The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and your cat is begging you to go outside. You’re already well aware of the bigger dangers that lurk in the great outdoors-cars, dogs, birds, to name a few. But what about those tiny dangers? The kind that creep, crawl, and generally spoil everyone’s day. Let’s look at how to protect your cat from some of the most common external parasites they can get if you let them outside this spring and summer. 

Frustrating Fleas  

Maybe the most common and definitely the most discussed external parasite of cats is fleas. Fleas come out when the weather is warm. For some of us that means they’re seasonal, for others they’re a year-round nuisance. Your kitty can pick up fleas from just about anywhere that other pets have been. Infected animals shed adult fleas and their eggs. Those fleas then get on your kitty and start their own brood, a problem that multiplies very quickly and can spread to your other critters and even you. 

Fleas live on the blood of your cat. Not only can they be an annoyance, they can also spread diseases, like tapeworms, and cause your kitty severe allergies. With larger infestations, you can actually see the adult fleas on your cat when you part their hair. Or you may be able to find “flea dirt”-the dark-colored waste that a flea leaves behind-when you wipe them with a damp cloth. 

Fortunately for us and your feline friend, fleas are typically controlled with a variety of flea treatments.  

Terrible Ticks 

If you think fleas are bad, wait until you get a load of ticks. Actually, I hope that you never have to deal with ticks, but in case you do, here’s some pointers. Ticks tend to hang out in forested, brushy, or long grassy areas. Like fleas, ticks are seasonal in some places and year-round in others.  

Ticks also feed on the blood of their host then drop off and wait for the next critter to come along. Besides being gross, ticks can also spread diseases like hemobartenollosis, Lyme disease, cytauxzoonosis, and tularemia. 

If your cat has access to areas like those above, check them over for ticks whenever they come inside. Remove attached ticks with tweezers as close to the skin as possible. Then get some tick treatments for your cat from your vet. Fortunately, these often come in combination with flea and other parasite products making for a one-stop-shop. 

Mangey Mites 

Okay, so not all of the mites that infest cats are mangey. Actually, the most common one is the ear mite that lives in your cat’s ear canals. They are easily transmitted between infected animals or bedding. Ear mites are itchy! They will cause your cat to shake their head and excessively scratch at their ears, sometimes until they bleed. You will often see a dark, crumbly material in an infested ear and your cat will want nothing more than for you to rub their ears. Your vet will diagnose ear mites by looking at a swab under a microscope and offer treatment. Again, treatments often come in combination products. 

Notedric mange is other mange that can infest cats. It most often causes severe skin infections and itchiness that starts at the face and ears and moves to the rest of the body. Notedric mange is highly contagious, so don’t let your kitty mingle with others, especially strays. 

Other manges, including demodex and sarcoptic, can occur in cats but very rarely. If your cat shows up with any itchy, scaly skin issues see your vet as soon as possible to nail down the exact culprit and get the proper treatment.  

Lousy Lice 

Another bug that your cat may encounter in the outdoors is lice. These little critters are spread through direct contact and are usually only found on old or debilitated animals. Spry, healthy cats can usually groom them away. Severe infestations can result in skin infections and just be a general negative distraction for your cat. You will often be able to see adult lice and their eggs glued to your cat’s hair. Again, seek your veterinarian help to find an effective treatment.
Here’s just one, or four, more things to worry about every time you send your kitty outdoors. However, your veterinarian will be able to provide you with an anti-parasiticide that can cover all of the above bases in a monthly or less frequently applied product. Steer clear of the over-the-counter options as they may not be as safe or effective as the products you get through your veterinarian. Remember, you may need to treat all of your pets and your home before you’ll truly be rid of these ‘little’ issues.