What do flea bites on cats look like? - briefly
Flea bites manifest as tiny, red or pink puncture spots, frequently clustered on the lower back, abdomen, and tail base. The lesions are often slightly raised, itchy, and may show a faint halo of inflammation.
What do flea bites on cats look like? - in detail
Flea bites on felines appear as small, red or pink punctate lesions, usually 1–3 mm in diameter. The lesions are often grouped in clusters of two to five, reflecting the flea’s jumping pattern as it moves across the skin. The centre of each spot may be slightly raised, with a tiny central punctum where the flea’s mouthparts penetrated. In many cases the surrounding tissue shows a faint halo of erythema that can be more pronounced on light‑colored coats.
Typical characteristics include:
- Location: neck, base of the tail, lower back, and inner thighs are most frequently affected because fleas prefer warm, less‑hairy areas.
- Distribution: linear or irregular rows following the flea’s path; occasional isolated spots may appear if a flea feeds briefly before moving.
- Texture: mildly raised, firm to the touch; may feel slightly rough due to inflammation.
- Color variation: pinkish in light‑furred cats, darkened or brownish in dark‑furred cats where the underlying inflammation is visible through the coat.
- Secondary changes: scratching can cause excoriation, crusting, or hair loss around the bite site, creating larger, irregularly shaped lesions.
In allergic cats, the reaction intensifies: lesions become larger (up to 5 mm), intensely pruritic, and may develop papules or pustules. These signs often spread beyond the primary bite sites, involving the entire body surface.
Observing the size, color, arrangement, and any associated hair loss or crusting provides a reliable basis for identifying flea‑induced skin trauma in cats.