Beyond the myth

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Despite cats being susceptible to a wide array of external and internal parasites, they often remain unprotected in spite of a market with safe and effective parasiticide products. It is also important to remember that indoor cats are at risk just as much as outdoor cats. Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, of dvm360® Live, spoke with Susan Little, DVM, PhD, DACVM about how common some of these risks are, what to do about them, and how to break down barriers for feline parasite protection.

Common misunderstandings about flea infestations in cats.

Flea denial is real. One misconception is that fleas are seasonal, regional, or there is a thought of “not my cat.” We also have the feeling that cats are good groomers and independent, so they’re going to remove the fleas they have. However, as veterinarians, we know they can’t get them all and they need to be on flea control to eliminate those infestations.

Fleas are more than happy to come indoors to set up the infestation. If it’s not a cat going outside, it could be a dog or human in the same household that transmits the fleas to the cat. There is a report from a few years ago that said 10% of pet cats in the US had fleas, with regional numbers of 17% in the southeastern US and 20% in the Pacific northwest.

Another misconception is that once fleas are discovered, there won’t be a problem anymore after treatment. As fleas build up in an environment—because of the larvae and pupae—the adults will emerge and reinfest the cat. Cats and people don’t live in closed environments. We are continually reintroducing fleas and that is why they have to be protected.

What information do veterinarians need to consider when we think about tapeworms?

The most common tapeworm we see is Dipylidium caninum because cats often ingest fleas as part of their normal grooming habits. We haven’t been able to document that tapeworms are very common in cats until very recently because fecal flotation doesn’t have a high sensitivity for eggs due to their weight and low likelihood of floating. Newer antigen and PCR testing is how we discovered the high number of infected cats nationally. 5-10% of cats nationally are infected with Dipylidium caninum.

Although many people are familiar with flea infestations in cats, we often hear that “cats don’t get ticks” or “I’ve never seen a tick on my cat.” What are some of the myths associated with ticks in cats?

Not only do cats become infested with ticks, they also can become infected with tick-borne diseases that are potentially fatal. The most serious tick-borne disease in cats in North America is cytauxzoonosis, which is transmitted by the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum. Lone star ticks are expanding both geographically and seasonally. We’re seeing activity from them most months of the year. So tick prevention is needed all year-round rather than certain months of the year.

How do you diagnose cytauxzoonosis?

Cats will develop a severe, highly febrile disease. They may also be extremely lethargic and even jaundiced. We perform a blood smear to identify the organisms.

Roundworms and hookworms in cats

Roundworms are phenomenally common in cats. Cats never get the age-related immunity that dogs do, especially cats that have access to prey species which they ingest, like rodents or birds. Combining a cat’s love for hunting with less frequent parasitic control means that so many cats are not protected from infection. Cats remain susceptible to roundworms throughout their life, meaning they’re going to be shedding eggs that will then contaminate the environment. These larvae then present a zoonotic risk. Hookworms can infect cats as well, but roundworms are more prevalent. Their natural behaviors increasing their exposure to these parasites are a good reason for vets to recommend a broad spectrum parasiticide for their feline patients.