How to get rid of fleas on Cats
Fleas are small wingless insect. It is an external parasite living
off the blood of your pets. Fleas prefer warm and humid conditions
therefore they thrive more in summer and fall. Prevention is better than
cure and this applies also while trying to get rid of fleas. Make a
point of assessing where your pet stays more frequently.
For your cat to have fleas is very common and more so if it is
allowed to go outdoors and mix with other animals like dogs. This does
not mean that if your cat remains indoors it will be free of ticks. It
is therefore important to look out for signs of fleas on your cat. The
most common sign is that your cat will scratch itself excessively. You
may also see the fleas on your cat fur and on your cat's bedding. You
can also check your cat for fleas by brushing through your cat's fur
with a flea comb.
 To start with, getting rid of fleas on your cat isn’t enough - you'll
have to free the entire house of fleas in order to keep them away from
your cats for good. It is a tedious process but worth it in the long
run.
You can use a flea bomb but be sure to follow the instructions. Make
sure you shampoo all the fabrics in your home from the carpet, curtains,
bedding, upholstery, and much more areas where the cats sleep and play.
Wash pet bedding in hot, soapy water weekly; this is the most likely
site for flea eggs and larvae. Vacuuming your house is the number one
priority in the battle against fleas. Pay particular attention to
corners, dark crevices, under furniture, under beds, pet beds, rugs and
especially around the skirting area.
Spray your upholstery with insecticide especially all the dark
corners killing all the eggs. Your insecticide should contain Insect
Growth Regulator, which is a birth control for fleas. Control fleas in
your yard too by using the same spray that you use in the house. Prune
foliage and keep grass trimmed short to increase sunlight, as flea
larvae cannot survive in hot, dry areas. Remove any piles of yard debris
close to your home. Pay attention to where your cat sleeps and plays.
You can also use topical treatments for cats like Advantage,
Frontline, or Revolution which can even be used for kittens. The benefit
of using these topical treatments on your cat is that all you have to do
is put a small dab of it on the back of your cat's neck where the cat
won't be able to reach. This should be done very carefully to avoid your
cat licking the medicine. Another benefit of these products is that they
will kill fleas within 12 hours and will continue to kill fleas for 30
days.
When you have a flea problem it does not mean that you stop
associating with your pets. Pets are a valuable and in addition to
giving us companionship, they teach us a lot as well. |
