Summer is here and so is the flea season. If your cat goes outside at all he can have fleas on him that are carried inside to your home. Even the indoor cat is vulnerable to fleas. He can get them from other animals and even from trips to the vets. They can be carried inside on peoples' shoes and clothing.

Cat fleas are called Ctenocephalides felis. They are brownish-black to black in color and can be found just about anywhere in the United States. They live on cats, but they also can be found on other animals such as dogs, opossums, foxes, mongeese, and rats.

Fleas can be more than just a nuisance to your cat. Some cats are allergic to flea bites and they may develop flea allergy dermatitis, which pet owners in the U.S. spend millions of dollars every year to treat. Cat fleas are intermediate hosts to an intestinal parasite called Dipylidium caninum, the dog tapeworm, and the rodent tapeworm, which sometimes infest humans. They are also capable of transmitting plague and murine typhus to humans, which is rare. Ticks can transmit a malaria-like infection to cats called cytauxzoonosis, for which there is no treatment and is usually fatal.

Flea infestation can be effectively controlled by removing them from the cat, the home, and the outside yard. Consult your veterinarian on the treatment to use on your cat. Make sure the product is made for cats. Use of a dog flea control product on a cat can cause serious health problems. Frontline and Advantage are two brands that make a product for cats.

Treat the home in areas that kitty lives. Vacuum the carpet, wall-floor junctions, upholstered furniture, and the base of furniture where the cat rests or plays. Remove the vacuum bag immediately and seal it in a plastic bag and place it outside. Wash all bedding including any place the cat sleeps. Clean all surfaces which kitty uses including counters, table tops, refrigerator and stove tops, and window sills. Use a pesticide that is registered for the target pest and location. Read the entire label carefully before use and follow all instructions.

Outdoor treatment is primarily needed in severe cases of infestation. Usually just spraying the yard with water is adequate enough to reduce the flea population.

Enjoy your summer. Keep your feline healthy and happy by protecting him from fleas and ticks.