Flea control in cats: new concepts and the current armoury

Abstract

Practical relevance: Flea allergic dermatitis is one of the most common skin diseases of cats presented for veterinary attention. It is therefore important for the practitioner to be able to design an appropriate flea management plan for their patients.

Clinical challenges: There is no 'one size fits all' flea control programme for cats. Successful flea management requires an understanding of flea biology and knowledge of the mode of action of commercial flea products, of which there is a wide range available. Management of owner expectations can often present a challenge. Cat owners generally attribute a persistence of fleas after the administration of routine flea control to be a reflection of product failure. Owners may also be sceptical that fleas are responsible for the clinical signs of overgrooming in their cat and perceive a lack of response to flea adulticide treatment to be evidence of this fact.

Evidence base: This article reviews an extensive body of published literature to update some concepts in flea control and discuss how judicious use of traditional and newer flea products can contribute to an integrated flea control strategy for cats.

Figure 1

Diagram showing the different flea life stages. Courtesy of Elanco Companion Animal Health

Figure 2

Adult fleas feeding on the skin

Figure 3

Flea faeces turn reddish brown when in contact with water; this is best viewed against a white background

Pretreatment

Eight weeks post-treatment