Cats, unfortunately, are one of the animals that fleas can bite and annoy the most. These are very small parasites that appear to the naked eye as shiny black dots that multiply very quickly and in large numbers (a female can lay hundreds of eggs).
If we live with cats, we absolutely must include deworming them occasionally on our care list, especially if they are allowed outdoors, and/or if we have a garden where we spend a lot of time, or if we frequently go hiking in nature. We shouldn't forget that fleas can also cling to our clothes and enter the house that way. But can cat fleas bite humans?
And it is that, with the pile of problems that it causes to our domestic animals, could it possibly cause problems to us humans? Let me tell you, these horrible parasites can harm us too.
What are cat fleas like?
These parasites are very small, less than 0,5 centimeters long once they reach adulthood . Their body consists of two long hind legs used for jumping and shorter front legs, a very small head with a mouth designed for piercing and sucking blood, and a swollen abdomen.
However, during its larval phase it is completely different: it is like a very small worm, with an almost transparent body, and seen through the microscope you can identify some "hairs" that are actually sensors towards the upper half. it will go through four stages before becoming an adult.
And finally, the egg is laid by the female in various animals that serve as host: dogs and cats especially, but also rodents, rabbits, ruminants and humans, although in the latter it does not usually complete its life cycle.
Can they bite humans?
Cat fleas, or Ctenocephalides felis , are one of the most common flea species after dog fleas. These fleas can bite humans , just as they bite cats. However, unlike what happens with cats, these fleas don't live on our bodies; they can bite and sting us, but they don't live on us.
What do fleas cause in humans?
Actually, the symptoms are the same for both cats and humans :
- Itching
- Reddened skin (from the bites themselves, or from being allergic to the saliva of parasites)
- In really serious cases, scratching wounds
…And bad mood  . Irritability. Malaise. You have a tremendous desire to take a shower and scratch your skin and hair thoroughly to leave them perfectly clean.
Therefore, we shouldn't be surprised if our cats seem grumpy when they have fleas . It's precisely to avoid this, both the discomfort for humans and for our cats, that we must deworm them.
Remedies against flea bites
In cats
Image - Petsonic.com
Generally, people who care for cats or who have a cat infested with these parasites at home may suffer bites from these animals, so it is highly recommended that we try to keep our pet in perfect hygienic conditions. Therefore, whether or not it has parasites, we should deworm it during the spring and summer (or year-round if it goes outdoors).
What should I use for this purpose? From experience, I highly recommend pipettes , which are like small, flat plastic bottles about three centimeters long containing the antiparasitic liquid. Apply it to the cat's neck, where the head meets the back, right in the center, and that's it.
Other things you can use are a flea and tick collar (preferably with a safety clasp) or flea and tick sprays . Be very careful with the latter, and never buy those containing permethrin or cypermethrin, as these are highly toxic to cats. It's also best to apply it only once to a small area first and wait to see if your cat has any reaction. If everything seems fine, then apply it to the rest of the body, avoiding the eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and genital area.
In humans
Whether we want to avoid getting bitten or we already have bites, what we should do is take a good shower, put the clothes we were wearing in the wash as well as the house linens (tablecloths, sheets, the cat's bed, etc.), and thoroughly clean the entire house with very hot water (it should almost burn).
If it itches a lot, we can apply natural Aloe vera cream or gel , which will quickly relieve the itching.
And if the infestation seems to be getting out of hand, we'll need to call the local pest control service to solve the problem. They'll probably tell us we have to stay out of the house for at least 24 hours, so before calling them, we'll need to find a place where we can stay temporarily. Obviously, the cat shouldn't be in the house either when the professionals are working.
What diseases can fleas transmit?
The following:
bartonella
It is a genus of bacteria that, using fleas, mites, ticks and mosquitoes, infect humans causing various symptoms: fever, vomiting, nausea, general malaise, weakness.
The most vulnerable population groups are those most likely to have contact with ticks and rodents, which serve as hosts for bacteria.
Allergic flea dermatitis
It's an allergy to the saliva of dog and cat fleas . In cats, scabs appear on their backs, spreading to the neck and abdomen. Additionally, bald patches or broken hairs may appear.
In humans it is rare, but we could also have scabbing wounds and a lot of itching.
Tapeworm of the dog (and the cat)
Its scientific name is Dipylidium caninum , and it is an intestinal parasite that affects mammals in general and dogs, cats and humans in particular, which in its adult phase measures 15 to 70cm long by 2,5-3 millimeters in diameter.
The most common symptoms are diarrhea and discomfort, but it is treated well with a doctor-prescribed oral dewormer (for humans) or vet-prescribed syrups (for cats and dogs).
Typhus
Typhus is an infectious disease transmitted by several species of Rickettsia bacteria, which uses fleas, mites, lice, and ticks as hosts, and affects humans. Symptoms include recurrent high fever, chills, headache, and widespread skin rashes.
Today, it is a disease that is almost completely eradicated . Cases continue to appear only in some parts of South America, Central America, Burundi, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Algeria.
I hope you learned a lot from this article  .