Health: External Parasites in Cats

🐜 Fleas: Tiny Vampires, Big Dangers

For Cats:

• Allergic dermatitis: Reaction to flea saliva (intense scratching, hair loss).
• Tapeworms (Dipylidium): If cats ingest infected fleas while grooming.
• Infectious anemia (Mycoplasma): Bacteria destroying red blood cells.

For Humans:

• Worm transmission (via contact with contaminated litter/feces).
• Cat scratch disease (Bartonella) if the cat is infested.

→ One flea lays 50 eggs/day in your home!

🕷️ Ticks: Ticking Time Bombst

Serious Cat Diseases:

• Babesiosis (Piroplasmosis): Fever, dark urine, kidney failure risk.
• Ehrlichiosis: Bacteria attacking white blood cells (fever, bleeding).
• Lyme Disease (rare in cats but possible).

For Humans:

• Ticks can transmit Lyme or anaplasmosis if they drop from cats.

→ Infected ticks transmit pathogens within 24–48 hours!

🛡️  Our Prevention Protocol

1. Mandatory Before Pet Sitting:
   • Flea & tick treatment (spot-on or oral, as advised by your vet) <48h prior..
   • Skin inspection (neck, belly).
2. Owner Tips:
   • Regular flea combing.
   • Wash bedding at 60°C (kills eggs/larvae).
   • Maintain year-round parasite control..
3. Our Routine:
   • Disinfect shoes/clothing between visits..
   • Immediate alert if parasites are spotted.

📆  Preventive Schedule

Sources: ESCCAP, Dr. Milou, SantéVet.

Note: Risks drop by 90% with rigorous prevention!