Ear Mites are tiny parasites that feed off fluid in the cat's ear tissue. They are contagious between animals, and humans can become carriers too. Left untreated they can cause seizures and deafness. Mites are recognizable as a buildup of blackish ear wax, often accompanied by a foul odor. If your kitty is scratching at their ears a lot, and they have this black debris you should take him/her to the vet. The vet will flush the mites out and apply a medication to kill the parasites and to control inflammation. The vet also has medications to prevent future infestations.

Fleas are external parasites that feed on blood. They're very gross, and they may be on your cat even if you can't see them. Sometimes a cat can be infested, and a thorough examination of their fur yields nothing. They can hide really well. A telltale sign of fleas is "flea dirt," tiny black specks in your cat's fur. They are uncomfortable, itchy, and can transmit diseases as well as tapeworms. They don't necessarily need your cat to stay alive, once your cat is treated they will live happily in carpeting and furniture, feeding off of dead skin cells. Even if your cats stay indoors and are not exposed to other animals fleas will find them. Humans can unknowingly track them in the house, and sometimes they just show up with no explanation.
Life Cycle: The flea's life cycle consists of four stages; egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Flea eggs are smooth, causing most chemical treatments to glide right off of them. A female lays about 50 eggs per day. They can hatch in days or weeks, depending on the environment. Then the larva stage beings, where the flea looks like a little transparent worm. This stage lasts anywhere from 5 to 18 days. Then they spin a little cocoon just like a caterpillar, this is called a pupa. They remain in the pupa stage about 3 to 5 days, then they emerge as adults. An adult flea can live up to three weeks.
Treatment: There are a lot of products that make claims about killing fleas, however you will find there are a lot of ineffective methods. Flea collars, for example, are highly toxic, usually not safe, breakaway collars, and are just about worthless for treatment or prevention. Bailey highly recommends a monthly application of either Frontline Plus, Advantage, or Revolution. These are among the most expensive treatment options, but it makes more sense to buy them than to waste money on cheaper ineffective methods. Bailey has tried nearly all of these cheaper products including liquids, powders, wipes, shampoos, and more. These top three has proven time and time again to be the best. Frontline Plus and Advantage are available in pet stores. Revolution kills not only fleas but also ear mites, roundworms, hookworms, and prevents heartworm disease. Revolution is available from your vet.
Treating your home: There are many commercial sprays, powders, and so on to rid your home of fleas. Most sprays on the market are effective, but just spray is not enough. You should wash all animal bedding, bed sheets, pillowcases, and other washable fabrics in hot water, with boric acid added to the wash. You can find this in the supermarket laundry aisle, it's called Borax. It's an inexpensive multipurpose cleaner. You should also sprinkle it on the carpet (after testing a spot for colorfastness) and let it sit for about a half hour before thoroughly vacuuming. If the problem is caught early enough these treatments should be sufficient to rid your home of fleas. However, severe cases may only be solved by a professional pest control service. Although flea bombs are available in most pet stores, they are not very effective. They don't penetrate the flea eggs, and they only cause the adult fleas to retreat to the perimeter of your home. Professional extermination can be costly, so prevention is important.

Heartworm Disease can be contracted from bites from infected mosquitoes. Symptoms include coughing, difficulty breathing, lethargy, weight loss, decrease in appetite, blindness, seizures, and even sudden death. This disease is not curable, although the vet can administer medication to control symptoms. There is no treatment for the worm itself, except to wait for it to die. However, there is no way of telling when that might happen, and the cat could die in the meantime. Prevention is the way to go, and medications such as Revolution and Heartguard are available from your vet.

Hemobartonellosis is a parasite of the blood, usually transmitted by fleas. This disease is most common in cats that have compromised immune systems, such as FeV positive cats. Symptoms include lethargy and changes in appetite. The hemobartonellosis parasite can cause weight loss, anemia, and even death. Treatments include antibiotics and blood transfusions, but even a cat who has been cured can still remain a carrier.

Hookworms feed on tissue in the small intestine. Cats can get hookworms from infected soil. Symptoms include anemia, blood in the stool, and weight loss. Diagnosis is made by testing a sample of the cat's stool. Treatments are safe and easy and come in liquid or pills. The cat's litter box and bedding should be sanitized to prevent reinfection. Cats typically make a full recovery without complications.

Lice are fairly uncommon in cats, but can be found in very young, very old, or those in poor condition. Symptoms include scratching and dry skin or dandruff. Lice can be eliminated using flea treatments, and the cat's environment should be sanitized.

Lyme Disease is transmitted by ticks, which are normally found in grassy or wooded areas. It is diagnosed with a blood test. Symptoms include fever, muscle and joint pain, changes in eating habits, and lethargy. If left untreated paralysis and problems of the brain and nerves can result. If you find a tick on your cat you should remove it with a careful twisting motion, being careful not to leave any embedded pieces behind. Your vet will administer antibiotics to treat the disease. Prognosis is good if caught early. Lyme Disease can be prevented by treating your cat with flea and tick control.

Mange, also known as scabies, is caused by a type of mite that burrows under the skin. Symptoms include itching, scabs, and patches of missing hair. Diagnosis is done by a skin scraping of the affected area. Treatment is an injection antibiotic called Ivermectin. The cat's environment should also be sterilized, especially bedding.

Roundworms are transmitted through infected soil or from prey animals. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and a pot-bellied appearance. Both prescription and over-the-counter medications are available. They cause the worm to relax its grip on the cat's intestine, allowing it to be passed in the stool. Roundworms can be prevented by keeping your cat indoors, or by using preventative medications such as Revolution.

Tapeworms are commonly found in cats with fleas. If your cat ingests a flea that has eaten tapeworm eggs, the cat becomes a host to tapeworms. They are not as harmful as other worms, but in severe cases they can cause weight loss. They are easy to diagnose - they look just like little grains of rice and will be seen crawling in the cat's stool and around their anus. These little grainy pieces are segments that have broken off of the actual tapeworm. When treating your cat for tapeworms be sure that you specifically look for tapeworm medication. There are a lot of "all in one" worm medications, but they do not work on tapeworms. If you see these worm segments on your cat you can be sure that they have fleas. One more reason to invest in monthly flea prevention.

West Nile Virus can be transmitted to cats by an infected mosquito. Cases are rarely seen in cats, those that are affected are usually cats who have a weakened immune system due to another disease. Symptoms include decreased appetite, lethargy, tremors, and seizures. There is currently no vaccine available for cats. Prevention includes keeping your cat indoors, at least during the early morning and early evening hours when mosquitoes are most active. Also, you can ask your vet about insect repellents that are approved for use on pets.