Effective Flea Control For Your Cat

Flea control is essential for your cat since fleas are the reason behind more than 90% of skin allergies. Cat allergy is due to a protein component in the saliva of the flea. When your cat comes in contact with flea saliva, it develops an allergy. This allergy results in hair loss and secondary bacterial infections in the cat's skin.

How To Identify

If you want to have effective flea control for your cat, you should look into the signs of flea attack. Some of the signs are itching in neck, head and ears. You will also notice flea dirt. You will also find reduction of hair in head and neck areas as well.

How To Do

If you are sure that your cat has got a flea attack, all your pets and your house would need treatment. First, you should remove flea eggs by vacuum your carpets and throwing the used vacuum bags away. You should use an insect growth regulator for your carpet. These regulators prevent the larvae of the flea from growing into adults. These regulators last around eighteen months. You can also sprinkle polyborate powder on the carpet. This lasts for one year. You would have to wash your cat's bedding with soapy hot water. You should wash all your pets in your house with a flea shampoo that contains d-limolene or pyrethrins as an active ingredient.

The best flea control option for your cats would be natural products, which contain nematodes. Nematodes are live microscopic worms that eat away most of the pupal and larval form of fleas. This application lasts for six to twelve months.

The toxic reaction from flea control products containing insecticides like Organophosphates and Carbamates may affect your cat. You should read the labels of the products before using them and make sure that the product is specifically meant for your cat.

It is better to get the prescription from a veterinary doctor for effective flea control for your cat. A vet would administer a tablet a month for your cat. There are products in liquid form that can be applied to the skin of your cat between the shoulder blades once in a month. However, despite meeting your vet you should think about prevention. You should start the preventive treatment in spring when the temperature is 65F-70F.

The Last Word

Fleas normally live in the environment, not on your pet. They just suck the blood from your cats for survival and then get off their body to lay eggs. Even if one flea is present, that means the presence of thousands of fleas in nearby areas. That is why you should think about prevention seriously. While fleas bite the lower legs and ankles in human beings, they bite the head and neck of cats. It is better to get the opinion of a vet once you suspect that your cat is suffering from a flea attack.