Flea allergy dermatitis is the most common skin condition in cats and causes intense suffering from hypersensitivity to flea saliva, requiring systematic flea control rather than just treatment of symptoms.
Cats with flea allergy dermatitis experience intense pruritic misery that dominates their daily experience. Scratching, overgrooming and self-mutilation represent attempts to relieve intolerable itching. The condition can cause secondary bacterial infections, further increasing suffering. Owner underestimation of flea burden, particularly in cats where fleas are rarely seen, leads to inadequate treatment and prolonged suffering.