Fleas bites are annoying to your pet and to you, but they can also cause serious health problems if left unchecked.

In kittens, fleas can cause anemia. Adult cats are often allergic to flea bites, and can develop a nasty skin irritation called flea-bite dermatitis.

A single bite can set off intense itching, which can result in a secondary bacterial infection.

Many people are also highly allergic to flea bites. Fleas that are swallowed by cats can transmit tapeworms, which can cause malnutrition in an adult cat, and stunt the growth of a kitten.

Don’t assume that if your pet is scratching a little that it has fleas. Animals scratch, just like humans do. Every time we scratch, we don’t assume we have fleas.

But scratching is the obvious sign to look out for, especially if you have an outdoor cat.

To be sure it’s fleas, place your pet on a white towel and give it a good rub. If dark specs fall off, and they turn red when you touch them with a drop of water, your pet has fleas.