Recognizing and Treating Flea Allergy in Cats

One of our two indoor cats has a severe flea allergy while the other cat isn't bothered in the least when fleas take up residence. When we first attempted flea control, we had no idea how serious one cat's flea allergy was and as a result didn't succeed in eradicating the pests. The cat scratched frantically while we (and the vet) struggled to identify the problem.

What does cat flea allergy look like?

Flea allergy, like other feline allergies, leads to scratching, resulting in open sores and scabs on the cat. The hindquarters are the primary locale where the flea allergy will manifest itself. However, a cat that is allergic to fleas may show irritation up the back and on the shoulders and neck, misleading the pet owner or veterinarian into believing the cat is suffering from food or environmental allergy.

Typical flea allergy tends to show up during spring through fall flea season. But a cat with severe flea allergy may show signs year round, again, causing confusion as to whether the problem is flea allergy or food allergy.

Our cat's white legs and bib were stained rust-colored. This was likely caused by the spread of broken down flea excrement but might also have been affected by bleeding from open sores.

Tips for treating flea allergy

Consulting a veterinarian is critical in treating flea allergy. Vets I have consulted don't recommend store-bought flea control products, but stronger products sold only by veterinarians. The dosage for these products depends on the animal's weight so bringing the cat in for a visit is advisable at the start of treatment and whenever the cat shows signs of significant weight gain or loss.

If there are additional pets in the house, know their weights as well when you visit the vet so the vet can prescribe appropriate flea control for them. We have a rabbit, and most of the products for controlling fleas on cats have not been tested for rabbits. Similarly, cat and dog flea products are not interchangeable. Misuse of flea products can result in overdosing and can be deadly. So it's important to get an appropriate product for each animal in the household.

Once you have the right products for controlling fleas, make sure and treat all animals in the house on the recommended schedule, usually monthly.

Even People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, ordinarily a strong advocate of non-chemical flea treatments, concedes chemical pesticides may be essential for cats with flea allergy.

Use flea control products year round for a cat with flea allergy, rather than just during flea season. One or two fleas can wreak havoc on a cat with flea allergy. Not treating our cats once cold weather set in was a mistake we initially made, but in our climate those few fleas that could survive the moderate winter managed to find our cat.

If the cat has open sores, the vet will probably prescribe antibiotics. Corticosteroids can be used to stop the intense itching until the flea control kicks in.

Dangers of not treating flea allergy in cats

Cats suffering flea allergy may experience bacterial infection of the lesions that result from scratching or anemia. Untreated anemia can cause lethargy, weight loss, and even death. That's why it's important not to overlook signs of flea allergy in cats. When you see the cat scratching a lot, there are probably fleas around whether you can spot them on the cat or not.