Flea Problems

   Occasionally some of us will have the unfortunate luck or circumstance of having a cat with a flea problem. Thankfully, there are a variety of options that are very successful at treating them. Fleas can be a very persistent pest and may have to be treated on multiple levels in order to eliminate them.

   First, you need to evaluate your cat's flea problem. If it is severe your cat may need to go to the vet, where she can receive more extensive treatment than the average owner can provide. Examine your cat's body, checking to see how many fleas are on her skin and to see if she has been chewing any sections of her fur. After you get a sense of the scope of the flea problem, it's time to go to your nearest pet supply store for flea treatment.

 There are a few ways you can treat your cat for fleas. One, is by giving your cat a bath with flea shampoo or regular cat shampoo and then using a flea comb to remove any remaining fleas. This is an effective initial treatment to kill the fleas on your pet, but it is not very effective in dealing with the problem long term. The worst part of having a flea ridden cat is that the fleas will take residence in your home. Only 5 to 10 percent of the fleas in your home live on your cat, while the rest are living in your carpet, fabrics, and yes, even on you! Fleas can carry a variety of parasites and diseases, such as tapeworms and the Bubonic Plague. Cats can also chew their fur excessively and rip it out, leading to infections which can create further medical complications.

   If you want to avoid fleas and their nasty friends, you can treat your home by washing all sheets, towels, and curtains. This should also include vacuuming carpets and floors. You can put down carpet flea sprays or powders, and if you are experiencing an extreme infestation, a flea bomb. I do not recommend using flea bombs because you will likely have to spend the night elsewhere for a day or two. They are horrible smelling and also toxic, so only use them in extreme cases. I personally have used powder when I rescued my flea covered kitten, and it worked very well to get rid of them.  There are also flea sprays and flea collars that you can put on your cat. I have found that these last two methods are ineffective, foul smelling, and possibly stressful for the cat.

   The most important tool in eliminating a flea problem is a flea treatment that goes on your cat's neck like Advantage or Frontline. This is the single best way to kill fleas and keep them off. Usually as long as you use this monthly, fleas will never be a problem for your cat. When you use them initially you can apply them once a week until the fleas are gone from your pet, and then taper down to once a month doses. I usually give my cats a treat while I put on their Advantage and it helps to keep the cats distracted so it doesn't startle them when I apply the medicine to their neck. Make sure when applying flea treatments like these that you put them in an area on the back of the neck where they aren't likely to lick. Best of luck handling your flea problems and having a happy, healthy cat!