Monitor — routine vet appointment
Cat with fleas
Use only cat-specific flea treatments — never dog products; treat the home, all pets, and continue monthly.
Recognise the signs
- Scratching, overgrooming, hair loss
- Flea dirt on coat, especially over the tail base
- Visible fleas
- Anaemia in heavy infestations (kittens especially)
First aid steps
- Cat-specific vet-recommended treatment on all cats (and dogs in household).
- Treat the home (vacuum, wash bedding hot, household spray).
- Repeat monthly.
Do NOT
- NEVER use dog flea products on cats — permethrin can kill (see cat-permethrin-poisoning).
- Do not use over-the-counter products without vet input — quality varies.
- Do not skip the environment.
When to phone the vet immediately
- Severe self-trauma
- Pale gums in kittens — anaemia is a real risk
- Permethrin exposure
Common causes
- Year-round, particularly in homes with outdoor cats or other pets
What the vet will need to know
- Current product (and full name)
- All pets in household
- Severity
Aftercare
- Monthly prevention, indefinite.
- Tapeworm treatment.
- Address skin damage.
Prevention
- Year-round cat-specific prevention.
- Treat all pets in household.
- Treat home environment.
Frequently asked questions
Can fleas kill kittens?
Yes — heavy infestations cause life-threatening anaemia in young kittens. Treat promptly with kitten-safe products only.
Indoor-only cat — do I really need flea treatment?
Highly recommended — fleas hitch on humans and via dogs. Indoor-only doesn't mean flea-free.
What if my dog's spot-on touched my cat?
See cat-permethrin-poisoning — wash thoroughly with mild dish soap, phone the vet immediately.