Why are fleas dangerous for a cat? - briefly
Fleas ingest blood, which can cause anemia and, in heavy infestations, be life‑threatening; they also serve as vectors for diseases like Bartonella and trigger allergic skin reactions that often lead to secondary infections.
Why are fleas dangerous for a cat? - in detail
Fleas present several serious health threats to felines. Their bite causes direct tissue damage and can trigger intense itching, leading to self‑inflicted wounds and secondary bacterial infections. The skin irritation often escalates into flea‑allergy dermatitis, a hypersensitivity reaction that produces redness, crusting, hair loss, and thickened skin.
Blood loss from a heavy infestation can induce anemia, especially in kittens and small‑breed cats. Even a modest number of fleas feeding several times a day may remove enough plasma to lower red‑cell counts, resulting in lethargy, pale mucous membranes, and reduced immune function.
Fleas act as vectors for a range of pathogens:
- Bartonella henselae – the agent of cat‑scratch disease, capable of causing fever, lymphadenopathy, and, in immunocompromised cats, systemic infection.
- Rickettsia felis – a cause of febrile illness and occasional neurologic signs.
- Mycoplasma haemofelis – a hemotropic bacterium that produces severe anemia.
- Dipylidium caninum – a tapeworm transmitted when a cat ingests an infected flea during grooming; adult worms reside in the intestine, causing weight loss, abdominal discomfort, and fecal scooting.
The combination of skin trauma, allergic response, anemia, and pathogen transmission makes flea infestations a multifactorial risk to feline health. Prompt detection and comprehensive control—regular topical or oral treatments, environmental decontamination, and routine veterinary monitoring—are essential to prevent these adverse outcomes.