How To Get Rid Of Fleas In Your Home
If your pet has fleas, its likely that adult fleas, as well as fleas in their other three stages, are also around your home whether you see them or not. Fleas are jumpers, meaning they will jump onto other surfaces, and eggs and larva can roll off onto floors and furniture.
Getting rid of fleas in your home requires a thorough cleaning, and afterward, keeping up on your regular cleaning. This will keep fleas from re-infesting your home and your pets. To get rid of fleas in your home, follow this step-by-step guide:
FLEA FACT: Fleas can jump amazingly far for their size. If you could jump the way a flea does, youd jump 295 feet 10 times farther than the best long jump ever recorded. Youd be in the Guinness World Records book for sure!
Treat Your Cat For Fleas
First, treat your cat with a product designed to kill fleas. Bathe your cat or kitten with a specially formulated flea shampoo to kill fleas on contact. Flea sprays can be a good option for water-averse cats. Repeat treatment as needed and recommended on the label.
Kitten flea treatment tip: Check the flea treatment label to ensure the product is safe for the age of your kitten. If your kitten is too young, contact your vet to discuss other kitten flea treatment options.
After treatment, remove fleas from your cat or kittens coat with a flea comb then, dip the comb in a mixture of dish soap and water to kill any fleas left on the comb. Inspect and comb weekly to monitor the flea infestation on your cat.
Fact Check: Essential Oils for Fleas on Cats
Some online pet blogs may recommend using essential oils such as tea tree oil as a natural treatment for fleas. However, natural doesnt necessarily mean harmless. Cats are more sensitive to essential oils than humans and undiluted oils can be harmful or even toxic. Essential oils and extracts are not regulated and do not require testing for safety, and it can be difficult to dilute properly.
Hot Soapy Water Flea Trap
Fleas are highly attracted to light and tend to move towards it, especially at night. Hence, you can set a water trap to capture and kill multiple fleas on kittens and cats as they move towards light. To achieve this, you need to set up a shallow dish filled with hot/warm soapy water under a night light so that when the fleas hop from the cat towards the light, they can fall and drown in the water. You can empty your dish the following day and then set up new traps on a daily basis.
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How To Get Rid Of Fleas On Kittens
Is there anything more adorable than your tiny kitten? His sweet little eyes, the way he rubs his face against your legit’s almost too much to take in at once. But wait! Just as you’re about to snuggle with your new best friend, you notice something out of place. What is that? It’s a flea! Now what?
Don’t panic! A flea infestation does not mean the end to future cuddle time. You can rid yourself of these tiny pests by following a few reliable recommendations.
The Dangers Of Flea And Tick Product Ingredients
You can find many brands of flea and tick products at your local store.
Before you use any of these products, it is crucial to read labels and consult with your veterinarian. These products may contain ingredients that are harmful to both pets and people.
The Center for Public Integrity released information on its website in 2008.
There were at least 1,600 pet deaths related to spot-on treatments with pyrethroids over the last five years. Some flea and tick products contain chemicals that are likely to be carcinogenic to humans.
Pyrethroid spot-on also account for more than half of major pesticide pet reactions reported to the EPA over the last five years.
Besides pyrethroid-based products, other questionable ingredients are organophosphate insecticides and carbamates. According to the NRDC, some studies show that these substances can harm the nervous system.
I have spoken of how to get rid of fleas on cats and ways to rid your home and outdoor property of the pests.
Most of the natural remedies were not a natural flea killer for cats but rather worked to repel the fleas from them.
The benefit of using natural remedies is that you won’t jeopardize the health of either you or your pets with the use of toxic substances.
This is especially true if you have small children around the house who are still growing and developing. Some of the commercial flea and tick treatments contain substances that could harm your children.
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Does My Cat Have Fleas
When grooming, cats often ingest any fleas that they discover, which can make it difficult to find adult fleas in the hair coat. An itchy cat, or insect bites on human ankles, may be the only sign of an infestation.
The best way to demonstrate the presence of fleas is often to comb the cat meticulously with a fine-toothed flea comb. If you do this over a clean white surface such as a large piece of white paper, any fleas or flea dirt will be deposited onto the surface. If there is any debris , place this on some damp cotton wool if these are flea dirt, they will slowly dissolve leaving red-brown blood marks. This demonstrates the presence of fleas even if adults cannot be found.
Do Not Use Essential Oils For Fleas On Kittens And Cats
Cats poor ability to process certain compounds also means that many kinds of essential oils can be toxic to cats, even at low doses and concentrations.
Many natural flea treatments use essential oils because they can be effective against fleas. However, essential oils can be very dangerous for cats, so its best to avoid these products, especially for kittens.
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Let Your Pet Groom Itself
Cats clean themselves more when they have fleas. Theyre not just itching. Researchers say the extra work helps cats get rid of fleas. Many dogs also groom themselves more often when they have fleas. In most cases, thats OK. But if your pet is nipping, chewing, or scratching at itself enough that you notice hair loss or red, inflamed, or bloody skin, call your vet right away. Your animal may have an infection or a flea allergy.
Keep in mind that you may not find fleas on your pet, even if your vet has confirmed your pet has been bitten by fleas. They live in carpets, bedding, and other surfaces in your home. They jump onto pets to eat, but they usually dont stay once theyre done eating.
If you’re not sure if your pet has fleas, see your vet to make sure.
Elizabeth A. Layne, DVM, clinical instructor of dermatology and allergy, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine.
Ari Zabell, DVM, veterinarian and client advocate, Banfield Pet Hospital, Portland, OR.
Applied Animal Behavioral Science: Grooming and control of fleas in cats.
Merck Manual: Veterinary Manual: Flea Allergy Dermatitis.
Natural Resources Defense Council: Nontoxic Ways to Protect Pets.
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Fleas and Ticks.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Controlling Fleas and Ticks Around Your Home.
Pagination
Treating Your Home For Fleas
In addition to treating your cat, youll also need to take steps to get rid of any fleas or eggs that might be hiding in your home. Fleas hang out in the furniture, carpet, or bedespecially in areas where your cat sits frequently. Flea eggs that hide in the upholstery will hatch later and start looking for a furry friend to feast on, so its critical that you get rid of these uninvited houseguests ASAP with help from the vacuum.
Experts point out that a regimen of vacuuming and washing makes a huge difference in the overall effectiveness of flea treatment. Focus on vacuuming any cracks and crevices , underneath your furniture, and anywhere your pets like to hang out. Dont forget to dispose of the vacuum bag in a sealed plastic bag, or wash out the canister right away so that no fleas escape. Steam cleaning carpets and furniture once youve treated your cat can also help ensure fleas are destroyed at all their life stages.
Along with proper treatment of your pet, vacuuming and thorough washing of textiles are usually enough to eliminate most fleas from your home. Wash sheets, pet bedding, and pillows once a week. Use the high-heat setting on your washer and dryer and bid farewell to any fleas that might be hiding in the fabrics.
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Where Do You Put Flea Powder On Cats
Buy flea powder at your local pet store and sprinkle it anywhere where the cats congregate. Add some around feeding areas and especially on the places where the cats sleep. Dont worry, the cats wont notice, and when they fall asleep on it, some of the powder will rub off on their fur. Are you feeding or caring for the kitties?
What Products Are Available To Treat My Cat
Although most topical insecticides kill adult fleas, many have limited effectiveness because they only work for a few hours after application. This is particularly true of flea shampoos and powders they kill fleas present on your cat at the time of application but have little lasting effect the following day the cat may again have fleas. Newer products with excellent residual activity are available from your veterinarian. Some products contain adulticide ingredients with residual activity, while others contain insect growth regulators that prevent the larval stages from maturing. For best results in a flea infestation, use flea control products that contain an IGR.
ALWAYS READ THE LABEL CAREFULLY – apply the product as instructed and repeat at the intervals stated. Ensure that the product is labelled for use in cats, as some dog products may be poisonous to cats.
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Flea Anemia In Kittens
Fleas can easily find their way to a kitten, even if you keep your kitten inside. For example, if the kittens mother has fleas, or there are other cats and dogs in the home, they can bring the fleas inside. Fleas can lay up to fifty eggs a day, which will keep the infestation cycle going.
If youve noticed any fleas on your kitten, its important that you take action right away.
Fleas actually dont bite. Instead, a flea will stick their proboscis into the skin to suck blood. A flea infestation in a kitten can quickly lead to health complications due to the extensive blood loss. You dont see flea anemia very commonly in adults, although its possible. Unfortunately, this condition is very common in kittens.
After you have noticed fleas on your kitten, take a look at their gums. A healthy kittens gums should be nice and pink. Kittens with this condition will have pale pink or white gums. If your kitten has pale gums, contact your vet for information on how to treat this condition.
Fleas And Flea Control In Cats
24th July 2018
The most common flea found on cats and dogs is the cat flea . Occasionally, rabbit, hedgehog and other fleas may be found on cats but these are much less common.While many cats live with fleas and show minimal signs of infestation, control is advisable for several reasons including:
- The cat flea can carry the larval stage of the tapeworm Dipylidium caninum and cats become infected by eating fleas during grooming
- Fleas have the potential to transmit other infectious agents between cats
- Adult fleas feed on cat blood in young kittens, this can cause weakness, anaemia and death
- Fleas are important in the transmission of cat scratch disease between cats and to humans. This is an infection with the bacterium Bartonella hensellae and is spread when fleas feed on blood.
- Some dogs and cats develop an allergy to flea bites, which causes them to scratch excessively or develop skin disease
- Cat fleas can cause itchy bites on sensitive humans, typically around the ankles.
- Using modern treatments it is now possible to control cat fleas very effectively, but where the fleas are very common this may require considerable effort.
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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.
Natural Home Remedies For Cats With Fleas
Fleas can be a terrible nuisance for you and your pet. They breed extremely quickly, and what can seem like no big deal quickly gets out of hand. Besides flea bites causing pain, redness, and itching, it can cause more serious health problems like tapeworms and anemia. Commercial flea medication can get quite expensive because it usually only lasts about one month before you need to reapply it. In most cases, you will also need to take your cat to the vet to acquire the medication, which adds to the cost significantly.
Its common to look for natural home remedies to keep fleas at bay while reducing cost, and we have assembled a list of ten such remedies that you can try out. You can find most of the items listed here around the home, or you can purchase them for cheap.
Join us while we discuss diatomaceous earth, rosemary, essential oils, and more to help you rid your pet of fleas.
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Brush The Kittens Fur
As short as the fur may look, you direly need to brush them to remove knots that may clatter when you submerge the pet inside the water. Brushing also helps in removing flakes of dead skins on the pets coat, loose hair and even some fleas.
Sit your pet in a mat. Using a soft-silken brush, gently brush along the grains of its far. Then, reverse the method and brush against the grain. Make sure not to pull any hair. Pay close attention to the pest inside the coat to ascertain the intensity of infestation.
Once you are through, you can use a kitten massage mitt to remove any free hair before going to the next process.
How To Kill Fleas And Ticks On Cats
This article was co-authored by Daniel Lioy-Ryan, PhD. Dr. Daniel Lioy-Ryan is an Animal Behaviorist and the Co-Founder of Cats in the City. With over a decade of experience, he specializes in understanding animal behavior, safely grooming cats, and working with cats at all life stages. Dr. Lioy-Ryan holds a PhD in Neuroscience from The Oregon Health & Science University.There are 22 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 601,549 times.
Have you noticed your cat scratching her fur more than usual? Have you noticed little creatures crawling on your cat’s skin? If so, they could be fleas or ticks. Unfortunately, if you’ve found them on your pet, they’re most likely in your home too. Treatment is important, since these parasites feed on blood and can transmit harmful diseases to cats and humans. Learn how to identify fleas and ticks, then remove them from your pet, yard, and home.
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I Have Not Seen Any Fleas On My Cat Why Has My Veterinarian Advised Flea Control
One of the most common causes of feline allergic skin disease is flea allergy dermatitis. To eliminate this possibility, your veterinarian may advise rigorous flea control even though no fleas can be found. If the cat’s skin problem improves with flea control, it suggests that flea allergy is involved.
Fleas are easy to find if a cat is heavily infested. If fleas are present in smaller numbers, it can be harder to see them. Fleas move quickly! Try looking on the cat’s stomach, around the tail base, and around the neck.
Sometimes adult fleas cannot be found but flea dirt can be seen. Flea dirt is fecal matter from the flea that contains partially digested blood, and it is a good indicator of the presence of fleas. Flea dirt is seen as small black specks or coiled structures when placed on a damp, white tissue, the flea dirt dissolves, leaving a reddish brown stain. Flea dirt may be found in cat’s bedding even when fleas cannot be found on the cat.
“Cats are very efficient at removing debris from their coat’s using their tongues and may succeed in removing all evidence of flea infestation such as adult fleas and flea dirt.”
In cats that develop an allergy to fleas, one of the symptoms is excessive grooming. Cats are very efficient at removing debris from their coat’s using their tongues and may succeed in removing all evidence of flea infestation such as adult fleas and flea dirt.