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Springtime brings warm weather and uninvited guests along with it. Fleas turn active when the temperature is favorable. They are active insects that feed on the blood from you and your cat. They jump onto animals and burrow through their fur into their skin, where they remain hidden while they bite the skin and ingest the blood. This is extremely irritating to the cat, as the bites can cause uncontrollable itching and inflammation.
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Behavior problems – If the infestation is severe, it is easy to see the fleas jumping off and on your cat's body. If not, you will begin to see signs of restlessness in your cat. Your cat might start scratching and chewing on some parts of the body more. If you see your cat shake its head often and scratch its ears, it is a sign that your cat has a flea infestation. If your cat constantly licks at its coat, that is another potential sign. A lot of the cats groom fleas out of their coat before you can see any evidence.
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Check the haircoat and skin – Lay your cat on its back and check the areas where fleas can hide. The groin and armpits are two of the areas that are protected and warm and are prime hideout spots. Check the ears for signs of redness, scratching, dirt, or blood. The skin on the groin, the base of the tail, or the belly may appear bumpy and red if your cat is scratching itself a lot. Hair loss can be seen in areas where scratching is excessive, and there might be black spots and scabbing on the skin.
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Flea comb – Get a flea comb and run it through the hair on the legs and back of your cat. The comb is designed to catch and pull the fleas from their place of hiding under the haircoat. Ensure that you get close to the skin when you run the comb through the hair so that you have a better chance of getting to where the fleas are hiding. Keep soapy water ready to douse the live fleas that you find while combing.
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Check the surrounding area – Fleas do not just stay on your cat's body. They can also be found in areas where your cat tends to spend a lot of time. Closely examine the feeding area, the bedding, and other locations where your cat likes to spend time for fleas or flea dirt. Cats like to sleep on top of kitchen cabinets, window sills, and the refrigerator. So make sure you examine those haunts.
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Seek the advice of the vet – If you are unable to find any signs of fleas on your cat or the environment, or if you have done the flea eradication treatment (right down to getting a flea collar for your cat) and your cat is still scratching, visit the veterinarian. He/she will get to the root of your cat's discomfort and suggest possible treatment options.
Below you can find some information about the steps that you can take to have flea protection for your cat.
Top 5 Facts About Flea Prevention for Cats
Fleas are one of the most common parasites that cats can get, so prevention can take some work—but it is essential to your cat’s health. The best way to deal with an outbreak of fleas is to consult a veterinarian who can help you make a plan for managing the parasites and getting rid of them. But if you’re reading this before your kitty got fleas, or you’ve recently fought back an infestation and would like to prevent another, here are the most important facts to know about flea prevention for cats.
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It’s getting easier and easier to prevent fleas on felines. Products like dips, powders, sprays, and shampoos have been all but replaced by newer, more effective spot-on products (applied topically, meaning to your pet’s skin) and oral treatments (taken as a pill or with food). Administering these products throughout the year can prevent fleas altogether. Products like Christin spot-on solution for cats need to be applied once a month and they are pretty effective in preventing fleas.
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Never use a dog product on a cat. Flea-prevention products formulated for dogs can be deadly to cats. Cats can have very different sensitivities and adverse reactions to components of products that are safe for dogs. Pick a product like Bravecto topical for cats and always check the dosage information.
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Grooming is key. Getting in the good habit of combing your pet on a regular basis can help remove fleas and assess your cat’s flea situation. You can use flea shampoo to repel fleas. Fleas are attracted to the chemicals in the shampoo and will run away from your pet and try to find another host. Flea shampoos for dogs and cats do not kill adult fleas, nor do they prevent them from laying eggs on your pet's fur. If you have an infestation of fleas, using a shampoo is not going to solve the problem for good.
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Keep a clean house and a clean yard. Fleas can flourish indoors and out, so keep tidy in both domains. To combat fleas in the home, the vacuum will be your friend. Use it on your floors, rugs, carpets, upholstery, and in nooks and crannies. You should wash the clothing and linens with which your pet comes into contact in hot water at least once a week. Moreover, you can use flea spray to disinfect your home. Remember: When you buy old or used items, such as furniture or carpeting, those items have histories, potentially pertaining to fleas. If an infestation is suspected, use products formulated for indoors. Spray flooring, baseboards, under furniture, your pets’ favorite places, and under pet bedding. Keeping your yard free of leaves, tree limbs, and other debris, all breeding grounds for fleas, can help. If infestation is suspected outside, use a pesticide or other treatment and repeat as needed.
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When you prevent fleas, you prevent further health problems. Fleas can transmit tapeworms to cats – nasty internal worms that can even get passed on to children in your home. Fleas can also cause flea allergy dermatitis, a condition that causes itching, skin irritation, infection, and hair loss. Severe fleas can lead to anemia in cats, particularly kittens, cats with other health problems, and senior cats. Affected cats can also pass along flea-borne diseases to humans.
Flea and Tick Meds
There are various types of cat flea treatments but flea medicine for cats has been the most effective. Flea and tick medications are designed to kill adult fleas and ticks. They do not kill the eggs, larvae, or fleas and ticks that might have already bitten your cat. This means that if you use a product that only kills adult fleas and ticks, you'll still have an infestation because the product does not affect any of the other life stages of these pests.
In addition to protecting your cat from fleas and ticks, flea pills for cats also protect the rest of the environment that your pet spends time in. Fleas can jump off of animals and onto other animals, people, or even onto carpets and furniture in a household. Because these insects are so small, they can easily hide out in a home until they find another host animal on which to feed. If you’re not using a flea control medication on your cats or dogs, then you’re likely going to be infested with them yourself.
Hence, flea treatment for cats is essential for keeping your cat healthy, happy, and comfortable in every season.
Flea Collar
Fleas are a common pest and one that can be a nuisance to cats. Fleas can also be a nuisance to humans, pets, furniture, and houses. When your cat is infested with fleas it can cause them discomfort and health problems as well as make them irritable and uncomfortable. If you notice your cat scratching or biting more than usual this could mean they have fleas or another type of insect bite. If you are unsure whether or not your cat has any insect bites then visit their vet so they can examine them properly.
While using a flea collar may not completely get rid of all the fleas on your cat (depending on how many there were), it's still an effective way of getting rid of some of them whilst keeping your pet safe from being bitten again by these pests!
One of the biggest advantages of using a flea collar for cats is its convenience. There's no need to apply it each day, as you would have to do with a flea-repellent shampoo or lotion. You also don't have to use an eyedropper or brush to apply the product to your cat's fur. Simply put the collar on, and that’s it! Products like Seresto flea collars have been more popular among pet owners due to their high efficiency in preventing fleas and ticks in pets.