They Are Coming! Fleas and Ticks 101

Last Updated on July 27, 2023 by Holly Anne Dustin

As we head into the heart of spring and summer, we eagerly anticipate the warmer weather, but the bugs not so much. Fox25 in Boston interviewed Stephen Mather, aka The Tick Guy, and he warned of a “ticksplosion” coming this spring. Fleas and ticks are just waiting to jump on your pets. Fleas prefer cats over humans or dogs. Treat your pets with a good flea and tick prevention and keep the treatment current throughout the flea season in your area.

Fleas and Ticks Carry Disease

In the northeast, the deer tick is the biggest concern for people because it transmits Lyme disease. Cats don’t get Lyme at the same rate as dogs but they do get other tick-borne diseases, including Bobcat Fever which can be fatal. Fleas not only cause your pet misery but can cause Bartonella infections, anemia and can transmit tapeworms.

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Check Your Cat

Even if your cat doesn’t go outside check daily for ticks.  You can bring them in on your clothes.  Check kitty’s head, neck, and ears especially and between her toes.  A female tick can lay up to 20,000 eggs.  They tend to live in grass or shrubs where they just wait for a potential host to brush by.  Keeping your grass cut short can help a little but cats are pretty low to the ground and they like to hide out in shrubby areas.  Ticks become active as soon as the ground temperature reaches 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you need to remove a tick do so carefully.  Do not use matches or try to smother the tick.  These can actually increase the risk of getting a disease because it makes the tick salivate.  Use a flat end pair of tweezers or get a tick puller at a pet supply store.  Be careful handling the tick because they can transmit disease through any break in your skin.

You can send the tick you pull off your cat – or yourself – to a tick lab to be tested. TickCheck offers a testing service for a fee. Here in Maine, the UMaine Cooperative Extension, does it for free for state residents. Check with your state government, there maybe a free service available in your state too. The Pennsylvania Ticklab offers a testing service similar to Tickcheck, that is free to PA residents but available at a comparative price to out-of-staters.

Fleas Drive Your Cats Nuts

Fleas and ticks can drive your cat crazy. Itchy, scratchy, miserable cats act out to get your attention. If your laidback furbaby is more agitated or aggressive or is missing the litterbox, then investigate the possibility of fleas.

Life Cycle of the Flea

Fleas become active when temperatures reach 65-80 degrees Fahrenheit with 75-85% humidity. If you live where the winter temperature drops below 65 degrees, you may get a break in flea activity. Fleas live an average of 2-3 months. They can lay up to 40 or 50 eggs each day. The eggs will hatch in 10-14 days, form a larva, the pupae.  An infestation can happen fast and will be hard to beat. The Cooperative Extension has a publication detailing more about the fleas.

Treat Your Pet and Your House

Treat your pet with a quality prevention product. Do not use the cheap stuff you can get at a grocery store. Get a product from your vet, or a pet pharmacy or a pet store. If the active ingredients of a product include pyrethrins, do not use it. It is toxic and can kill your cat. There is a very upsetting video showing the results of using an inappropriate product here.  Don’t ever use dog flea and tick products on cats. There are a variety of options on the market: spot-on, pills, chewables, and collars. Do your research on whatever product you choose to make sure it is right for your pet’s lifestyle.

Beware the home remedy treatments posted about online. Be especially careful around essential oils. Eucalyptus and citrus oils are not safe for cats, and peppermint is effective as a cat repellant.  Garlic is also toxic to cats.  Labeling something “all natural” does not make it necessarily safe for cats. These options are also typically less effective, much more labor-intensive, and less long-lasting.

If you do end up with fleas, treat both your cat and your home as soon as you can. You’ll need to wash everything that can be washed. Vacuum daily. Once you’ve cleaned you can opt for a flea spray or a bug bomb. If you prefer to use fewer pesticides you can try boric acid, food grade diatomaceous earth, or a flea lamp/trap.

Bathe Your Cat

Give your baby a bath. You don’t need to use a flea shampoo. Most of them aren’t too safe for cats anyway. Dawn dish soap will kill fleas and any shampooing will wash fleas down the drain. Start with putting a ring of soap around your cat’s neck to keep the fleas from rushing to her face and ears. Then, wash her thoroughly and leave the soap on for a few minutes before rinsing her completely. Wash her face carefully with a washcloth, but don’t get soap in her eyes or ears. Once she’s dry comb her out with a flea comb. It is safe to treat her with a spot-on treatment after 24 hours. Repeat the flea combing daily; drowning any live fleas you find in a bowl of soapy water until the problem has resolved.

The battle may take a month or so but you can win it. It is better to prevent a problem so consult with your vet or your groomer about your cat’s need for protection from fleas and ticks.