Treating Your Cat’s Fleas

Products That are Used for the Treatment and Prevention of Cat Fleas

Mar 20, 2007

How to detect cat fleas and a comparison of the various feline flea treatment products available to cat owners

Most people think that if a cat doesn’t scratch, it doesn’t have fleas. This is not necessarily true. Cats that are allergic to fleas are obsessed with scratching or excessive grooming but other cats may not show any sign.

How to Test Your Cat for Fleas

To confirm the presence of fleas, run a fine toothed comb through your cat’s hair. If there are tiny black dots on the comb then this is evidence of “flea dirt”. It may be easier to see flea dirt if you place your cat on a white piece of paper during the combing process.

Cat Flea Tapeworm

If untreated, some cats can scratch themselves raw. Cat fleas carry the larva of a certain tapeworm so if a cat swallows the larva during grooming, it could end up with a case of tapeworm. Other animals in the household, carpets, furniture and humans all are targets for fleas. Fleas are hardy animals. They can lay hundreds of eggs and the cycle keeps going.

Old Fashioned Cat Flea Products

Flea control products are available in sprays, powders, liquids, tablets or injection by a vet. Many of the old fashioned over the counter treatments may only provide temporary relief or have to be used in conjunction with other products. Some shampoos may not be especially effective because when you rinse your cat, the insecticide contained in the shampoo goes down the drain. Some powders may only stay on the cat for a few days because cats lick their coat. Some flea collars do not provide full body coverage and may cause irritation on the neck area.

New Cat Flea Products

There are newer products available that may prove to be more effective. Spot-on treatments such as Revolution®, Frontline® and Advantage® are applied on the back of the cat’s neck at regular intervals. Sentinel® is available in pill or liquid form and is given once a month.The Frontline® pump product lasts a bit longer than the spot-on version. Program® can be administered as a liquid added to your cat’s food every month or as an injection from your vet every six months.

Vet Exam for Cat Fleas

If in doubt as to what to product to use, your vet is your best resource. In severe cases of flea infestation or if your cat is severely allergic to fleas, it is best to take your cat to the vet for examination and treatment. Sometimes other medications for skin irritation or tapeworm may have to be administered.

Getting Rid of Cat Fleas in Your Home

Treating your cat may not totally get rid of fleas in your home. It is highly recommended to vacuum all carpets, fabric covered furniture, cushions, bottoms of curtains, mattresses and your cat’s bedding. Household bedding should be washed. When finished, throw the vacuum bag away or empty the contents of the vacuum cleaner cup in a bag for immediate disposal.

The next step is to spray these same areas with products such as Staykil® or Acclaim 2000® or Indorex®. You may consider hiring a professional pesticide company for spraying your home. Some products require the evacuation of humans and other pets for a specified period of time. If your cat is an outdoor cat, you may also want a professional to spray your yard.

Caution: All flea treatment products are pesticides. Read the directions carefully and ask your vet for advice.

The copyright of the article Treating Your Cat’s Fleas in Cat Care is owned by Maureen K. Fleury. Permission to republish Treating Your Cat’s Fleas must be granted by the author in writing.