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How to Prevent Insect Bites on Cats: 6 Useful Tips

Written by: Patricia Dickson

Last Updated on January 30, 2024 by Catster Editorial Team

sleeping cat bitten by mosquito on its nose

How to Prevent Insect Bites on Cats: 6 Useful Tips

It stands to reason that if you have to worry about mosquito and other insect bites in the yard, you have to worry about them biting your feline pal. As with humans, mosquito bites can be harmful to your cat.

Not only do they irritate the skin, but your cat could also be allergic to the insects that bite them or contract one of the mosquito-borne illnesses. While mosquitoes play an essential role (as food for several species) in our ecosystem and environment, they still carry serious diseases that can be easily transmitted to your furry friend.

Luckily, there are a few ways that you can prevent the insects from biting your cat.

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How to Prevent Insect Bites on Cats

1. Use Safe Insect Repellents

One way to keep your cat safe from insect bites is to use an effective, safe insect repellent. While you should never use a human insect repellent on your cat, there are safer formulas designed for cats.

It’s best to consult your vet for the most effective repellent options for your cat. You can even get the insect repellents in spray form, and they are easier to apply to your cat.

Repellent_shutterstock_ThamKC
Image Credit: ThamKC, shutterstock

2. Reduce Insects in Your Yard and Garden

While using insect repellents is a great way to protect your cat from at least a few bites in the summer season, it’s not enough. You also need to reduce the number of insects gathering in your yard and garden.

You can reduce the number of insects on your property by placing natural repellents in the area. Natural repellents such as citronella candles work well because the insects don’t like the scent and will instead go elsewhere.

Removing standing water from your property is essential for mosquito prevention since it attracts mosquitoes and other insects.

Some places to check and empty for standing water include the following.
  • Empty flowerpots
  • Ponds
  • Birdbaths
  • Wading pools
  • Dog bowls
  • Corners of your garden

3. Keep Your Cat Inside when Mosquitoes Are Most Active

Another way to keep your feline from being attacked by insects is to keep them inside when the mosquitoes are most active. While this might make your cat a bit angry, it’s vital to keeping them healthy.

While different types of mosquitoes are most active during various times of the day, most species are active early in the morning and the first few hours of the night. If you keep your cat inside during these hours, they’ll get bitten less, and you’ll have to worry less about them getting sick or having irritated skin from the bites.

Macro photo of a mosquito on a leaf
Image By: Satheesh Cholakkal, Pexels

4. Call in the Professionals

While there are several home remedies and natural repellents to keep your yard and garden mosquito-free so that your feline doesn’t get bitten excessively, there’s nothing as effective as a professional spraying the property to keep the insects at bay.

You can have a professional spray for insects at the beginning of the summer or whenever mosquitoes become active where you live. You should keep your cat inside when the yard is being sprayed and for a few hours after to be safe.


5. Examine Entry Points in Your House

It’s not just possible for insects to bite your cat in the yard and garden. Mosquitoes can creep in through the doors, windows, and any cracks and crevices in your home. To keep the pests from entering your home, examine all the entry points that they can buzz in through.

When mosquito season begins, examine your screens on the doors and windows for snags, rips, or tiny holes, and repair or replace them to keep the mosquitoes out as much as possible. Nothing is foolproof when creating a barrier between your home and cats to prevent mosquitoes. However, you can do everything you can to keep them from making their way inside.

Make sure to also kill the mosquitoes you see inside your home.

cat in the screen door
Image By: VooDooPickles, Shutterstock

6. Work to Prevent Heartworm Infection

Although the tips above will prevent mosquitoes from attacking your cat to a point, they aren’t foolproof, and the cat is still at risk of being bitten. That’s why it’s important to keep up with heartworm treatments.

Talk to your vet about the correct dosage of heartworm medicine to give your cat, and make sure you give it to your cat according to the dosage schedule. This is the most important preventative measure to protect your cat from the insect population.

divider-catclaw1 Signs that A Mosquito Has Bitten Your Cat

You might be wondering what the signs are that your cat has been bitten by a mosquito. The cat’s behavior is the best way to tell that a mosquito has bitten them. The bite will be itchy, and the cat will scratch for relief.

If your cat starts rubbing their head or paws or biting and licking a specific area, they might have been bitten. If you notice a swelling in the area, your cat could have been bitten by a mosquito.

In most cases, the bite will irritate them for a brief period, and they’ll be fine in a couple of days. However, you must monitor your cat and the affected area. If the area becomes swollen, redder than it was, or isn’t healing, you’ll need to get your cat to a vet immediately.

Some areas are more exposed and likely to be targeted, such as the muzzle and ears. If your cat has been bitten in the throat or mouth, you need to get it to a vet immediately, as it could cause a severe allergic reaction. Mosquito bites can be dangerous to cats, so keep a wary eye on your feline friend.

Cat ball divider 1Conclusion

Mosquitos will bite any mammal they land on and can be just as dangerous to your cat as they can be to you. While the tips above should keep your cat from being bitten often, they won’t stop mosquitoes from biting your cat completely.

Follow the tips above and keep an eye on your cat for bites or signs that they have been bitten during mosquito season. If you feel your cat has become sick from a mosquito bite, contact your vet immediately for an examination.


Featured Image Credit: Image Credit: Irina Soboleva S, Shutterstock

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