Fleas or Ctenocephalides felis are nasty, disgusting bloodsucking insects that are the bane of any cat and their owners. They will not only feast on your dog and your cat, but are not opposed to feeding off people and children seem to be a favorite target.
Fleas are not only irritating but are also dangerous and can kill a cat or kitten by their sheer numbers. Also, cats can also be allergic to the flea's saliva and the cat will bite and lick the area until the fur is gone and you can see the red inflamed skin.
They feed off the blood of the cat and can cause anemia if the infestation is sever enough. If you think the cat has anemia, check the gums and if they are pale, get the cat to a vet. Sometimes the anemia is severe enough your cat will need to be treated with antibiotics even a blood transfusion.
Fleas can also be a carrier for tape worms. If your cat or kitten has had fleas, you should also have him de-wormed.
One sign of your cat having fleas is if he is scratching and biting his fur a lot. Check for "flea dirt" on his skin. This isn't really dirt but flea excrement. You might also see a tiny black insect jumping around. This is much easier to see on a lighter colored cat than a dark colored one. If you see fleas or flea dirt, it's time to take action.
There are three popular and fairly safe products that kill adult fleas and are applied behind the neck of the cat once a month. These are: Advantage, Frontline Plus (which also kills ticks) and Revolution. Revolution treats not only fleas and ticks but is also used for ear mite, scabies mites and heart worm disease. You can get these from your veterinarian, from the internet or even from a pet shop at the checkout. Before purchasing any of these you should talk to your vet first to find out which flea treatment is best for your cat.
Also popular are the cheaper dips, washes, shampoos and flea collars that you can buy in just about any shop. Beware of them as some of the chemicals used are worse than the fleas and have been known to cause severe allergic reactions and even death.
There is a natural pesticide that is specific for insects and reportedly completely safe. It's called Diatomaceous earth, which is a type of fossilized algae that looks like chalk dust. It has fine sharp edged particles that attach to and penetrate the coating on the flea's exoskeleton (outside shell) which causes the flea to become dehydrated and then die.
Unfortunately, some cats will also be allergic to the prescription drugs. These cats will need to be kept flea free by a liberal use of the flea comb and using preventive measures such as chemically "bombing" your house to get rid of any present infestation and then combed regularly to keep fleas from returning. If you decide to go this route try to find a bomb that contains either pyrethrums (natural) or resmethrin (one of the less dangerous synthetics) as the active ingredient. Follow the instructions exactly for the safest use.
You will also need to vacuum your house frequently, especially areas where the cat sleeps or spends a great deal of time. Pay attention to dark corners where fleas may have laid their eggs. Always get rid of the vacuum bag after cleaning, if you don't the bag becomes an excellent breeding ground.
Wash any bedding and tumble dry in a hot dryer and sprinkle some Diatomaceous earth on the clean carpets and floors and work it in with a broom.
Once your house has been thoroughly cleaned you can also lie down rushes of lavender or rosemary. Place them along the edges of your baseboards and under your cushions of your sofa and stuffed chairs. The fragrance will help make your home smell nice but will also discourage new fleas from laying their eggs in these places.
Some people will recommend that you use essential oils on your cat's bedding or on the cat itself. Please do not follow this advice as cats cannot metabolize these oils and the "cure" can be worse than the pest itself.
However you decide to treat the fleas, it is something that will have to be kept up. It is not a one time only solution unless of course, you move to somewhere that has really cold winters. Fleas can't survive the cold and you will not have to worry about the little biters moving in.