Flea Relief for Your Feline Friend
What could be worse for your cat than a bunch of biting, itching bugs making a meal out of them? Fleas are no fun for your cat, or for you! Luckily, there are plenty of ways to control fleas, and even rid your cat and house of these pests for good!
Signs of Fleas
Your cat will be scratching a lot. They may even itch themselves raw! If you comb your cat with a flea comb, you'll notice little black dots of what we call "flea dirt". This is actually undigested blood. If the flea infestation is particularly bad, you may even get bitten! You may also see fleas jumping around in your carpet, probably near your cat’s favorite napping spot. Fleas Are Bad News
Fleas can carry the tapeworm larvae. When your cat is grooming itself, it may inadvertently eat some fleas, and the tapeworm will infect your cat! Many cats are allergic to flea bites, which can cause severe skin irritation and even disease.Infested kittens may become anemic and very weak from too many fleas.Getting Rid of Fleas
Collars, sprays, dips,shampoos, oh my! There is a long list of products available that will kill adult fleas already on your cat. These are relatively effective but will not do much about the flea larvae and eggs that may be lying dormant in your carpet. For those fleas, you’ll need a carpet powder, fogger, or some sort of spray that will take care of the larval and egg forms of the flea. Spot-treatments. These innovative flea control products like frontline and advantage are fantastic! Most types are a small amount of liquid or gel that you squeeze between your cat’s shoulder blades- or anywhere they can’t reach to lick it off. This product usually works for a full month or longer, killing fleas in 24-48 hours and ensuring that the younger stages of fleas do not develop. Read all packaging when purchasing one of these types of flea control. Other Tips
Be sure when you treat for fleas, you are treating every pet in the household, as well as areas that they frequent, such as pet beds, the couch, or certain areas on your carpet.Keep an eye on your cat when treating with any flea control product. If you notice any signs of stress, rapid breathing, lack of appetite, heavy salivating, etc, contact your veterinarian immediately. If you are using multiple flea control products at once, be particularly aware of any signs of illness! Never use dog flea control products on cats! Products designed for dogs are usually stronger and may cause an overdose in your cat!