Feline Allergies Caused By Flea Bites –
Cat Hot Spots

Feline allergies of the skin and cat hot spots caused by flea bites are usually painful and require adequate veterinary treatment. Find here the most effective medical treatments and preventative remedies for cat flea allergy through effective flea control products.

Flea Allergy in the Cat - Acute Moist Dermatitis

Cat flea bites may cause circumscribed feline skin allergies, so called cat hot spots.

When a flea bites, it releases saliva into the tissue that surrounds the bite area. Flea saliva contains proteins and enzymes that ensure a constant blood flow during ingestion and inhibits blood clotting as long as the flea feeds on blood.

Cats may develop a local reaction to flea saliva which starts similar to other feline allergies of the skin with a strong itchiness and reddening of that area.

The cat is usually scratching and licking vigorously this itchy spot, making it worse with her abrasive tongue. The skin is soon becoming infected with bacteria, which can cause an even more severe inflammation. It will become weepy and painful, an Acute Moist Dermatitis.

The fur will become thinned out or hair is altogether licked away.

This kind of local infection will start to spread within the skin and the subcutaneous tissue.

Feline allergies, such as cat hot spots and general cat flea allergy can develop within a few hours and require veterinary care the sooner, the better: best is to let your vet examine your cat to determine proper and effective treatment.

Fur on the affected area is usually clipped short, so that topical drugs can be applied easily and reach the affected area. This does also help to air the spot well. Any exsudate is cleaned away, best with surgical scrub diluted in water.

Depending on the severity of the problem medical treatment will consist of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories, that are used systemically and/or topically.

Beside effective medical treatment, following a proper flea control plan will be an essential part of the prevention of feline allergies caused by flea bites.

Best Products

Advantage™ (Bayer)Spot on

Advantage Spot on for cats comes in two different dosages, one is for for small cats weighing up to 4 kg and the other, Advantage 80, is for cats weighing over 4 kg.

Advantage contains the effective substance imidacloprid and as a preservative butylated hydroxytolvene (PhEur).

It gives relief from fleas within a few minutes and kills about 99% of fleas within 12 hours after application onto the cat's skin.

One dose of Advantage is one pipette, which will prevent re- infestation with fleas for up to 4 weeks.

It is a highly recommended product by vets, because it is reliable, works quickly and is relatively safe, if used correctly as prescribed.

Please, use for felines Advantage for cats only to avoid overdosing.

You can purchase it online and in the UK you will need to fax a prescription from your vet through to the online pharmacy.

Frontline™ (Merial)

Frontline contains fipronil and is used as a spray or spot on product. It can be used also in young kittens from the age of 10 weeks and at least 1 kg of body weight.

Vets use Frontline for the treatment of fleas, ticks and biting lice infestations as it is reliable and works fast. It kills adult fleas, eggs, larvae and pupae and is used as part of a treatment plan for feline allergies caused by flea infestation.

Repeated treatments should only be done in intervals of 4 weeks or longer.

Frontline™ Products available for Cats

• Frontline™ Spot on
• Frontline™ Spray (UK: prescription only drug)
• Frontline Combo™ Spot on for Cats (UK: prescription only drug)

Treating the Environment

Treat the environment your cat lives in with products that kill fleas, their eggs and larvae which are not living on your pet, but in carpets, furniture, wooden flooring, or places where, e.g. you may not be able to reach them with a vacuum cleaner.

To prevent re-infestation of your cats with newly hatched fleas that would cause again feline allergies through biting, you need to treat and sanitize their living areas effectively.

Environmental sprays should be used in case of severe flea infestation to eliminate and control a flea population quickly and best is to combine them with other preventatives and thorough sanitation.

Vet Kem Acclaim Household Flea Spray ™

If used correctly according to the description on its label, it works fast and gives a 12 month protection against new infestations.

It contains a long-acting insect growth regulator that prevents eggs and immature flea forms from hatching.

1 spray contains 400 ml aerosol and treats a surface of about 140 sqm.

Precautions:

• Do not use it directly on your cat or other pets! It contains permethrin, which is highly toxic to animals.
• It is dangerous to birds and fish and should not be used in aviaries or get into fish tanks.

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Read more about natural ways of flea prevention with home remedies for fleas.