Thursday, March 28, 2024

Easy Way To Get Rid Of Fleas On Cats

Don't Miss

Avoid Natural Flea Control Products

Cat Care & Health : How to Get Rid of Fleas on Cats

If you’re considering using natural flea control products that contain essential oils, exercise caution. Some essential oils can be toxic to cats.

All three veterinarians we consulted do not recommend natural products, which do not work nearly as well as veterinarian-recommended topical and oral flea control products. “They are just not proven to be really effective,” Bourgeois said. “My biggest concern with natural products is, even if they’re safe, if they’re not effective, that’s not helping our pets. I get more concerned about the secondary ramifications for the pet if we’re using something that hasn’t been proven to be effective, versus products that have been proven to be effective and well tolerated.”

Plan To Treat And Prevent Fleas On Your Cat Continuously

Flea protection and prevention are the best way to break the flea life cycle. Keep in mind that it may take a few months to get rid of the bugs. Even if you see a few fleas on your cat from time to time, that doesnt mean the products arent doing their job.

To keep fleas from coming back, follow these steps:

  • Check your cat with a flea comb at least once a week for indications of itching and scratching.
  • Set a reminder to apply or administer treatment and preventative medications according to the directions on the package.
  • To estimate the danger of fleas, keep track of your cats interactions with other pets, animals, and people.

Finding fleas on your cat can be alarming, but an infestation can occur even in a clean home with a well-cared-for cat. Fleas are little, but they have a lot of power. Because fleas reproduce quickly and easily jump on other pets or wildlife, it could take up to three months to completely eradicate the infestation. Keep an eye out for infestation and apply a flea preventative year-round to help your cat.

Get A Flea Treatment From Your Vet

  • Your veterinarian can give you the right treatment for your pet. For mild cases, theyâll probably prescribe a topical treatment that you can apply to your petâs fur. For more severe flea infestations, they might prescribe an oral flea treatment that your pet takes by mouth. You can make an appointment to talk about your flea problems and figure out the right solution for you.XExpert Source
  • Also Check: Broken Tail Cat

    An Easy Way To Get Rid Of Fleas On Cats Naturally

    Although a lot of people use chemicals to control flea there is another natural flea killer for cats. Using natural ways is advantageous since you dont have to use chemicals on your cats and its cheap too. Additionally, some of these pesticide chemicals may be toxic and hence can even harm your health too. To avoid all the dangers that might be brought by these chemicals you can use natural flea remedy for cats.

    Certainly, natural flea repellent for catswill work as good as the chemical product would. Whenever your cat get attacked by fleas, flea repellents for cats will keep them away.one of the top natural flea repellents that are commonly used is apple cider vinegar. Therefore whenever you want to use a natural way to get rid of fleas then apple cider vinegar for fleas on cats will help.

    Be Careful While Bathing Your Kitty

    The Best Ways to Get Rid of Fleas on Your Cat and In Your House

    Some cats don’t like sudden movements, and they need you to take things extra slow while they’re feeling vulnerable in a bath. Wash your cat gently and speak to him soothingly.

    Don’t use a spray hose on your cat. Instead, dip your hand into the warm water and gently scoop the water onto your kitty. Scoop a little at a time until his fur is wet down to the skin. Take care not to get any water or soap in your cat’s eyes, ears, or nose.

    With flea shampoo, you want a good lather. Continue to work the lather in over the whole cat for three to five minutes, being sure to avoid the area around the eyes. Make sure you read the directions carefully and don’t leave the shampoo on longer than directed.

    If the bathroom doors are closed and there’s no place for him to hide, you can take your cat out of the tub and replace the old water during those few minutes. If you’re using small tubs, then top off the clean water with some warm water to keep it a comfy temperature. Watch him closely and make sure he doesn’t lick himself. Then rinse it all out and don’t leave any soap behind.

    After the bath, blot his wet fur with a dry towel to get some of the excess water out. Then let him out into a small, draft-free, warm room where he can air dry.

    Recommended Reading: Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Cat Food

    What You Should Know About Fleas In Cats

    If your cat has fleas, you want to get rid of them as quickly as possible. Cats that go outside are more likely to pick up fleas, but even indoor cats can get them, either from the family dog or when they go to the veterinarian or a boarding facility. Fleas can even hitchhike indoors on your clothes or shoes.

    Flea Treatment For Cats

    There are plenty of flea treatments available, but not all of them will be suitable for your cat. Your vet will be familiar with your cats medical history, so ask them to recommend a treatment thats right for them. Never use a treatment thats not been recommended by your vet. At best it will be ineffective, at worst it might make your cat feel even worse. But its one thing to treat your cat for fleas. The bigger and arguably more important task is to rid your home of fleas. Remember fleas can live for months without a host, and its estimated that 95% of flea eggs, larvae, and pupae live in the environment. So if you treat your cat without addressing the rest of your home, dont be surprised when the problem returns in a month or two.

    Also Check: Realistic Drawing Of A Cat

    Make An Ongoing Plan To Treat And Prevent Fleas On Your Cat

    Ongoing vigilance combined with flea protection and prevention is the key to disrupting the flealife cycle. It may take a few months to end the infestation,so dont get discouraged. Even if you continue seeing a flea or two on your cat from time to time, that doesnt mean the products arent working.

    To help prevent a flea infestation from returning, follow these steps:

    • Check your cat at least weekly with a flea comb and look for signs of itching and scratching.
    • Set reminders to apply or administer treatment and prevention products according to product labels.
    • Be cognizant of your cats interactions with other pets, animals or people to determine the risk of catching fleas.

    Finding fleas on your cat can be shocking, but even a clean home and a well-cared-for cat may still be subject to an infestation. Fleas are small but mighty. They can reproduce quickly and easily hop on other pets or wildlife, so it may take up to three months to adequately clear out the flea infestation. Help your cat by keeping a watchful eye for reinfestation, and remember to regularly use a flea preventive year-round.

    How Can I Tell If My Cat Has Fleas

    How to Get Rid of Fleas Guaranteed (4 Easy Steps)

    The presence of fleas on a cat can be determined by various signs and behaviors. Since cats are such meticulous groomers, you might not notice they have fleas right away. Knowing how to spot and kill fleas on your pet and in your home can ease their itching .

    It will require some investigation on your part to determine if your cat has a flea infestation, but there are several things that indicate it. Because fleas are so smallonly 1/12 to 1/16 longthey are often difficult to identify when there are only a few present. In addition, their reddish-brown color might blend in with your cats fur. Rather than relying on your eyes to spot fleas in your kittys fur, look for these other common signs:

    Recommended Reading: Can You Bathe A Kitten With Dawn

    Your House Too Is Infected

    When caring for a cat with fleas, it is crucial to treat your feline friend to get rid of the current fleas living on it. However, treating the environment is going to be tricky because fleas can live in areas within your home which you dont typically think about when concerning a possible infestation issue in cats. Fleas can live in your carpets, furniture, and virtually any place that your cat frequents. Places like your carpeting in particular could contain more than one might expect!

    If your cat spends time outside, you will see that this will pose an even greater problem as flea eggs will get into the home faster than they can get cleaned up by you and then simply hatch into new fleas themselves.

    To effectively treat your home to get rid of fleas, wash your cats bedding and any other washed textile that he has made into his own little nest. Vacuum all carpeting and rugs at least twice to ensure the proper amount of cleanliness is accomplished. For good measure, use bleach mixed with water and coat all furniture and floors with it, as well. Finally, use a good flea spray to eliminate the adult fleas, as well as flea eggs so as not to have an infestation down the road after this treatment has ended.

    If you want to be extra thorough, try using a fogger for one day to kill off any remaining stages of these pests hatching throughout homes but make sure you read the instructions thoroughly before attempting this aggressively effective yet potentially harmful strategy!

    Flea Treatments Available For Cats

    There is a vast array of flea treatments available from vets, pet shops and supermarkets for use in and on cats. It may not be obvious, but these products vary markedly in their compositions, mode of action, effectiveness and safety.

    Many older products contain products that may be less effective or less safe . It is important to always read and follow instructions carefully, and wherever possible, talk to your vet first and seek their advice they will have access to the best and safest products for use in cats.

    Many newer products are available as spot on preparations that only have to be applied every few weeks. Again, it is important that instructions for use are followed carefully for the products to be both safe and effective. Never be tempted to use a dog product on a cat some of these can be highly toxic to cats .

    Some flea treatments are also available as tablets, which may be easier for some owners to give, and some effective flea collars are also available. However, many of the products available from pet shops or supermarkets may have very poor efficacy. These are generally not the same as you would get from your vet, and veterinary advice is always best. Some sprays and powders should not be used near fish tanks because they are toxic to fish.

    Always check if a product is safe to use on kittens, and pregnant or suckling cats if treating such animals.

    Don’t Miss: Bathing A Cat With Dawn

    How To Prevent Flea Infestation In Kittens

    To prevent a repeated flea infestation in kittens,

    • Use medicine such as Activyl that will make female fleas sterile and prevent them from laying new eggs.
    • Vacuum the carpet two to three times a week to remove eggs and dormant fleas.
    • Wash pet blankets weekly in the washing machine and sundry them.
    • Spray flea killer insecticide in the house, kennels, and yards.
    • Treat the lawn with pesticide if your kitten keeps getting re-infected every time it goes outside.
    • Fog the house to prevent flea larvae development.
    • Replace carpet and keep your home as dry as possible to make your house less flea-friendly.
    • Use a flea comb on all your pets.
    • Take all the precautions to ward them off any time of the year, although fleas are more common during summer.
    • The most essential element in controlling fleas is the treatment of all susceptible pets, including the mother cat in a house, frequently with the effective product to ensure flea egg production is halted.

    The Life Cycle Of The Flea

    How Can I Get Rid Of Fleas On My Cat

    1. Egg

    3. Pupae

    4. Adult

    The amount of time it takes for a life cycle to complete depends on the environment as well as available hosts. If all conditions are met a cycle can be completed within two weeks. While it is typical for the cycle to be about two weeks, sometimes it can take up to four weeks for a complete life cycle to occur.

    The life cycle of the flea begins when an adult female lays eggs. She will lay eggs on the host and will lay up to three times each day with as many as twenty to thirty eggs in each layer. While the adult female is laying her eggs, she will feed on the host by biting them and sucking the blood. Over the entire life span of a single adult female flea, which is about two weeks, several hundred eggs will be laid. The overwhelming amount of eggs produced during this time is one of the main causes of flea infestations.

    Once the eggs have been laid, they will begin to develop on that spot. After a few days, they will hatch into the larvae and begin to feed on whatever suitable food source is nearby. This includes dead skin cells, organic matter, and/or the blood-rich feces of adult fleas.

    You May Like: Getting Mats Out Of Cats

    Help Your Cat Get Used To The Water

    Some cats need time to realize the bathwater isn’t secretly trying to hurt them. Let him get slowly acclimatized to the idea of a bath by just getting his paws wet at first. Or put him in the bathroom with you while you’re taking a bath, so he gets used to the sound of running water.

    Give him treats when his paws get a little wet. You might even float one of his toys in the water. This could make him curious enough to dip a paw in, helping him realize it’s not so scary.

    Some cats will gradually become more comfortable with water, while others will still need that extra nudge and comfort during an actual bath.

    Skin Problems And Hair Loss

    A flea infestation can escalate quickly, forcing your cat into a scratching frenzy! This can often lead to loss of hair and other skin issues. If you notice these symptoms, you dont want to hesitate in taking your cat to the vet for proper treatment.

    Theyll also be able to rule out any other serious problems, such as Flea Allergy Dermatitis . This condition affects both pets and humans. It is a result of an allergic reaction to a fleas saliva that causes an extremely itchy and painful rash.

    Recommended Reading: What Does It Mean When Your Cat Hisses At You

    Eliminate Fleas From Your Home

    Plus, like your cat, youll also need to get rid of fleas from your home to avoid re-infestation. Daily vacuuming of carpets, upholstery, carpets, bedding can go a long way in keeping these pests away. Focus on your kids favourite stains in fur besides their bedding. Be consistent and thorough with your cleanup within a few weeks, and along with prevention methods as well as getting rid of fleas from your cat, you need to have a parasite-free home soon. Maintain your purifying vigilance to keep it this way.

    Take Care of Your Garden

    Even indoors, be sure to eliminate fleas from the outdoor area or lawn if you believe fleas are being monitored from the outside. Keep ground leaves and debris to a minimum and plant herbs like eucalyptus or lavender to prevent fleas in their path. You can also sprinkle a pure product known as diatomaceous earth or DE in the dirt and around the lawn.

    Made from fossil algae, DE dehydrates fleas when in contact with it, making it a great all-natural anti-flea solution. Sprinkle DE on your cats primary hangout areas which can also be used inside the home, just vacuum it after a certain number of days to kill any fleas and split the reinfestation cycle, these will make you to know how to get rid of fleas on cats.

    A Complete Guide To Treat And Prevent Fleas On Cats

    How To Get Rid of Cat Fleas – Naturally

    If your cat is itching more than usual, it could mean she has fleas! Read on to learn everything youneed to know about fleas on cats and how to spot, treat, and prevent them.

    Look what the cat dragged in fleas. These tiny little nuisances can drive your cat and your family absolutely crazy!

    Fleas are teeny tiny brown bugs that burrow into your cats fur to feast on his blood, causing mild to severe itching and discomfort. Without proper treatment, fleas can lead to other health issues in your cat including anemia or tapeworms.

    However, fleas can be difficult to detect on your super hygiene-conscious feline. Being the mysterious creatures that they are, cats often do a great job at keeping their case of fleas a secret. Thats why its extra important to know what to look out for and to take preventative measures to keep a flea infestation from occurring in the first place.

    If youre concerned your cat has fleas, the best thing to do is to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Your vet will do a full examination and prescribe the proper treatment to solve the issue quickly.

    In this guide, well walk you through everything you need to know about fleas on cats from recognizing the signs to best practices for early prevention.

    Also Check: Normal Resting Heart Rate For Cats

    More articles

    Popular Articles

    Wet Cat Food For Kidney Disease

    Brands Of Wet Cat Food