One of the most memorable things a vet has ever told me is this…

Thailand may be paradise to us, but it’s the opposite for cats. While at the time I didn’t understand the extent of the truth in this, three years later, I have to say I agree.

I’m not saying cats can’t or don’t have a nice life here.

But this environment poses so many threats to their health. And I’m not just talking about stray dogs, busy traffic, and cat-hating humans.

No, I’m talking about cat parasites, viruses, and diseases.

In this article, I’m sharing my experience with external parasites in cats. Yep, those pesky fleas, mites, and lice!

I’ve encountered these multiple times during the last four years of rescuing, fostering, and caring for cats and kittens!

So, let’s dive straight in. Here are four common cat parasites in Thailand that every pet parent should know about.

What Are Cat Parasites?

Firstly, cat parasites are either external or internal.

External parasites live on the cat’s skin or coat, while internal parasites live in the cat’s gastrointestinal tract.

Let’s take a look at the common external parasites in cats in Thailand.

Are Fleas Common In Thailand?

Fleas are by far the most common parasite in cats in Thailand.

Any cat that goes outside will likely pick up fleas at some point. Moreover, as fleas can easily migrate indoors via our clothes, indoor-only cats are also at risk.

Signs Of Fleas In Cats

Typically, you’ll realize a cat has fleas from spotting them on their skin when petting or brushing them. Fleas are tiny but visible to the human eye (about 3 mm long) and black or dark brown.

If you don’t find live fleas, you might come across flea dirt (flea feces), which shows up as dark specks. You can confirm whether it is flea dirt by rubbing a wet towel on it. If it turns red, it is flea dirt.

You might also find flea eggs, which look like tiny grains of white rice. However, these are much smaller than live fleas, so they are much harder to spot.

Other signs that your cat may have fleas include:

• Frequent scratching or itching
•  Excessive grooming
•  Patches of hair loss (often toward the back legs or on the neck)

How To Treat Fleas In Cats

For older kittens and adult cats, treating fleas in Thailand is pretty straightforward. Many topical treatments (spot-on) are available, which you apply to the back of the cat’s neck.

Within about 24 hours, the treatment kills all fleas and flea eggs and typically protects for one month.

Most spot-on treatments are only suitable for kittens aged eight weeks and over or weighing a minimum of 1 kg.

So, how do you treat a young kitten with fleas?

The best way is via a flea bath – using a pet shampoo specifically designed to kill fleas and a flea comb.

However, if you are dealing with a neonatal kitten less than four weeks old or a sick kitten, I don’t advise bathing them. This is because it could cause hypothermia.

In these cases, waiting until they are bigger and healthier is best.

The Dangers Of Fleas In Thailand

So, what do fleas do to cats?

They bite into the cat’s skin, sucking blood.

While this may be more irritating than dangerous to healthy adult cats, flea bites in Thailand can cause severe health issues in young and sick kittens.

Flea Anemia

A severe flea infestation can cause anemia, a condition that reduces red blood cells and affects the amount of oxygen in the body.

When cats and kittens get anemia from fleas, their body becomes starved of oxygen, resulting in:

• Lethargy
• Lack of appetite
• Sometimes weight loss

White gums are the biggest visible sign of anemia in cats, but blood tests can confirm it.

Thankfully, anemia is very treatable if caught early. A few weeks of iron supplements is generally enough to increase the red blood cell count.

However, anemia can be fatal in young kittens with weak immune systems. Many stray kittens who get anemia will die without medical care. In this case, a cat can actually die from fleas.

Flea Allergy Dermatitis

Another concern of flea bites in Thailand is flea allergy dermatitis. All cats find fleas irritating and uncomfortable, but a cat allergic to fleas will have an extreme reaction.

For a cat with flea allergy dermatitis, flea bites cause intense itching, resulting in excessive itching and chewing. This leads to large patches of hair loss and open sores that can become infected.

Are Biting Lice Common In Thailand?

Lice are less common in Thailand than fleas but harder to treat as there are fewer treatment options.

Moreover, it’s easy to mistake lice for fleas as the signs are the same.

This is exactly what I did with my cat, Cappuccino (pictured above).

I noticed he had patches of hair loss and assumed he had fleas, so I gave him a flea spot-on treatment. After one month, his fur was still not growing back, so I gave him another flea treatment.

After another month of no change, I took him to my vet. She tested some of his fur, and it came back that he had biting lice, not fleas.

Signs Of Lice In Cats

If a cat has an infestation of biting lice, they might display the following signs:

• Small white or brown spots on the cat’s fur
• Frequent scratching or itching
• Excessive grooming
• Excessive shedding
• Poor coot condition
• Patches of hair loss (often on the arms, legs, and belly)

How To Treat Lice In Cats

Most spot-on treatments only treat and protect against fleas and mites. However, Revolution Plus is one of the few spot-on treatments that works against many parasites, including lice.

There are three different size options of Revolution Plus, so you’ll need to choose the one based on your cat’s weight.

• 1.3 – 2.5 kg
•  2.5 – 5 kg
•  5 – 10 kg

Unfortunately, you can not buy Revolution Plus on Lazada, but most pets stores and vets in Thailand stock it. It is also considerably more expensive than other spot-on treatments.

Is Mange Common In Thailand?

Feline mange (scabies) is a contagious skin infection caused by a skin-burrowing mite known as Notoedres cati.

While uncommon in many other parts of the world, mange is something you will see quite frequently in stray cats in Thailand.

Signs Of Mange In Cats

The most common sign of mange in cats is crusty skin and redness around the ears and eyes.

The more severe the infection, the more parts of the body you’ll see affected by it.

Other signs include:

• Frequent scratching (itching)
• Excessive grooming
• Skin sores
• Redness and inflammation
• Hair loss
• Multiple bumps on the skin

Mild cases of mange can sometimes be mistaken for ringworm. Ringworm is not a parasite but a fungal infection prevalent among stray cats in Thailand.

How To Treat Mange In Cats

The treatment for feline mange depends on the severity of the infection.

Some spot-on flea treatments can work against this type of mites. But as some cases of mange can take a while to get rid of, I also recommend doing weekly baths with a special medicated shampoo.

In severe cases, your vet may also recommend an oral medication.

If your cat has skin sores, I recommend spraying them with Nano spray to kill bacteria and encourage healing. Coconut oil can also help to promote skin and coat repair.

Are Ear Mites Common In Thailand?

Another thing you will notice in many cats in Thailand is brown residue in their ears. This is due to the ear mites (otodectic mange), which are microscopic mites that live in the ear canal.

Unlike the mites that cause mange, ear mites only infest the ears, which makes these cat parasites easy to differentiate from the others.

Signs Of Ear Mites In Cats

Ear mites are easy to spot in a cat’s ears as they leave a brown residue that resembles ground coffee. You might find them in one or both of your cat’s ears.

Other signs of ear mites include:

• Excessive scratching around the ears
• Frequent ear twitching or head shaking
• Hair loss on the ears
• Skin lesions on the outside of the ears (caused by scratching)

How To Treat Ear Mites In Cats

Revolution Plus (mentioned above) offers the easiest and quickest treatment for ear mites in Thailand. Therefore, this is the treatment I recommend for cats over 1.3 kg.

Depending on the severity of the infestation, one dose of Revolution Plus may be enough to kill all the parasites.

But if the cat has had them for some time, I recommend repeating the treatment one month later to ensure you’ve got them all.

Remember that along with killing the parasites, Revolution only gives one month of protection. So, to prevent your cat from getting ear mites or any other cat parasites again, it’s best to use Revolution every month.

For kittens who are too small/young to have Revolution, you’ll need to use a topical ear treatment instead.

For my foster kittens with ear mites, I follow this simple process:

1. Clean the ear with Oto Clear Ear Cleaner. Use dampened cotton pads to clean around the top of the ears; then use ear buds dipped in the ear cleaner to clean the ear canal.
2.  Apply 1-2 drops of ear drops specifically designed for otodectic mites (you can get these from a vet) in each ear.
3.  Rub each ear for 5 seconds to encourage the solution to move into the ear canal.

I repeat this process every two days until there is no more brown residue, and then once a week for an additional month.

Final Thoughts On Cat Parasites In Thailand

While cat parasites are annoying to deal with, it is something most pet owners in Thailand will come across.

Thankfully, in most cases, external parasites are not too harmful, albeit highly uncomfortable. However, if left untreated long-term, they can hinder the immune system and lead to more severe health issues.

So what should you do if you have pet cats or take care of local strays?

The good news is that there is an easy way to protect them from cat parasites like fleas and mites. A monthly spot-on treatment like Revolution Plus or Bravecto Plus will keep these critters away!