The cat has black dots that look like dirt on his chin under his fur.

Causes of blackheads

Acne most often forms on the chin, which is due to the almost complete absence of hair in this place. It has an increased concentration of sebaceous glands. When eating food, they become clogged due to dirt. Black dots in a cat’s fur do not always appear due to pollution. It often happens that an animal has bad heredity. He is more susceptible to acne from birth. Other reasons:

1. Unbalanced feeding. Lack or excess of any nutrient will lead to black rashes.
2. Disturbances in the functioning of hormones.
3. Diseases caused by disruptions in the nervous system.
4. Diseases of the digestive organs, liver and gall bladder.

Separately, it is worth noting the care of the pet. If you don't clean your ears regularly, wax will gradually accumulate in your ears. This leads to disruption of the sebaceous glands and the occurrence of acne. They become clogged and acne appears.

Cleaning your ears too often can cause just as much harm. With the constant removal of sulfur, the protective layer becomes thin, so the glands work in double mode. This leads to an increase in the amount of sulfur.

Finding a black rash on the neck is often associated with wearing a flea collar. This happens due to the high sensitivity of the skin, which leads to irritation or an allergic reaction to the material. When the neck fits closely, the collar compresses the skin, blocking the passage of air.

Means and methods for destroying flea larvae

Flea larvae should be destroyed indoors using the same means that are used against adult fleas:

• these can be as concentrates for dilution such as Executioner, Cucarachi or Tetrix, Raptor or Combat aerosols;
• as well as microencapsulated products such as Dana or Get (the latter has almost no odor);
• and even folk remedies - turpentine, kerosene, vinegar.

Traditional substances such as Dichlorvos or Karbofos are also effective against flea larvae, but in terms of safety and ease of use they are much inferior to modern drugs.

Dusts are also effective against flea larvae, but are practically useless against adult fleas. However, using powdered insecticides is somewhat more difficult, since they need to be scattered in places where the larvae are constantly located, which is sometimes problematic, and sometimes, when the larvae are found behind baseboards or under the floor, it is completely impossible.

In this case, it is very important that the dust itself is certainly near the larvae, since it only works when the pests eat it along with other food. Therefore, it turns out to be generally more difficult to deal with larvae than with adult fleas - even with aerosols, when fighting them, you need to treat places where it is very difficult to get close and where adult fleas themselves are not found.

This is interesting

An example of a carpet literally infested with flea larvae

One flea will not drink much blood and traces of its presence are almost impossible to detect, but it is capable of leaving numerous offspring, which over time will cause a lot of trouble not only for the animal, but also for its owner.

How to cure acne in a cat?

The owner can carry out the treatment procedures recommended by the veterinarian independently. Antiseptics are used to treat skin and wool - salicylic alcohol or Chlorhexidine. After the procedure, thorough drying is carried out. It is imperative to include vitamin supplements in the diet and transfer the animal to high-quality food with a minimum of fat.

To dry the skin and normalize the functioning of the sebaceous glands, use tar soap or shampoo or cucumber lotion. The dirt dries up and disappears after 2-3 days. For bloody, purulent crusts, external antibacterial drugs are prescribed: Mupirocin, Bactroban. Oral antibiotics are given if a secondary infection develops. If the inflammatory reaction is severe, then corticosteroids are prescribed, for example, Prednisolone. For rashes on the face, it is recommended to use Clotrimazole or Chlorophyllipt. They are not rubbed in, but applied pointwise to the skin. Be sure to cover the top with sulfur ointment. Recommendations for the owner before starting treatment:

1. If the pet has long hair, then the grains are combed out. To do this, use a soft brush, since a metal comb can damage the skin.
2. Do not overdo it with drying agents, as they have a direct effect on the skin.
3. It is better not to use iodine or brilliant green to treat damaged skin, as they enhance the work of the sebaceous glands. This makes the problem worse.

To combat acne, the use of traditional medicine is common. A decoction of yarrow is used to wipe acne spots on the lips. The affected areas of the skin are treated with celandine. A cut of fresh pumpkin, a mixture of chamomile, calendula and Furacilin are also often used.

Black dots in a cat's fur are a symptom that requires consultation with a veterinarian. If the taken therapeutic measures do not have an effect, then the problem is physiological in nature. Only a doctor can help with this, so don’t put off going to the clinic.

What do flea larvae look like?

Flea larvae look like tiny white worms with a translucent body. Even if you look carefully, you cannot see their legs - they simply don’t exist. But the body of the larva is covered with sparse hairs, clearly visible under a magnifying glass or microscope.

The photo, enlarged several times, shows a flea larva:

In her body, the esophagus is clearly visible, filled with digestible food - various organic residues.

The maximum length of flea larvae that can be found in residential premises is 4-5 mm, the usual length is 2-3 mm. They can easily be confused with fly larvae that live in similar places, but the maggot is more mobile and does not have such transparent body coverings.

The flea larva has a fairly large head and 13 segments. Evolutionarily, the first three segments served to attach the legs, but gradually the limbs atrophied as unnecessary. Flea larvae have well-developed jaws of the scraping-gnawing type, allowing them to feed on fairly rough food.

The photo below shows flea eggs and larvae:

This is interesting

The smallest flea larvae, just emerging from the egg, have a small egg tooth on the crown of their head - a hard outgrowth that helps them break through the egg shell and emerge into the world. At the first molt, the tooth falls off along with the chitinous shell of the body.

In the photo there are large numbers of flea larvae in a rodent cage:

On a note

The development of the larva continues, depending on the availability of food and temperature conditions, from 9 days to several months.

Under optimal conditions - a temperature of about 23°C and an air humidity of 60%, the larvae develop in approximately three weeks. During this time, they molt three times, constantly grow and feed. At the last stage, the larva envelops itself in a thin silk cocoon and turns into a pupa.

At too high temperatures, flea larvae dry out - at low humidity this occurs already at 34-36°C. At high air humidity (up to 90%), growing juveniles experience this temperature quite normally.

Flea larvae can starve for quite a long time - up to 3-4 weeks. At the same time, they do not develop, do not grow, but also do not fall into suspended animation. The larvae have developed the so-called negative phototaxis - wherever they find themselves, they try to get into the least illuminated place. Although the eyes of flea larvae are practically undeveloped, they sense the presence of light well and try to hide from the illuminated place.

What to do if you notice black spots on your cat's chin?

If the owner carefully watches the pet, then he perceives every change in well-being and appearance with alarm. If black spots appear on a cat's chin, this becomes a cause for serious concern about the pet.

A sign that is subtle and harmless at first glance indicates problems in the body or lack of proper care. In veterinary practice, this symptom is given the name “Acne”. Before prescribing treatment procedures, the doctor needs to find out the cause of the disease.

White grains (microscopic balls)

White specks on cats' fur can only be noticed upon careful inspection.

One of the strange manifestations of cat malaise is white grains or microscopic balls that fall off the animal’s fur. They are not noticed immediately. At first, they only evoke puzzled glances from the owner and a silent question in his eyes. Where do the mysterious grains come from and what are they?

White grains are nothing more than flea eggs that have not yet hatched. They can get on the animal's skin and, accordingly, on the fur.

What to do and how to detect

If you notice a change in your pet's behavior, carefully examine him to see if he is bothered by fleas.

First of all, you shouldn't panic. In order not to bring the situation to critical limits, it is necessary to monitor the cat more often. This advice may seem very uninteresting and philistine, but this is the only way to notice changes in the health of your pet.

It is necessary to inspect your pet and the places where he recently sat more often.

Flea eggs in the form of white grains will be especially noticeable on dark surfaces.

Having discovered uninvited guests, it is important to begin eliminating them as quickly as possible.

Causes of blackheads

Blackheads, comedones, acne are terms that mean the visible manifestation of clogged pores. Dirt, combining with sebaceous secretion, forms a dense mass inside the duct from the gland to the surface of the skin. Acne affects the chin, area around the mouth, stomach and tail.

Black dots often appear on the cat's chin. The spread of acne in this area is associated with sparse or completely absent hair. Another factor influencing the localization of acne is the accumulation of sebaceous glands, which regularly become clogged for various reasons:

Black spots in cats and cats: why and what to do

People rarely focus on the fact that a cat has black spots on its chin. From their point of view, this is a frequent occurrence and does not pose a threat. But if you dig deeper, you can find out that the presence of blackheads on the chin and other parts of the body is a signal. In some cases, this is a sign of illness or, at least, a consequence of improper care. Therefore, let's find out where black dots appear on the beard and other parts of the body of our pets, what they can mean and how to deal with this scourge.

What is acne

Acne is the scientific name for blackheads; they can also be called blackheads (pimples), since that's exactly what they are. If you notice dark rashes on your pet, make sure that it is acne. After all, parasite feces and dried droplets of blood look identical. First try to remove the spots, if you can't do it, then it's blackheads. It is also worth paying attention to the localization of blackheads. Most of all, eels like to “settle” on the chin, and insect waste products can be found on any part of the animal’s body. Although, if the case is advanced, black spots in the cat’s fur may be located in other places:

• inner thighs;
• elbow bends;
• jaw;
• nipples;
• eyelids.

Localization can be observed even in the anus area. If the rashes are multiple, the pussy should be shown to a doctor.

The essence of the problem

The most common place where cat acne appears is the chin. Dark dots are least likely to be seen on the tail. Fleas or other parasites leave their waste products anywhere on the animal's body. In advanced cases, the spots on the cat’s fur are localized in the following areas :

• folds on the paws;
• inner thighs;
• eyelids;
• nipples;
• jaws.

Dark spots can also be found around the anus. If multiple black rashes appear on your pet's skin, you should see a veterinarian.

Acne symptoms

In addition to the notorious blackheads, skin disease is accompanied by other symptoms:

• swelling;
• baldness;
• the skin turns red;
• small pimples appear (then there are more of them, they increase in size).

The pet may also behave restlessly and itch. After all, the formations hurt and itch. Please note that making an accurate diagnosis is the job of a veterinarian. Only a qualified person can determine the nature of the rash. In this case, diagnosis is an important factor. Indeed, according to the results of the study, black specks on the cat’s face may turn out to be traces of the vital activity of a fungus, parasites, or even a skin biopsy. The examination also excludes the presence of diseases with similar symptoms:

• scabies;
• demodicosis;
• allergy;
• dermatophytosis;
• eosinophilic granuloma.

If you see black dots in your cat's fur, you have plugs in the skin clogged with sebum. In this sense, animals are just like us.

Symptoms of acne

The following symptoms are typical for this disease:

• Redness of the skin;
• The appearance of swelling in the area where blackheads accumulate;
• Development of ulcers, hair loss;

If left untreated for a long time, these symptoms often cause anxiety, the pet becomes nervous and irritable, and may show aggression. In addition, the cat begins to scratch the damaged area, thereby increasing the risk of a new infection and deterioration in overall health.

An examination by a specialist and taking a scraping will help rule out the presence of diseases with similar symptoms. These include:

1. Diseases of the stomach and liver. Caused by poor diet or complications after an illness. Lead to rashes all over the cat's body.
2. Demodecosis. Characterized by the presence of subcutaneous mites. It is characterized by the appearance of ulcers, itching and hair loss. Easily transmitted to other animals.
3. Allergy. Common causes are a reaction to food, collar, litter. It is characterized by the appearance of pimples or black spots in the cat’s fur, redness of the skin and itching.
4. Ringworm. The development is provoked by a fungus, as a result of which peeling and rashes appear on the cat’s skin, which lead to itching and baldness.

Causes of blackheads

The reason for the localization of acne on the chin is in the characteristics of the animal’s coat. The chin is one of the most fur-free places on an animal’s body, so there are a lot of sebaceous glands there that cause rashes. Among other things, this part of the body is often contaminated during eating, which only benefits the glands.

However, if your cat has black spots around his mouth, don't immediately blame dirt. Many clean pets that receive proper care suffer due to heredity. If your pet is overtaken by such an individual trait, do not worry. Although there is no cure for acne, its symptoms can be kept under control using hygiene products.

Also, black spots in a cat’s mouth can appear for the following reasons:

• hormone failure;
• eating disorders;
• problems with the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, liver;
• disorders of a vegetative and immune nature.

Black specks of a cat in the ears indicate poor care. Under normal conditions, the body produces sulfur in small quantities. Usually, sulfur does not interfere with the normal functioning of the sebaceous glands, but it tends to accumulate, causing a malfunction of the glands and, as a result, the appearance of acne. This is especially true for breeds with large, open ears. It is noteworthy that excessive care can also lead to the formation of dots. If you clean your pet's ears too thoroughly, the glands may begin to secrete wax in double the amount to restore the protective layer.

If your cat has black spots in her fur and is wearing a collar, it may be an accessory issue. In this case, it could be an allergy to the collar material, irritation, or insufficient air flow to the skin.

Among other things, black spots in a cat’s mouth can be caused by stress, poor care of dishes, and allergies to litter. Rashes can also occur due to contact dermatitis and other skin diseases that provoke increased oil production.

As you can see, there are many reasons, and in order to identify the original source of the problem, you need to contact a veterinarian.

Fighting methods

Animal processing

• shampoos
• sprays
• drops
• collars
• pills.

Anti-flea shampoos that contain an insecticide have proven themselves to be excellent. With their help, you can get rid of insects on an animal in one go. They are relatively safe for cats and last quite a long time after treatment. However, shampoos are not always convenient to use, especially if your pet is afraid of water. In this case, you can use flea spray.

Insecticidal preparations in the form of a spray are applied to the surface of the cat's skin, and certain protective measures must be taken to protect both the animal and the person carrying out the treatment. The face is covered with a gauze mask, and gloves are put on the hands. It is best to wear a special collar on your pet, designed to prevent the animal from licking the drug from its fur. You also need to cover the cat's eyes, nose and mouth.

Flea drops are applied to the animal's withers. This is perhaps one of the easiest to use products and is most popular among cat owners. It effectively rids the animal of fleas and at the same time is practically safe for the animal, since the toxic substance is applied to an area of ​​the body inaccessible to the cat’s tongue.

Collars serve more as a preventative measure of protection, repelling insects from the animal while it walks around the yard. They are valid for a limited time and must be changed periodically.

The tablets are intended for internal use. They are given to the cat with food or simply placed on the root of the tongue and, stroking the throat, force it to swallow. As a rule, tablets can be used from 3 months of age, however, the condition of the animal must be taken into account and the dosage must be strictly observed so as not to harm its health.

Vaccination is a relatively new way to rid pets of fleas. It is quite effective and lasts for a long time after injection. However, this method cannot be used on pregnant or lactating cats, as the active substance may affect the growth and development of kittens.

Advice! When choosing a flea drop, you need to carefully study its composition and make sure that it does not contain pyrmethrin, since this insecticide is contraindicated for use on cats.

Treatment of a young animal

How to remove fleas from a kitten? The peculiarity of processing a young animal is that there is always a danger of poisoning it with an insecticidal preparation. Small kittens under the age of two months are breastfed by their mother and any external product applied to their fur will be immediately licked off by her and then passed into the body of the cubs with milk. Therefore, mechanical processing methods are mainly used:

• combing the fur with a fine comb;
• catching insects by hand;
• bathing with herbal decoctions.

There are also special shampoos for younger kittens, but they can be used on babies who have already been weaned from their mother.

From 2 months, provided that the kittens are separated from their mother, the following drugs are used:

• shampoos for kittens;
• flea powder;
• spray.

Shampoos are diluted in accordance with the instructions and applied to the pet’s coat. After a certain time, it is washed off, and dead insects are combed out with a comb. The powder is rubbed into the kitten's skin using your fingers, and care must be taken to ensure that the kitten does not lick the product from the surface of the fur. The spray is first applied to the palms and then distributed over the scalp. When processing, you need to exercise some caution and not bring your hands with the drug to your face.

Starting from 3 months of age, when treating kittens, you can use almost all drugs intended for adult animals.

Apartment pest control

• aerosols;
• powder preparations;
• means in the form of solutions.

Aerosols give very fast and effective results. It is enough to treat the room with them once and you can forget about fleas for a long time. However, this type of insecticide has the following disadvantages:

Powders act for a longer time, however, you have to wait longer for the results from them. Disinsection with their help will require long-term wet cleaning to wash away traces of the insecticide from surfaces. Powder preparations are scattered or sprayed indoors, trying to pay special attention to possible insect habitats:

• cracks in the floor;
• corners of rooms;
• the space behind the baseboards;
• floor surfaces under cabinets, beds, sofas.

Liquid products are diluted in accordance with the instructions and applied to places where insects accumulate using a sprayer. You can also simply wash the floor in your apartment with them. When processing, the following personal safety measures must be observed:

• put rubber gloves on your hands;
• cover your face with a protective mask;
• do not consume food or drinks during disinsection;
• remove food and personal items.

Treatment with liquid products gives a good long-term effect, but it is quite labor-intensive and will require a significant investment of time.

• pseudotuberculosis is an acute infectious disease that, despite the name, has nothing to do with pulmonary tuberculosis;
• tularemia is a bacterial infection that affects the lymph nodes;
• brucellosis is an infection that affects multiple organs and systems of the human body;
• Dipylidiasis - infection with tapeworms.

In addition, it can cause allergic dermatitis; the itching at the bite sites is quite strong and lasts for several days, during which a person is able to scratch the bite site until it bleeds, which, in turn, can lead to infection directly into the wound.

>How do insects get into an apartment?

Fleas are unpretentious in everyday life; they love humidity, dampness, and dark, dusty places in the house. They feed on the blood of humans and animals.

Treatment tips

If you decide to rid your pet of acne on your own, follow these simple rules to speed up recovery:

1. Do not use brushes to scratch the damaged surface.
2. There is no need to frequently and generously lubricate the affected area, as this will cause the skin to dry out.
3. If you use iodine, brilliant green or alcohol-containing liquids for a long time to treat blackheads, you can provoke an increase in the secretion of the sebaceous glands. As a result, your pet is guaranteed a new blockage and diffuse spreading of the rash. If your cat has black spots on his nose, you can use water-based methylene blue instead of brilliant green. It has the same healing properties, but it will not cause irritation.
4. If you use ointment, apply it in a thin layer. Otherwise, the skin will not breathe, which will lead to another outbreak of dermatitis.

In conclusion, I would like to give you some advice - if you find black spots in your cat’s fur, show him to the veterinarian. After all, most skin diseases are associated with problems of internal organs. Suddenly your pet has problems with the liver or gastrointestinal tract. In this case, you won’t be able to limit yourself to just one ointment or lotion.

Folk remedies

1. Black spots on a cat's lips can be wiped with a decoction of yarrow.
2. A decoction of celandine helps well. They wipe the affected areas and make lotions.
3. Some people treat acne in animals with pumpkin. To do this, take a fresh pumpkin cut and smear the dots with it. The procedure must be repeated three times a day. Each time you need to use a fresh cut.
4. A decoction of calendula with chamomile flowers, mixed with two tablets of furatsilin, has worked well. It is recommended to use the product twice a day.

You can also treat black spots on a cat's face with chlorophyllipt or clotrimazole 1%. The products are not rubbed in, limited to spot application. Sulfur ointment is applied over the drug.

Treatment with any drugs or agents should be discontinued in the following cases:

1. Skin irritation is visible. To treat black spots around the cat's mouth, you need to wait until the skin heals. After all, you can only influence the entire cover.
2. Expansion of the area of ​​the rash. This indicates the ineffectiveness of treatment.
3. Acne disappeared due to recovery.

List of measures to prevent the occurrence of the disease

To prevent the appearance of black spots in a cat’s fur, it is not recommended to use disposable or plastic dishes for feeding your pet, which are a favorable environment for the appearance and proliferation of bacteria.

It is necessary to ensure that the cat's bowls are always clean. It is important to change the water at least once a day. You need to select fillers and food with caution - they may contain chemicals that lead to an allergic reaction, and, as a result, more serious diseases.

Don’t forget about the animal’s immunity - it is advisable for a cat to drink a monthly vitamin complex twice a year.

Prevention

If your cat has black spots on his nose, the cause may be hidden in the dishes. This is especially true when using plastic. Change your pet's bowl. If we talk about the material, then ceramics, glass, iron are suitable. Don’t forget to change the animal’s water; this should be done at least once a day.

If your pet is prone to obesity, think about its diet. Don’t forget to strengthen the little predator’s immunity with vitamins and microelements. And if your cat is a born dirty person, do not hesitate to wash your pet.

With a little care, you can forget about your cat’s blackheads.

Still have questions? You can ask them to our site's in-house veterinarian, who will answer them as soon as possible, in the comment box below.

Getting rid of the source of white grains

Bathe your cat only with special shampoos.

• Next, you need to treat the cat with flea drops
  , which are applied to the withers.

Flea drops for cats are very effective.

• The next step should be a flea collar
  .

Thanks to special impregnation, the collar repels fleas.

Many limit themselves to drops and ignore collars. Meanwhile, they represent a very powerful defense option. A classic flea collar is impregnated with a special substance that repels fleas.

The action continues for 6 months.

Grains, i.e. Flea eggs appear after adult fleas have settled on the body; they lay their offspring.

Consolidate the result

You should pay attention not only to your pet’s hygiene, but also to the cleanliness of its bed or house.

After treating the cat, you should take care of the living space.

There are probably eggs left in the apartment that have fallen from the cat’s fur. They can lie unnoticed for a long time until adults hatch from them.

All carpets, mattresses, soft furnishings and bedding should be thoroughly washed and vacuumed.

This point should not be missed, otherwise all the cat’s treatment will be in vain.

In addition to the actions taken, a visit to the doctor would be useful.

He will examine the animal's body and may find painful scratches on the skin from flea bites. You can do this yourself. But the specialist will give all the necessary recommendations.

Preventive measures

It is important to take action at the slightest suspicion of fleas in a cat.

And of course, it is necessary to have your cat examined at least several times a month.

The fur needs to be spread apart so that the skin is visible. A healthy purr is always clean.

Why are black spots in cats' fur considered an alarming symptom?

The appearance of black grains in a cat's fur does not bode well. Unless it's dirt from your last walk (which is unlikely, given that most pets never leave their home). Scary thoughts immediately come to mind about parasites that you can become infected with without even going outside. Particularly dangerous are cases when the animal ruptures the lesions until they bleed and there is a risk of secondary infection, which significantly complicates the diagnosis and rapid recovery.

List and description of possible causes

It’s rare that owners bring their cat to the veterinarian complaining that it has black specks in its fur. Usually they complain of severe itching and non-healing wounds after severe scratching. If these and other symptoms are present, the following diseases should be excluded:

1. Demodecosis. Contrary to the erroneous opinion of some veterinarians, this disease still affects cats, although much less frequently than dogs. Demodex (Demodex cati) is considered a habitual inhabitant of the skin and normally does not cause any pathological manifestations. His activity is always provoked by something. Usually these are recent diseases of the internal organs, the postoperative period, prolonged use of antibiotics or severe hormonal fluctuations. All this manifests itself in the appearance of black grains in the cat’s fur, which are not accompanied by itching. It is important! But demodicosis causes the appearance of large bald spots (in severe cases, even partial baldness), in place of which small black dots appear. There is also the concept of juvenile demodicosis, which occurs in kittens aged 2-6 months. It usually affects the chin and flexor limbs. In most cases, it goes away on its own without the use of any medications. It is noted that demodicosis occurs more often in decorative breeds (Scots, British, Sphynx, Siamese).
2. Flea dermatitis. Another reason why a cat may have black spots under its fur. A distinctive feature is that the parasites themselves may not be on the animal, since one bite is enough to provoke an allergic reaction to the flea’s saliva. The pet begins to behave restlessly, scratching its ears or chin (most often).
3. Food allergies. A common phenomenon among decorative breeds. The slightest disturbance in the diet can provoke a severe allergic reaction, which manifests itself in the appearance of black grains in the fur, flaking, redness and hair loss (in some cases in clumps). The allergen is determined by exclusion, but most often the owners have to solve the problem for life with the help of drugs against itching and inflammation.
4. Fleas. A real nightmare for cats of all ages. Even if you don't see them on your pet, it doesn't mean that fleas aren't biting him. You can get infected from other animals (dogs) or through objects brought from the street (even the soles of your shoes can have parasites). There are many cases when fleas were brought home along with the grass that cats love to eat in the spring and summer. At first, you may notice that your pet begins to itch more than usual (most attention is paid to the face). Over time, you may notice the appearance of black grains of sand under the fur, which fall off the animal after each stroking or combing. Large bald patches begin to appear due to scratching. In these places, brown-black crusts form on the skin due to claw wounds. The most correct solution would be to immediately treat all animals that have access to each other with anti-parasite drugs. Drops on the withers of Stronghold and Frontline are excellent against fleas and ticks. Process 2 times a month. Much attention is paid to the disinfection of housing, which is carried out using Parastop.
5. Bacterial damage. A common occurrence in animals predisposed to allergies. Constant itching leads to deep calculations through which infection enters. Wounds can fester and take a long time to heal. Using cytology, the pathogen is determined and effective anti-inflammatory drugs are selected. In severe cases, antibiotic therapy is used.
6. Dermatophytosis. A fungal infection that affects the cat's fur and skin. Small black grains and redness can be found at the site of the lesion. As the process progresses, the affected area transforms into a weeping wound the size of an egg. Severe itching leads to deep scratching and the process spreading to other parts of the body. Most often, pets who have free access to the street and, accordingly, to stray animals suffer. To confirm the diagnosis, a deep pluck is taken from the lesion for microscopic examination. This area can also be illuminated under a Wood's lamp, which will show a bright green glow if there are fungal spores in the fur. Treatment is long, with the use of antifungal drugs in the form of tablets, ointments and shampoos. To avoid relapse, all places with which the infected animal comes into contact are thoroughly washed with water and bleach and chlorhexidine.

Flea - appearance, structure, symptoms

Fleas are found everywhere. This is a fairly large order of insects, which includes subspecies that feed on cat, dog, rat and even human blood. They differ from each other in size, color of the chitinous cover and some features of the body structure.

What does a cat flea look like?

The cat flea is one of the most common and small species among the flea order. The size of an adult insect rarely exceeds 3 mm. For comparison, fleas that feed on human blood have body sizes of up to 5 mm, and moose fleas often reach a length of 12 cm! They move quite quickly on the animal’s body, as they are perfectly adapted for movement in thick fur. They have a body that is flattened laterally, allowing them to maneuver between hairs, and long hind legs, with the help of which fleas are able to make jumps up to half a meter long.

The color of a cat flea can vary from light red to dark brown. Sometimes there are almost black insects that are practically invisible in the fur of an animal with a dark color. Upon closer examination, one can discern light stripes on the abdomen that form at the joints of the abdomen. They become most noticeable when the insect is saturated, when its body increases in size.

What does a flea look like on a cat's body? Outwardly, they look like large grains of dirt stuck in the fur, and only at the moment of their movement it becomes clear that these are insects. A lot of deception is facilitated by flea excrement remaining on the skin of the animal, which is sometimes mistaken for insect eggs.

Flea larvae are not at all similar to adult insects. Outwardly, they look like legless and eyeless dark-colored worms with sparse bristles on the segments of their body. They are very small, no more than 6 mm in length and 1-2 mm in thickness. Unlike adult fleas, larvae do not feed on blood and live outside the animal’s body, in the folds of upholstery of upholstered furniture, carpet pile, and cracks in ceilings.

Flea eggs are small, white, about 0.5 mm long. Females lay them on the floor of the room, where they further develop to the larval stage. Flea eggs look like grains of semolina stuck to your finger:

Interesting fact! Fleas do not live on animals permanently. They only feed on their blood, but live on the floor of the room, in all sorts of cracks and in the upholstery of furniture.

Body structure

If you look at a flea from a close distance, you can see that its entire body is covered with numerous bristles and spines. They help the insect stay on the animal's body. The bristles are located over the entire surface of the body, on the limbs, back, and head. At the ends of the legs, 2 claws are also clearly visible; with their help, the flea moves in the thick undercoat. The hind legs are well developed and consist of 5 segments. The forelimbs are somewhat shorter, they do not participate in jumping and are mainly adapted for moving along the animal’s fur.

Female fleas are usually somewhat larger than males due to their voluminous abdomen, where they carry their eggs for the time being. In the back of the body in both sexes there is a peculiar tactile organ equipped with sensitive hairs.

Symptoms of fleas

• on the back;
• near the ears;
• in the armpit;
• on the skin in the chest and cervical area of ​​the body.

Cats can seriously damage their skin when trying to get rid of insects. Microbes get into the wounds, which in some cases leads to inflammation of the skin and the development of all kinds of dermatitis.

If you suspect that there are fleas in the house, first check the animal's skin. As a rule, insect waste products can be found on it - black lumps of digested blood. When rubbed between your fingers, they break up into small particles. There are usually quite a lot of such traces left in the thick undercoat. In shorter and less dense hair there are fewer of them, since they are combed by the animal onto the floor, where they become food for flea larvae.

Interesting fact! After saturation, fleas jump off the animal and hide in floor cracks or other hard-to-reach places. The next “feeding” occurs no earlier than in a day.

Black spots in a cat's fur

You should not expect that black specks in a cat’s fur will go away on their own, since without the use of modern drugs it is very difficult to get rid of parasites. Well, if it’s an allergic reaction, then you can do without dieting and switching to hypoallergenic food.

Where to look for flea larvae in an apartment or house?

Flea larvae usually stay where they have direct access to food and can be found in comfortable climatic conditions - in garbage, secluded warm places, in animal cages - in the toilet and under beds. In nature - in the nests and burrows of mammals and birds.

In apartments and houses, flea larvae should be looked for primarily in places where cats, dogs and other pets live and are kept, in heaps of garbage in pantries and closets, among stocks of old grocery products.

In garden plots, chicken coops and animal keeping areas, flea larvae live directly in the litter and dried droppings. It is under the layer of garbage and droppings in the same chicken coop that flea larvae sometimes swarm literally in the thousands.

However, you can also find flea larvae in completely unexpected places - in vases with flowers, under trash cans, in a box in which vegetables are stored. It is important to understand that they do not start here on their own, and you should look for them only when adult fleas were found in the apartment.

The photo below shows a flea larva under a microscope - you can easily correlate its size with the thickness of a cat's hair: