Some cats are content to enjoy the comforts of indoors, while some cannot wait to get outdoors. Irrespective of their temperament, all cats are susceptible to insect and bug bites. While most cat bug bites are mild and cured with simple treatments, some bug bites lead to severe reactions that might need immediate medical attention. Even if the symptoms are mild, your cat will be extremely grateful for some treatment to relieve the irritation and pain caused by the bug bite.
Symptoms
It’s extremely rare for you to witness your cat being bitten and you will only have the symptoms of cat bug bites to figure out the problem. However, if bitten, your cat is likely to exhibit some symptoms, the severity of which depends on the type of the bug responsible and the individual characteristics of your cat.
The most common critters to bug your cats are fleas. For cats without hypersensitivity, flea bite symptoms include scratching and biting at different parts of the body. On the other hand, for cats with hypersensitivity the symptoms are more pronounced with excessive scratching and biting, leading to hair loss and in some cases lip ulcers and skin disease.
Mosquito bites are less common and mostly occur one at a time with symptoms like itching, swelling and redness at the site of bite. For stings from wasps or bees, swelling is the most common symptom and the site might be warm to touch and likely to be very painful. More severe reactions to bee stings include rapid swelling, vomiting, respiratory problems and redness around lips and eyes. If your cat exhibits any of these symptoms then consult a vet immediately.
Diagnosis
A skin test might be recommended only in severe cases of cat flea bites. Most cat bug bites are diagnosed by a simple but thorough physical exam by the vet to identify the critter responsible for the bite so that appropriate treatment for cat bug bites can be implemented.
Treatment
While most treatments for cat bug bites are almost similar, some severe cases might need specialized treatments. For instance, fleas usually infest your pet’s coat in huge numbers and needs several months of treatment with anti-flea treatment products to get rid of fleas and their eggs. You might also have to use other medications to address the itching and irritation caused by flea bites.
In case your cat suffers from a sting you have to remove the stinger, if it is left behind, before treating the sting site. Instead of using tweezers which can cause more poison to spread into your cat’s system, it is better to gently scrap the stinger away from the sting site.
The first important step of any cat bug bite is to prevent your pet from scratching or biting the affected area to prevent further irritation or infection. For effective treatment trim the hair around the affected area and then apply the appropriate medication or remedy. One of the most effective remedies for itching and irritation is a mixture of water and baking soda. A cold compress can help to reduce swelling.
Some topical ointments that are known to give relief for mild symptoms of cat bug bites are those that contain natural ingredients like Aloe Vera, Tea Tree oil, Echinacea and red alder.
