As temperatures inside and outside begin to soar, so do flea and tick populations, which can create difficulties for both you and your cat. But life on the itch and the pain and scratching that can affect your cat's health easily can be remedied.

Flea Facts
The most universal feline pest - and also the most irritating - is the common cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis). In fact, its insect order, Siphonaptera, aptly describes its siphoning, vampire-like feeding behavior. Cat fleas are suspected of transmitting murine typhus and Bubonic plague to humans and also can serve as an intermediary host for tapeworms, which cats can acquire while grooming and inadvertently swallowing an adult flea.

**Get the May 2008 issue of CAT FANCY to read the full article.**