Recommended flea treatment

When it comes to these tiny insects hitching a ride on our furry roomates, it won’t make a difference how clean our homes are – fleas can become a really pesky problem regardless.

According to Caroline Reay, head of veterinary services at Blue Cross, it can be easy for your cat to pick up fleas, even if they live indoors, as the wingless creatures can jump up to 100 times their body length and “can be easily brought into the house on shoes, clothing or other pets”.

In an ideal world we would want to prevent these insects from living rent-free on our pets before they even get a chance, but if you are concerned that your cat may have already picked up fleas then there are some key signs to look out for. Dave Tweedle, veterinary surgeon at My Family Vets, says it is possible for a cat to have fleas “without you ever seeing a single one”, but symptoms can include scratching, hair loss, restless behaviour, biting, excessive grooming and flea dirt on the fur or skin.

If your cat has picked up fleas, then it is.