Flea infestations cause significant welfare harm to cats through pruritus, anaemia and transmission of disease, requiring effective prevention and treatment approaches.
Flea infestation welfare impact ranges from minor irritation in lightly infested cats to life-threatening anaemia in kittens and severe dermatological welfare compromise in allergic individuals. Flea allergy dermatitis causes intense pruritus that disrupts sleep, normal behaviour and causes significant self-inflicted skin damage. Prevention through regular treatment of all cats and dogs in the household is the welfare-optimal approach. Environmental treatment when infestations are established requires whole-home treatment because adult fleas on the animal represent a small proportion of the total household population at various life stages.