Did you know cats can be just as susceptible to fleas as dogs? They can, and they can certainly suffer just as much as dogs do from fleas. Fleas are pretty gross -- biting and sucking blood -- and they can also transmit diseases like a tapeworm which would necessitate the use of Drontal for cats. Even indoor cats can catch fleas -- either from a dog in the house or just from fleas hitching a ride indoors on someone's shoes. The truth is fleas are present all over the country. So what's the best flea medicine for cats? Here are some options:
Flea collar: Most flea collars on the market are best used to treat cats once they have a flea infestation, but a new flea collar for cats, Seresto, is also a preventative that keeps working for 8 months.
Oral flea medications: Oral flea medicine for cats are pills that you give to your pet to eat or swallow. These usually work as one-month preventatives, though some flea pills for cats are meant for treating a current problem.
Spot-on flea treatment for cats: Spot-on, or topicals, have to be applied to your pet's skin, usually between the shoulder blades. Find out how to apply for these preventative medicines.
The Best Flea and Tick Medicine for Dogs and Cats
If you're a pet parent, you probably get bombarded with warnings about fleas and ticks and the dangers they pose to pets, especially as springtime rolls around. Your vet, your pet store, and your favorite blogs and pet websites may be telling you again and again how vital it is to protect our pets from these pests. (If you're not convinced yet, take a look at this video on what happens in a home flea infestation. Yuck!)" okay, okay," you say, flea and tick prevention is important. But what are the best flea tick products for dogs and cats? What will protect my pet from the problems in my area and keep my family safe?"We hear you! There are lots of options out there, which is a good thing since there are plenty of pet parents out there with unique situations. But when you want to cut to the chase and find your best bet, we've got the information you need.
Learn the difference between spot-on like Frontline Plus and Advantix, oral medications, or chewable like Advantage for cats or Nexgard chewables, sprays, and more. Find out how to control fleas and ticks in your yard and around your home, and keep your pet even safer.
Use this handy chart to quickly decide which prevention method protects against the pests in your area. You'll find the best flea and tick medicine for your dog or cat in a snap.
Not a fan of spot-on? Learn what pills and chewable are best for oral flea control and how you can avoid potential skin irritations that some pets may get from spot-on.
Bathe Your Cat Regularly
Bathing your cat regularly is important to maintain its health, but it can also help keep fleas away. Bathing cats once a month with a gentle shampoo for pets will break down the wax that covers their fur and prevent larvae from attaching themselves there. If you use medicated products like Advantage II or Frontline Plus for dogs, be careful when applying them to your cat, these chemicals are strong enough to harm them if not used properly.
Bathing cats in a sink or tub with warm water is best. However, if you have an option between using a sink or a bathtub, using the bathtub may be safer because it will make it easier for you to hold onto your pet while they're wet and make sure that excess water doesn't get into their eyes or mouth. Washing off any remaining suds after rinsing thoroughly should be a sufficient drying-out process—merely patting dry isn't enough!
Grooming, Grooming, Grooming
Grooming is a great way to bond with your cat, and it can also help you spot fleas and ticks. If you brush your cat regularly, it will become used to the process and not mind as much. Your vet can also recommend specific grooming tools that are safe for your pet.
Finally, remember that if there are fleas or ticks on one part of your cat’s body but not another. For example, if you find them on its head but not between its toes, then those pests may be hiding somewhere else on the animal’s body—or even in its bedding!
Vacuum All the Time!
Vacuum all the time. When you're home, vacuum your carpet and upholstery regularly. If you have a pet-specific vacuum that can be used on both hardwood floors and carpets, use it for each type of flooring in your home and change the attachments accordingly.
Use an enzyme cleaner to get rid of flea eggs and larvae in your carpeting. Most carpets contain at least some remnants of fleas left behind by previous infestations. These are called "flea eggs," which hatch into larvae when they come into contact with warm-blooded animals such as cats or dogs or people. A good quality enzymatic cleaner will help break down these egg cases so they cannot mature into adult fleas. This is especially effective when combined with vacuuming afterward!
If your pet does get fleas, take heart! Check out our infographic on
How to Get Rid of Fleas in 8 Steps.Subscribe to The Wet Nose Press
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