Are fleas on cats dangerous? – 5 shitty things fleas can do to your cat(s)

What do fleas on cats do? Can they kill them or make them seriously sick? Let’s learn all the answers!

If you have experience with cats, you must have seen some cats agitating, scratching, and biting their coat intensely. It happens most commonly due to a flea infestation. The presence of fleas on cats is an issue one should not take lightly. The problem can prove to be far-reaching and disturbing if it doesn’t go away.

Are fleas on cats harmful? Yes, they are, in more than one ways. And it is important to understand how bad fleas are for our little furry friends.

How can fleas on cats make them sick? Let’s see.

These little creatures, known as fleas, cause damage to the cats in many ways. Fleas are wingless insects famous for their blood-sucking habits, but they do a lot more harm than that. In addition to causing the anemia due to feeding on blood, fleas are also responsible for irritation and skin allergy in cats. And that’s not all: They are also involved in the transmission of a number of dangerous (even deadly) diseases to cats. Bad, isn’t it?

Let’s discuss some of the effects fleas have on cats as well as the health problems in cats caused by fleas:

1. Skin Problems

Skin problems, usually, are the most common manifestation of fleas on cats. Typically, cats can’t even feel a flea bite because it does not cause much irritation or pain. But the problem is, most of the cats develop an allergy against flea saliva, which leads to flea allergy dermatitis. It means that even a single flea bite can cause a significant reaction in the form of irritation and aggravation. If you find your cat itching and scratching intensely, it is most probably due to flea allergy dermatitis.

Can fleas on cats cause hair loss? Yes, unfortunately!

Along with many other problems, the extensive biting and scratching by cat due to the allergic reaction can lead to the loss of fur. As a result, you may able to see patches of baldness on your cat, especially on its back and at the base of the tail. And all it takes is a single flea bite.

Not only that, the breakage of the skin and the scab formation makes it easier for bacteria and other pathogens to enter the body and cause infections. These infections may cause widespread damage to the cat’s health.

2. Tapeworm Infestations

Do fleas on cats cause worms? Yes, as silly as it sounds, it is true!

Fleas play a role in the transmission of tapeworms from cats to cats and other animals. Tapeworms are common parasites of the digestive system. These parasites grow inside the body of fleas. Fortunately, these parasites can not spread through flea bites. But, if a cat ingests a flea while grooming, tapeworm larvae can enter the cat’s body and start developing in its digestive tract.

The body of the tapeworm parasites is long and comprise a large number of segments (that’s why they are called “tape” worms). After growing to an adult, the parasite attaches itself to the intestinal wall of the cat. The posterior segments of the tapeworm body contain eggs. These sections keep breaking from the body of the parasite, and they are passed out with the feces of the cat. The flea larvae feed on these segments, and the cycle starts again.

3. Blood Loss (Anemia)

Fleas feed on blood. If a cat has too many fleas on it, they may be able to suck enough blood to cause serious complications. Anemia, the deficiency of blood in the body, is most common in the case of the presence of extensive fleas on kittens or very old cats. Flea bite anemia can be serious and may even lead to death, especially in young kittens.

In addition to their blood-sucking habits, fleas are also responsible for the transmission of certain blood parasites. Some common examples of these parasites are Mycoplasma haemofilis and Mycoplasma haemominutum (Previous name: Hemobartonella felis). These bacteria cause the destruction of the red blood cells of the cat, resulting in severe anemia. This condition is commonly known as Haemobartonellosis. The chances of survival, in this case, are quite low: More than 33 of the infected cats do not survive.

4. Black Death (The Plague)

Most of the people think that the Plague is history. But, really, is it?

If you think so, the statistics don’t agree with you. The disease is still present in many parts of the world, even in the United States of America. Yersinia pestis, the bacteria responsible for this deadly disease, spreads through fleas. Both cats and humans are susceptible to this illness, along with many other animals. Cats can get the bacteria from a flea bite, or by ingesting infected rodents.

Not only cats, but humans can also get the disease from flea bites. Many new cases of are seen every year, especially in the people having close contact with animals.

5. Weight Loss

Can fleas on cats cause weight loss? Yes, this one is also true!

Fleas cause irritation and stress. They suck blood from cats. In addition, they also transmit different disease-causing bacteria and parasites. Any one of these problems is enough for cats to lose body weight. So, if your cat is losing weight without any apparent reason, you might want to consider cat fleas being the root of the problem.

Can cats die from flea bites?

Can cats die of fleas? Not likely, but possible.

Although fleas don’t normally kill cats, they are quite able to do so if not treated immediately and effectively. Let me explain:

Fleas most commonly cause skin problems in cats. These problems are very irritating and they don’t go very easily, but they don’t usually lead to death either. Flea bite anemia, on the other hand, can be fatal. If a cat has a heavy load of fleas, they can suck blood from its body in large quantity, maybe enough to kill the cat. In addition to that, some flea-borne diseases in cats are very dangerous and they can also cause the death of the cats. The plaque and haemobartonellosis are some examples of such diseases.