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CATS & DOGS

Fleas, ticks and mites in cats and dogs

Fleas, ticks and mites are external parasites that make cats and dogs itch, spread disease and can affect people. In the tropics, prevent them year-round.

PanduanHewan editorial teamUpdated Editorial standards
About this guideCompiled from the listed veterinary and health organisations’ guidance; not yet reviewed by a veterinarian.
General information for owners, not a substitute for examination, diagnosis or treatment by a veterinarian. If your animal seems very unwell, in pain, struggling to breathe or may have been poisoned, contact a vet immediately.

Quick answer

Key points

  • In the tropics, parasite guidelines advise protecting cats and dogs from fleas and ticks all year round.
  • Almost all of the flea life cycle happens in the environment, so both the animal and the home need attention.
  • Scabies and ear mites spread easily between animals, so every animal in contact should be checked by a vet.
  • Some flea products for dogs are highly toxic to cats; never use them on a cat.
  • Some fleas, ticks and mites can spread infections or cause itchy rashes in people.

When should you see a vet?

  • Go to a vet immediately if a cat trembles, twitches, has a seizure or struggles to breathe after a flea treatment or after contact with a recently treated dog.
  • A kitten or puppy with many fleas that looks weak and pale.
  • Intense itching, crusts, scratch wounds or bald patches, especially on the ear edges, face, elbows or legs.
  • Frequent head shaking, ear scratching, or dark, smelly ear wax.
  • A tilted head or loss of balance in an animal with ear problems.
  • A dog that is lethargic, feverish or off its food after a tick infestation.
  • So many ticks that removing them one by one is not possible.

Contact your nearest veterinarian or animal clinic. This site cannot assess your animal’s condition. Choosing a vet

In this guide (11)

What is the difference between fleas, ticks and mites?

Fleas are small, wingless, blood-sucking insects that jump, ticks are larger parasites that attach to the skin, and mites are microscopic. The flea most often found on cats and dogs worldwide is the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, which also infests dogs. In the tropics, the most common tick on dogs is the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Ticks can stay attached and feed on blood for several days. Mites live in the skin or ear canal, such as scabies mites and ear mites, and usually only a vet can confirm them, using a microscope or an instrument for examining the ear.

Evidence: TroCCAP — Guidelines for the control of ectoparasites of dogs and cats in the tropics (2022) ↗ · Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) — Fleas ↗

Why prevent fleas and ticks all year round?

In the tropics, the TroCCAP parasite guidelines advise protecting cats and dogs from fleas and ticks all year round, not just in certain seasons. Nearly 95% of the flea life cycle takes place in the environment, as eggs, larvae and cocoons in bedding, carpets and furniture. Flea cocoons are very tough and can wait a long time before hatching. Brown dog ticks can complete more than one generation a year in the tropics. They can also hide in cracks in the walls of homes and kennels, and a home infestation can take months to bring under control. Even dogs that rarely go out can be exposed, for example during grooming at a pet shop.

Evidence: TroCCAP — Guidelines for the control of ectoparasites of dogs and cats in the tropics (2022) ↗ · Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) — Ticks ↗

How do fleas and ticks harm cats and dogs?

Fleas and ticks cause itching and skin sores, feed on blood and can spread disease. Some animals are allergic to flea saliva, which causes severe itching, small bumps and hair loss. In kittens and puppies, very heavy flea burdens can cause anaemia, which can be fatal. Fleas also carry the tapeworm Dipylidium caninum, which infects animals when they swallow a flea. Brown dog ticks can spread blood infections such as Ehrlichia, Babesia and Anaplasma platys, and some germs can pass within a few hours of a tick attaching. Check your dog's body regularly, especially the ears, armpits, groin, around the eyes and between the toes.

Evidence: TroCCAP — Guidelines for the control of ectoparasites of dogs and cats in the tropics (2022) ↗ · Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) — Fleas ↗ · Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) — Ticks ↗ · Merck Veterinary Manual (Cat Owners) — Fleas of Cats ↗ · CDC — About Dog or Cat Tapeworm Infection (Dipylidium) ↗

What is scabies (mange) in cats and dogs?

Scabies is a skin disease caused by mites that burrow into the skin; it is highly contagious and intensely itchy. In dogs, scabies is caused by Sarcoptes scabiei and usually starts on the ear edges and elbows, followed by crusts and scratch wounds. In cats, scabies is often caused by Notoedres cati, which starts on the ear edges and spreads to the face, paws and body. Young cats can become very weak, feverish and thin. Sarcoptes mites do not survive long in the environment, so they spread mainly through direct contact between animals. Every animal in contact with a sick one should be checked and treated as your vet advises.

Scabies in cats is common in Indonesia. A Universitas Gadjah Mada study at the Pemalang animal health centre (Puskeswan) in Central Java found scabies in about 33% of cat patients between May and July 2022. The researchers noted that the humid tropical climate supports the development of scabies mites. They also cite findings that affected cats are, on average, under one year old. Vets confirm the diagnosis by scraping a little skin and examining it under a microscope. A Puskeswan or a veterinary clinic can be the first place to have your pet checked.

Evidence: TroCCAP — Guidelines for the control of ectoparasites of dogs and cats in the tropics (2022) ↗ · Merck Veterinary Manual (Dog Owners) — Mite Infestation (Mange, Acariasis, Scabies) in Dogs ↗ · Merck Veterinary Manual (Cat Owners) — Mite Infestation (Mange, Acariasis, Scabies) of Cats ↗ · Jurnal Sain Veteriner (UGM) — Cat Scabies Prevalence at Animal Health Center Pemalang ↗

What are the signs of ear mites in cats and dogs?

Signs of ear mites are itchy ears, frequent head shaking, ear scratching and dark, waxy ear discharge. The ears may also smell unpleasant. The ear mite, Otodectes cynotis, is more common in cats than in dogs, and more common in feral cats and cats under one year old. Infestations can cause no signs at all, so an animal that looks healthy can still pass mites on. In severe cases, scratching can injure the ears and the animal may lose its balance. This is why all cats and dogs living together need treatment, and why kittens' and puppies' ears should be checked at vaccination visits.

Evidence: TroCCAP — Guidelines for the control of ectoparasites of dogs and cats in the tropics (2022) ↗ · Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) — Otodectic Mite ↗ · Merck Veterinary Manual (Cat Owners) — Mite Infestation (Mange, Acariasis, Scabies) of Cats ↗

Can fleas, ticks and mites affect people?

Yes, some can spread to people or cause illness, although mites from animals usually cause only temporary itching. Dog scabies mites can cause an itchy rash in people who have close contact, for example on the arms, chest or thighs. Notoedres mites from cats sometimes cause an itchy rash on the arms too. Cat fleas can carry Bartonella henselae, the bacterium behind cat scratch disease, as well as Rickettsia felis and a tapeworm that children may swallow. Ticks carried into the home by pets can also move onto people. If you or a family member develop an itchy rash or other symptoms after contact with animals, see a doctor or health facility.

Evidence: TroCCAP — Guidelines for the control of ectoparasites of dogs and cats in the tropics (2022) ↗ · Merck Veterinary Manual (Dog Owners) — Mite Infestation (Mange, Acariasis, Scabies) in Dogs ↗ · Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) — Fleas ↗ · Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) — Ticks ↗ · CDC — About Dog or Cat Tapeworm Infection (Dipylidium) ↗

Why use flea and tick products recommended by a vet?

Parasite products differ for cats and dogs, and some dog products are highly toxic to cats. Permethrin, found in some spot-on flea treatments for dogs, can cause tremors, seizures, serious illness and even death in cats. Even a very small amount is dangerous, and cats can also be poisoned through contact with a recently treated dog. Parasite guidelines advise using only products licensed for that species, applied as a vet directs. Your vet can choose products and a schedule that are safe for your pet. For control to work, treat every pet in the home and regularly vacuum bedding, carpets and furniture.

Evidence: International Cat Care — Permethrin poisoning ↗ · TroCCAP — Guidelines for the control of ectoparasites of dogs and cats in the tropics (2022) ↗ · Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) — Ticks ↗ · Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) — Fleas ↗

Sources & references

  1. TroCCAP — Guidelines for the control of ectoparasites of dogs and cats in the tropics (2022) ↗
  2. Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) — Fleas ↗
  3. Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) — Ticks ↗
  4. Merck Veterinary Manual (Cat Owners) — Fleas of Cats ↗
  5. CDC — About Dog or Cat Tapeworm Infection (Dipylidium) ↗
  6. Merck Veterinary Manual (Dog Owners) — Mite Infestation (Mange, Acariasis, Scabies) in Dogs ↗
  7. Merck Veterinary Manual (Cat Owners) — Mite Infestation (Mange, Acariasis, Scabies) of Cats ↗
  8. Jurnal Sain Veteriner (UGM) — Cat Scabies Prevalence at Animal Health Center Pemalang ↗
  9. Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) — Otodectic Mite ↗
  10. International Cat Care — Permethrin poisoning ↗

References can change. Check dates and context in the original source.

Cite this page

PanduanHewan. (2026, 25 September). Fleas, ticks and mites in cats and dogs. PanduanHewan.org. https://panduanhewan.org/en/pet-health/fleas-ticks-and-mites/