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Cat Flea Treatments.
Have you ever cuddled up with your cat only to find some dark and small stuff crawling in its hair? That can be a scary moment! The smart thing to do is to immediately do a simple test to prevent further infestation.
Cat fleas multiply very rapidly if left unchecked and can spread to humans easily as well. The bad news is that once you confirm it is a case of cat fleas, you may need to do an intense cleaning of your whole home.
It is quite easy to notice the presence of cat fleas. |
Your cat may be scratching very frequently and more vigorously than usual. You or your family may have red itchy spots on your ankles or stomach as well.
If you comb your cat's fur near its tail, you will find not only some dead fur but also small bits of dark dirt. This could be the excrement of fleas. To test, tap the hair and dirt onto a white piece of paper and spray with water. If the little bits of crumbling, dark stuff dissolve into what looks like blood, you can be sure it is definitely a case of cat fleas. You might even notice the tiny black insects crawling or leaping about. Don't delay with getting a cat flea treatment, as you need to stop the cat fleas from multiplying as quickly as you can.
Veterinarians these days are offering easy solutions for cat flea treatment. "Advantage" is one product that will help to remove the cat flea problem without having to give your cat a bath in insecticidal solutions (also available at your veterinarian). The Advantage cat flea treatment is a spot-on treatment. You only need to place a drop of "Advantage" onto your cat's skin in between its shoulder blades. Repeat the application at the required intervals to make sure that all fleas are destroyed. That's it! "Frontline" is another popular choice for spot-on treatments.
Natural options for cat flea treatment exist as well. However, these are more time consuming than spot-on solutions. Washing your kitty with 1 - 2 rounds of soapy water and then combing (once it is dry) with a fine-toothed flea comb can help get rid of cat flea eggs, larvae and mature insects from your cat's fur. Make sure to keep combing your cat every night for several to make the cat flea treatment effective. Wiping a lemon-juice repellent on your cat's fur can help to remove any cat flea hitchhikers on your kitty, though you'll still have to remove the eggs and larvae by hand.
Whichever treatment you choose, for the cat flea treatment to be effective, you'll need to vacuum your home thoroughly and steam-clean all upholstery as well. All bedsheets, rugs and blankets the cat is in contact with must be washed in hot, soapy water. Secure the vacuum bag in a plastic bag before throwing it into the outside garbage bin.
Prevention is definitely better than cure. Here are some natural remedies to prevent cat flea invasion: Add a tiny bit of garlic into your cat's meal and add a spoonful of apple cider vinegar to its water. Of course, if it won't drink the flavored water, offer it fresh water instead. You can use the apple cider vinegar as a deterrent spray for fleas by misting your pet often.
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