fleas. Fleas can cause:
- Itching, eczema, seborrhea and hair loss.
- They can cause pediculosis, a skin condition when heavily infested.
- Wounds with pustules that can cause a secondary infection.
- They could also transmit intestinal parasites, such as Diplidium tapeworms.
External parasites in cats: ticks
Ticks are the largest mites that feed on the blood of their hosts. Their presence is especially worrying, since they can transmit a large number of diseases, in addition to weakening our cat. There is a greater risk of contagion in hot weather
They can live for a maximum of 2 to 6 years and their transmission is rarely carried out through contact from one cat to another, the most frequent is that they adhereoutside , among the plants, where the parasite takes refuge waiting for a body to invade.
Ticks are easy to spot with the naked eye, especially if they have been feeding. Perhaps in long-haired cats it is a little more difficult to appreciate, but it may be that when you pet your feline you find an abnormal ball to the touch, and when you remove the tufts you discover the tick. You are most likely to find them on the head and feet, especially between the little toes.
There are many diseases that a tick can transmit, here we explain the main and most common ones:
- Transmission of the bacteria Ehrlichia spp, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and A. platys.
- Transmission of the protozoan Babesia spp, which affects red blood cells.
- Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burdogferi.
- Transmission of the protozoan Hepatozoon canis (mainly affects dogs).
- Anemia, as a consequence of blood loss in large infestations.
- Body paralysis, caused by the tick Dermacentor andersoni and Dermacentor variabilis.
To eliminate ticks we recommend cleaning the area where it is found with alcohol or oil, in this way we will numb the insect and it will be more easy to remove it. We recommend using a specific tweezers to remove ticks, but in its absence we will use a normal tweezers, turning the tick on itself until it comes out whole.
Remember that if you are too rough and don't turn the tick its mouthparts could remain in the cat's skin, causing an inflammatory nodule and, subsequently, an infection. After removing it, we must wash the wound and disinfect it with iodine.
External parasites in cats: mites
Mites comprise a group of arachnids that spread different types of scabies, depending on the variety in question. The mite nests in the lower layers of the skin, where it "digs" furrows in the cat's skin to reproduce.
In cats, this parasite mainly invades the legs, neck, ears and head, causing a fairly intense itching, which results in scabs when the cat scratches, in addition to causing hair loss and inflammation, which gives the skin a reddish appearance, almost as if it were raw, which characterizes scabies.
There are different types of mange that cat mites can transmit:
- The ear scabies, which usually ends up causing secondary otitis.
- Sarcoptic mange is caused by several types of mites. These mites are naturally present on the cat's skin, but can carry out an infestation in immunosuppressed animals and can be transmitted from mother to offspring. It is usually seen on the face and ears and is common in kittens. It can affect people and is highly contagious.
Although contagion between animals of the same species is high, it only occurs when contact is direct, that is, if cats spend a lot of time together and share things like toys and eating bowls and drink, for example.
External parasites in cats: screwworms
flies are very dangerous for a cat with an open wound, as they lay their eggs there, which later turn intoscrewworms , which are responsible for the so-called worms or miasis.
In just a few days the eggs can develop into dozens of larvae, even hundreds, which will infect the wound and eat the cat's flesh, further spreading the infection and endangering its life.
External parasites in cats: fungi
There are some fungi, such as Trichophyton, which act as parasites in cats (although they are not specifically insects), and among them are the culprits of ringworm Ringworm (dermatophytosis) is a skin disease that affects felines and is relatively easily recognized. It should be noted that it is transmitted to humans.
A cat suffering from ringworm will show patches of furless, bright reddish skin where the dermis appears to slough off. It spreads easily, although it usually only affects young or sick cats.
Your cat can become infected if it has contact with another feline that carries this fungus, if it uses the objects of a sick animal or even if you let him out of the house and he likes to play in dirty places, where the fungus that causes this infection may be sleeping.
What to do if my cat has external parasites?
First, understand that all these invaders are easily eliminated, with products that are easy to obtain and after a quick Consult your veterinarianIt is not necessary to despise the feline just because it has fleas or ticks, as many uninformed people fear of getting these parasites do, not knowing that those that affect humans mostly belong to other varieties of these species.
The veterinarian will recommend the most suitable product according to the level of infestation and the type of ectoparasite. There are many options: pipettes, powders, sprays, necklaces, shampoos and pills. In addition, flea and lice combs and brushes are also effective. If there is any disease caused by the small insects, it will need to be treated immediately.
In the event of any of these parasites it is necessary to treat the environment Furniture, carpets and any upholstery fabric should be vacuum cleaned separately to use a veterinary-recommended product on the floors that helps eliminate eggs and larvae, apart from repelling new invaders, without compromising the he alth of pets.
In the same way, the other pets in the home must undergo a preventive treatmentif they have not yet been infected. Ensure that all animals are properly vaccinated, to protect them from diseases transmitted by the aforementioned parasites. By following these instructions you will be able to kill those annoying bugs in no time.
