How Much Does It Cost To Get Carpet Flea Treatment Safe For Cats
The cost of carpet flea treatment safe for cats is one of the most important aspects to consider before purchasing. The price can range widely depending on factors such as the kind and quality of the material used in its construction and the dimensions and longevity of the item. It is possible that the price will be higher if you search for something that will last for a very long time as opposed to something that will only last for a few months or years.
How To Check A Cat For Fleas
Signs of fleas in cats include scratching, skin irritation, and the presence of dark red or black specks on your cat’s skin, fur, bedding, or furniture. These specks, about the size of grains of black pepper, are called “flea dirt” and are flea feces . Back when I worked in the veterinary hospital, I learned a handy trick to help find out if those little specks are regular dirt or flea dirt. Scoop some onto a damp paper towel. If the paper towel turns red, it’s flea dirt.
To check your cat for fleas or flea dirt, run a flea comb through your cat’s coat or part the hair with your fingers to examine the skin. If you find any live or dead fleas or flea dirt, your cat has a flea infestation.
Best Flea Treatment For Outdoor Cats: How To Protect Your Feline Friends
If you have an outdoor cat, you probably know what it’s like to deal with fleas. Outdoor cats have greater exposure to those pesky parasites. So, what’s the best flea treatment for outdoor cats?
First, it pays to know what you’re up against. Fleas are irritating and can make your cat feel itchy and uncomfortable. Some animals can develop an allergy to flea bites, leading them to scratch excessively or even develop a skin disease. If you find signs of fleas on your outdoor cat, it’s time to take action.
Recommended Reading: Cosequin Joint Health Supplement For Cats
Some Flea Products Are Dangerous To Cats
Products labeled for use in dogs only should never be used on a cat. Some ingredients that are well-tolerated by dogs can be toxic to cats. “Anything with a permethrin, also known as pyrethrin, should never be used on a cat,” Sawyer said. ” are very sensitive to pyrethrins and can have significant neurologic side effects, even death. Never use a product labeled for a dog on a cat as it may have pyrethrins in it even if not exclusively mentioned on the label.”
What To Consider When Choosing A Flea Treatment
Choosing the right flea treatment for your furry friend is just like making any significant decision as a pet parent. If you think your cat has an infestation, speak to your vet about their recommendations. Some vets can offer insights into the kind of treatments that are dangerous for cats. For instance, you should never use a product for dogs on your feline friend.
Dog products for killing fleas often cause a specific ingredient called Permethrin, which is toxic to cats. If you have dogs and cats, you’ll need to avoid applying anything with this ingredient to your pup as it will put your cat at risk.
Depending on where you are in the World, there are a number of region-specific ticks and fleas that you might need to fight off, as well as internal parasites like heartworms or roundworms.
It’s also worth remembering that you’ll need to treat your house when giving your kitty a flea treatment too. It’s important to clean your home carefully to get rid of any residual eggs or fleas that might re-infest your furry pal. Here are a few additional points to consider:
Taking your cat to a vet when they have fleas also means that you can get a better insight into how significant the problem is. Some particularly problematic infestations may not be as susceptible to things like flea collars so could potentially need a prescription treatment.
Don’t Miss: Best Urinary Dry Cat Food
How Do You Buy The Best Flea Treatment For Kittens
Do you get stressed out thinking about shopping for a great Flea Treatment For Kittens? Do doubts keep creeping into your mind?
We understand, because weve already gone through the whole process of researching Flea Treatment For Kittens, which is why we have assembled a comprehensive list of the greatest Flea Treatment For Kittens available in the current market. Weve also come up with a list of questions that you probably have yourself.
John Harvards has done the best we can with our thoughts and recommendations, but its still crucial that you do thorough research on your own for Flea Treatment For Kittens that you consider buying. Your questions might include the following:
- Is it worth buying an Flea Treatment For Kittens?
- What benefits are there with buying an Flea Treatment For Kittens?
- What factors deserve consideration when shopping for an effective Flea Treatment For Kittens?
- Why is it crucial to invest in any Flea Treatment For Kittens, much less the best one?
- Which Flea Treatment For Kittens are good in the current market?
- Where can you find information like this about Flea Treatment For Kittens?
Were convinced that you likely have far more questions than just these regarding Flea Treatment For Kittens, and the only real way to satisfy your need for knowledge is to get information from as many reputable online sources as you possibly can.
This technology we use to assemble our list depends on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the following:
What About Flea Sprays
Flea sprays are cheaper than their topical or oral counterparts. But many products need weekly applications, so in the long run they arent as cost-effective or convenient as a monthly topical or chew. Since these treatments kill on contact, you also generally need to spray down your entire pet, which takes a lot more work than a couple of drops on the scruff of the neck.
Some treatments, like Advantage Treatment Spray for Dogs, direct owners to rub the spray around the pets eyes, nose, and mouth, and they can cause adverse reactions if ingested. Others, like Vets Best Flea & Tick Home Spray for Cats, contain essential oils that are toxic to cats. Some sprays also contain alcoholwhich sometimes isnt disclosedwarned the ASPCAs Wismer. If a pet is soaked with one of these products, they can actually become intoxicated, and this requires immediate veterinary care, she said.
Don’t Miss: Costco Wet Cat Food Price
When To Use Otc Flea Treatment For Cats
When to use flea treatment for cats:
- When you see fleas on your cat. If you see one or two fleas, its not a big deal, your cat can probably handle that on its own and itll be gone within a few days. However, if you think your pet might have an infestation , then its time for an OTC medication like Frontline Plus or Advantage II.
- When your cat is a kitten. Kittens are especially vulnerable to being bitten by adult fleas because they dont yet have fur around their necks that would protect them from bites. Its also important not to let kittens play outdoors unattended until theyre older and able to avoid getting into trouble with other animals who could potentially bite them and spread their parasites around your house.
How Can I Kill Fleas On My Cat
Several factors must be considered before deciding which type of flea treatment for cats will work best in a given situation, including effectiveness, safety, cost, potential side effects, and formulation.
The most effective flea control products will contain an adulticide or an insect growth regulator that sterilizes flea eggs and prevents the immature fleas from growing up and reproducing.
Don’t Miss: How To Get A Cat To Come Home
How To Spot Fleas
Usually, the first sign of a fleaor other pestinfestation is your pet frequently and aggressively scratching. Also, keep your eyes open for flea dirt, small black flecks that youll see on the floor and furniture . If youre worried that your dog or cat might have fleas, check their fur using a flea comb, paying attention to the base of the neck near the shoulder blades, as well as the tail and tummy. Remove as many as you can before giving your pet a bath and treating them with flea and tick medication.
Fleas rise to the top of your pets fur when they die, so dont worry if you see their remains after applying treatment. But if you continue to see living fleas in your home, its possible that flea eggs existed before you started using flea medication. Some owners may also skip treatments, thinking their pet was in the clear. But if the fleas havent been completely eradicated, they can multiply again. So be sure to keep up your treatments for as long as your vet recommends.
People think because they dont see fleas, that their cats and dogs dont have fleas, Price said. Nothing could be further from the truth. When you discover fleas on your pet, you discover only 5% of the infestation, echoed Welser of Mars Veterinary Health. The other 95% is hiding throughout your home in the form of eggs, larvae, and pupas.
-
The best way to prevent a flea infestation is to give your pet a flea preventative. But if the pests have already arrived, heres how to get rid of them.
Why Do I Need To Use A Flea Treatment On Kittens
We all know that fleas are pesky parasites that are best avoided. They cause itching and discomfort, besides potentially passing on other infections to our furry friends. But when kittens contract fleas its even worse!
People often ask Can fleas kill a kitten? and if left untreated the answer is sadly yes!
Fleas are extremely dangerous for young cats and kittens. Because they are still learning to groom themselves, they dont really remove any of the fleas on their own. This means flea infections in kittens usually get far more out of control than they do in adult cats who have healthy self-grooming habits. This leads to more bites and more itching.
Fleas dont just bite cats for the sake of it though they bite them to feed on their blood. This is what the fleas feed off to survive. But kittens are small and dont have much blood in their systems. As such, a severe flea infection can cause kittens to lose too much blood and they can develop anemia.
Anemia is a condition where blood oxygen levels are too low. Oxygen is usually carried by red blood cells, but because the fleas are drinking their blood there arent enough of these red blood cells present. This means your kittens muscles, brain, and all areas of their body arent necessarily getting the oxygen they need to survive and can become life-threatening without a blood transfusion.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
You May Like: Top Rated Senior Cat Food
Get 30% Off And Free Shipping On Cat Food
However, there’s a lot of conflict in the market about which of these choices are the easiest to use, and which work best. You can also find products that work in a preventative manner, but it’s essential to speak to your vet about which options are safest for your cat.
OWNERS TOP TIP: If you suspect a flea invasion ensure that you vacuum your carpets, furniture, and all the gaps and spaces in the floor. Suck up any eggs before they can hatch.
You’ll also get rid of live fleas this way. Just dont forget to throw away the vacuums bag! That’s important.
Otc Topical Flea Prevention
Cheristin has been specifically formulated to kill fleas on cats using the active ingredient spinetoram. It is safe for kittens over the age of 8 weeks and as small as 1.8 pounds. Cheristin provides protection from fleas for a full month.
Advantage II kills fleas, flea eggs and flea larvae with the active ingredients imidacloprid and pyripoxyfen and can be used in cats over 8 weeks of age. Monthly formulations are available for kittens and cats weighing between 2 and 5 pounds, between 5 and 9 pounds, and over 9 pounds.
You May Like: Can Cats Have Peanut Allergies
The Best Flea Treatment For Cats Faqs
What causes flea infestations?
Fleas are found mainly in the bush and can easily hop on your pets fur from the grass or another infested pet.
How can you tell if your cat has fleas?
If flea dirt, which stains white paper red upon moisturization can be spotted as tiny black grains underneath your cats fur. Then your cat is already flea-infested.
Are cat fleas dangerous to humans?
Cat fleas do not pose a significant danger to humans. However, they can leave red itchy spot-bites on your skin.
Flea Treatments For Your House
With your cat taken care of, Reay says it is really essential to treat the house as well. She recommends using a vacuum first to get the eggs to hatch and then use a spray.
The PDSA has its own household flea spray , which kills both existing fleas and their eggs, ensuring the flea life cycle is properly broken. The spray claims to prevent the development and growth of flea eggs and larvae in the home for up to six months and can also be used to target other pests such as cockroaches and silverfish.
You can also pick up this Virbac indorex defence household flea spray , which kills adult fleas and house dust mites for up to two months after application. When using, hold the can at arms length and direct the spray towards the area you want to treat.
Whichever product you choose, Reay adds that its vital to follow the directions on the can carefully and to always air the room before you allow your pet back in. This is because household flea treatments can be particularly toxic to cats, so make sure they dont sneak back into the treated area before its dried.
Recommended Reading: Why Does My Cat Smell My Mouth
Natural Flea Treatments And Home Remedies Do Any Of Them Work
There are numerous natural treatments that can deter fleas, but very few can eliminate a flea infestation.
David J. Shuman, DVM agrees with the majority of veterinarians, saying that Ive tried -or have had clients try- eucalyptus oil, peppermint soap, garlic powders, B12, brewers yeast, essential oils, and a long list of other ingredients. This is a well worn path that often leads to futility. What I found is that many cats hate the taste of many of these items and some even had reactionsIve seen as many reactions to these organic pesticides as I have towards the manufactured ones and I at least know the manufactured ones work.
The Best Flea Control For Young Kittens
Capstar Flea Control Tablets are safe for kittens as young as 4 weeks old and start killing fleas within 30 minutes.
Pros: Safe for kittens 4 weeks of age or older, safe for pregnant and nursing cats, fast-acting treatment, easy to give alone or in food, can be used with other flea control products, available without a prescription
Cons: Does not offer long-term protection, does not kill flea eggs or larvae, does not prevent any parasites other than fleas
Parasites prevented: Adult fleas
Duration of effectiveness: 24 hours
Safe for: Cats and kittens 4 weeks and older, weighing at least 2 pounds pregnant and nursing cats
Prescription: No
Available without a prescription, Capstar is the only flea control product safe for kittens as young as 4 weeks and weighing at least 2 pounds. With other flea control products, whether topical or oral, kittens must be at least 8 weeks old, and sometimes older.
Fleas should be eliminated as quickly as possible for heavily infested cats, especially young kittens. The active ingredient in Capstar, nitenpyram, works within 30 minutes and kills greater than 90% of adult fleas in as little as six hours.
Capstar only protects against fleas for 24 hours, but it is safe to give daily if necessary. Since giving a cat a pill every day can be inconvenient, pet owners should follow up with a long-term flea control product once the kitten is old enough.
Read Also: Best Way To Clean Cat Pee Off Carpet
Best Topical: Revolution Plus Topical Solutions For Cats
Revolution plus is just the right pick for kittens who are eight weeks old or older and for the adult cats inclusive. Revolution plus is also easy to use and dries quickly, but youll need a prescription from a veterinarian. Why? It contains 30 mg Selamectin and 5mg Sarolaner, which are active ingredients and can be toxic to your cats if in excess, especially pregnant or nursing cats.
Revolution plus comes in three different sizes and colors as well. Each color is specific for a particular weight range.
Please ensure you see your veterinarian before buying any of these for your cat.
Revolution plus does not only eliminate fleas from your cats. It also takes care of other parasites like roundworms, hookworms, ticks, and heartworms present on your cat. Always contact your veterinarian for a dose prescription.
Why Does My Cat Still Have Fleas After Treating Her And The Environment
The apparent failure of treatment almost always results from improper application of the preventive, inadequate treatment of the home, or exposure to other infested pets or environments. There is no evidence of fleas developing resistance to insecticides, especially once-a-month topical flea preventives that contain a sterilizing agent or IGR in addition to the adulticide. Consider treating storage sheds, cars, and any outdoor sleeping spots. Bear in mind that your cat may be going into other people’s houses if allowed to roam outdoors. Most of these problems can be overcome by using an effective flea preventive product on your cat in addition to treating your home.
Read Also: Chewy Friskies Pate Cat Food