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101 results for “cat fleas”
Cat Scratch Disease: A Zoonosis You Should Know
Cat scratch disease is a bacterial infection from Bartonella henselae, passed mainly by a cat's scratch or bite. Cats carry it without symptoms, but people can develop a red bump, swollen lymph nodes, and fever. Most cases are mild and self-limiting, yet antibiotics help when symptoms are strong. Wash any scratch well, and see a doctor if signs appear—especially for children and the immunocompromised.
I just found black specks on my cat that turn red when rubbed — likely flea dirt. What should I do when holding him?
Fleas spread through the home via the cat. Treat the cat with a fipronil-based flea product and disinfect the environment. If you handled the cat, wash with warm water and soap to remove fleas.
Why Does My Cat Still Itch After Deworming?
A cat that keeps scratching after a dewormer isn't necessarily proof the product failed. Dewormers kill parasites but not skin problems, and the wrong product, wrong application, or an untreated home can all leave itching in place. Flea-allergy dermatitis, mites, dry skin, and stress can itch too. Mild scratching for a day or two may just need patience; anything longer with skin damage needs a vet.
Does a Scratching Cat Always Have Parasites?
A scratching cat doesn't automatically have worms. Itching can come from parasites, but also from skin disease, allergies, dry skin, or even stress. Anxious cats may over-groom until they damage their own skin, creating a vicious itch cycle. If scratching continues after a dewormer, or comes with hair loss, redness, bumps, ulcers, or heavy scaling, it's time for a veterinary check rather than more flea treatment.
Cat Dewormers Compared: How to Choose the Right One
More than half of household cats are estimated to carry at least one parasite at some point, with fleas, roundworms, and heartworm among the most common. Regular, science-based deworming can sharply lower that risk and protect both cat and owner. This guide compares the main types of cat dewormers by their active ingredients and explains how to match a product to your cat's age, lifestyle, and parasite exposure, so you can build a safe, sustainable routine without relying on brand hype.
What to Do If Your Cat Has Tapeworms
Tapeworms cause belly discomfort, diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, dull coat, and shedding; heavy infections shed visible segments near the anus, making the cat scoot or lick. Cats catch them by eating infected fleas, mice, or birds, through mother's milk, or from a contaminated environment. Treatment is a dewormer with praziquantel, fenbendazole, or albendazole plus probiotics, and strict flea control plus regular deworming prevents reinfection.
Budget Cat Deworming: What to Look For
Even indoor cats can pick up parasite eggs on shoes, clothes, or parcels, and skipping treatment risks itching, anemia, and poor growth. The aim is not the priciest product but a safe, licensed one used correctly. This guide explains why cats need deworming, what a good spot-on covers (the broad-spectrum imidacloprid-plus-moxidectin pair and heartworm prevention), and how to choose on safety, credentials, and monthly cost rather than sticker price. In mosquito-heavy regions, a heartworm-preventing product used monthly is especially important.
Cat Deworming: A Beginner’s Guide
Choosing a cat dewormer confuses many new owners, and a wrong pick can fail to work or even cause allergy, gut irritation, or liver damage. The good news is that careful, budget-friendly choices are possible. This guide explains why indoor cats still need deworming, how a combined internal-and-external spot-on (imidacloprid plus moxidectin) works, the correct application steps, and the three myths to avoid—including that dog products can be toxic to cats. Regular, correct deworming protects both cat and family.
Hair Loss (Alopecia) in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Causes, and Care
Hair loss in dogs and cats ranges from localized patches due to friction or harsh shampoos to generalized shedding from parasites, fungus, or endocrine disease such as hypothyroidism. Identifying the cause guides the right treatment.
Flea Infestation in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Fleas are blood-feeding insects that cause itchy dermatitis in dogs and cats and can transmit tapeworms and other diseases. Control requires treating the pet, the home, and all in-contact animals with veterinary-directed parasiticides.