Assuring All Dogs And Cats In The House Are On Flea Prevention
If you have multiple dogs or cats in your home, it is important that they are all on prevention. If you have noted fleas on one cat or dog in your home, it is likely that all of the cats and dogs in your home have fleas. In order to truly get rid of fleas, each cat and dog needs to be on a reliable vet recommended flea prevention consistently and for consecutive months. Assuming that just one of your pets has it, and the other do not because you do not see them will lead to the non treated cats and dogs continuously getting bit by fleas. Due to lifecycle and longevity of fleas, you will never be able to get rid of your flea problem in your home if you leave one of your cats and dogs unprotected or decide to just treat them for one or two months.
Do Indoor Cats Need Flea Treatment
Many owners of indoor cats believe that their pets do not need flea treatment. However, veterinarians advise us to apply flea control on indoor cats, even though they never go out. According to them, cats can get fleas from other pets, people who visit us, or from us. We may bring in fleas on our clothes or shoes from the outside world. They do not suggest the same flea control as in outdoor cats, but some measures should be provided. Some of them believe that soap and water may solve the problem. In addition to this, less invasive treatment than topical flea control, they recommend grooming a cat with a special flea comb. These two methods might be enough to remove fleas and their eggs from a cat. However, indoor cats who live with dogs, which regularly go outside, need a flea treatment. In a case of flea infestation, feline experts recommend treating all carpets and furniture against flea. It is because fleas spread rapidly and may infest the whole area where the cats spend their time. To answer the question do indoor cats need flea treatment the article Is It Necessary to Deworm an Indoor Cat? gives us the following explanation.
What Will Repel Fleas Naturally
Botanical, or plant-based, repellents are one of the best non-toxic ways to ward off fleas.
Cedar chips or cedar shavings are a cat-safe flea repellent. Theyre a natural insecticide and they have a sweet fragrance thats excellent at ridding the air of bad odors. Cedar chips are even used in hypoallergenic cat litter as an alternative to clay-based litters.
Lemon-infused water and vinegar solutions are also powerful flea repellents.
To make the lemony repellent simply boil a pint of water and a thinly sliced lemon to the water. Let it cool, then add it to a spray bottle that you can use to spritz around areas you want to keep fleas away from. This is safe for cats because its fresh lemon and diluted. Citrus essential oils on the other hand are toxic to cats.
To make the cat-safe vinegar solution mix three parts water with one part apple cider vinegar or white vinegar. Add the vinegar-water solution to a spray bottle and spritz around areas as needed. A bonus with using apple cider vinegar is that it also has natural antibacterial properties!
Remember to keep in mind that many all-natural repellents can have ingredients that can be harmful to your cat, like essential oils. When you look into purchasing ready-made or DIYing natural, plant-based flea repellants, avoid anything with essential oils. Many, like eucalyptus, lavender, and tea tree oil are deadly to cats.
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Other Places Cats Visit
Cats can pick up fleas at catteries, shelters/rescues, a vets office, a groomers, a boarding facilityany place where dogs, cats, and other animals congregate.
What you can do:
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It is extremely important that all cats are on veterinarian-approved and prescribed flea and tick prevention year-round.
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If your cat has a medical history, discuss with your veterinarian which prevention would be best for their specific needs. Reading all labels on flea prevention is very important to make sure you use the product correctly.
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Never use prevention formulated for a dog on your cat, and never use a prevention on your cat that is not the correct dose for their body weight. If you are unsure of your cats weight, the vets office can do a weigh-in.
How Do Fleas Reach Your Indoor Cat
Almost any living creature or inanimate object can bring a flea into your home. Other pets such as dogs are obvious culprits, but fleas can also jump onto your clothes, shoes and bags and be inadvertently carried indoors that way.
If youre unlucky enough to get a rodent infestation, this may also cause a flea problem .
Once the fleas are inside your home, they lose no time seeking a host to live on and feed from. They might then live on your cat for a couple of weeks or even up to several months.
Fleas And The Indoor Cat What You Need to Know
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When In Doubt Ask Your Vet
The right treatment depends on your location, your activities, and your pets medical history. Pet owners who hike with their dogs have different needs than those who have house cats. Avoid just grabbing any box off the shelfinstead talk with your vet, who will be aware of recent pest outbreaks in the area, product recalls, and your pets medical history. All pesticides have risks, from skin irritation to seizures. We recommend only FDA-approved or EPA-registered treatments that both kill and protect against pests. All are regulated to ensure safety and efficacy, said Dr. Jennifer Welser of . Treatments that both destroy and defend against pests ensure that your pet is protected 24/7.
If your pet has a minor reaction to the flea and tick product, such as application site discomfort, dont freak out. I do see topical site reactions and its not common, but some animals just have more sensitive skin than others, said Dr. Tierra Price, whos a shelter veterinarian and the founder of the BlackDVM Network. She added that its best to consult your vet before switching to a different flea and tick treatment if youre worried about side effects.
Our experts said pet owners shouldnt dismiss these products entirely. Its possible there were multiple factors that could contribute to problems, noted Jennifer Gervais, a pesticide specialist with the National Pesticide Information Center, an EPA partner. We just dont know.
Cat Can Get Fleas From Windows And Doors
Does your cat like to sit by the window? Ours practically live on the window sill. How about by a screen door?
Fleas are one of the strongest jumpers on the planet and can invade your home simply by crawling through the cracks in your screen.
This is especially true in the warm summer months when youre more likely to leave the doors and screens open.
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Does Your Indoor Cat Need Flea Or Tick Treatments
Although your feline friend may not venture outside, she isn’t immune to the perils of fleas and ticks. These pesky bugs are highly resourceful, often making their way into a house by hitching a ride on a person, a dog, or even a rodent beneath your floor or in a ceiling void, says Marc Potzler, board-certified entomologist and technical-services manager for national pest company Rentokil. What’s worse, fleas can even enter your home of their own accord, without a host: They can jump up to seven inches high, allowing them to hop up steps and pass through an open door. And once a flea or tick has successfully trespassed, it can lay eggs when the larvae develop, newly hatched bugs will seek the first available host, whether a dog or a cat.
As a result, it’s smart to treat any catincluding an indoor onewith a flea and tick preventive, says Annie Harvilicz, chief medical officer at Animal Wellness Centers, in Los Angeles. She typically uses Bravecto or Vectra on the pets in her practice, but the best option for your cat will depend on where you live, and the types of fleas and ticks that are most prevalent in your region.
Here, Potzler shares tips for determining if you may have a flea or tick problem in your home, as well as how to prevent one in the first place.
How We Picked And Tested
To find the best flea and tick treatments, we spoke with six pet and pesticide experts about medications, side effects, active ingredients, and regulatory concerns. Our two veterinarians shared their personal product recommendations and shopping advice, which guided us in this review. They agreed that flea and tick treatments should both kill and protect against these bugs and work for at least 30 days. They also shared the favorite treatments they recommend to their own clients. We cross-referenced their advice with dozens of treatments sold across retailers like 1-800-PetMeds, Amazon, Chewy, Petco, and PetSmart, among others.
We categorized our search by orals/chews, topicals, collars, sprays, and shampoos. We dismissed sprays and shampoos because they offer protection for only days or a week at a time, and pet owners are more likely to misuse them compared with other products. That left us with eight brands of chews, topicals, and collars for cats or dogs. We selected the four brands that were highly recommended by our experts, that kill and protect against a wide range of pests, and that are sold across retailers at a variety of budgets.
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What Should I Do If My Cat Gets Fleas
If there are fleas on your cat, swift action is best. Contact your veterinarian for treatment options. Use a flea comb to remove as many fleas as possible, and vacuum frequently to remove the fleas and their eggs from your carpets and floors. Make sure to take the vacuum canister or dust bag outside immediately.
How Do You Deflea A Cat
Follow these six steps to get rid of cat fleas and prevent them from moving back in.
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How To Control Fleas Around Your Home And Yard
Just looking at all the ways your indoor cat can get fleas above can almost make you just throw your hands up in the air. I mean, where CANT you get fleas from?
Me, I like to just assume we are in an ongoing war with these little pests.
But using a really good flea preventative medication and also doing a few things around our home works really well at keeping them from partying on us.
Cats Can Get Fleas From Your Other Pets
This is the most obvious. If you are a multi-pet household, then the culprit bringing the fleas to your indoor cat is easily identifiable.
Even though your indoor cat may not venture outside themselves, they will certainly get an infestation from his doggy friend Fido that does.
Did you know a single flea can live up to 100 days and ten adult female fleas can produce up to 15,000 flea eggs in just 30 days?
This is why its important to take flea and tick prevention measure for ALL animals in your home, not just the ones that go outside.
Anyone who has had a flea infestation knows it takes determination, vigilance, the right products, and a little luck to win the fight against fleas.
Fun Fact: Fleas and ticks can be present year-round, yes, even in colder climates.
They can lay dormant for several months before hatching, so its recommended that you treat your pet each and every month throughout the entire year.
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Do I Need To Worm My Indoor Cat
09 May 2022
Unsure whether you need to worm your indoor cat? Vet Andrea Harvey explains the risks.
Should I worm Koko? She’s an indoor cat, except for accompanied daily walks on a cat harness. She doesn’t eat birds or rodents, or come into contact with faeces from other animals. In addition, she has a regular flea treatment.
According to what I’ve researched, the eating of a carrier flea while a cat is washing itself will convey worm eggs to the cat. Despite protection, fleas can be briefly active on a cat. So, given the short presence of a flea as described, would my cat be at risk of ingesting some?
Vet Andrea Harvey advises: It sounds as though your cat is at extremely low risk of ingesting any worms, and she may not require worming at all. However, although the risk is low, it is impossible to say that there is absolutely no chance of her picking up worms because, as you suggest, they can pick them up just from the odd flea or from something picked up outside that you may not be aware of. As worming is a safe and effective treatment, to be on the safe side, I would still recommend worming routinely. However, as she doesn’t hunt and has limited outdoor access, worming every six months, rather than every three months, is likely to be adequate.
What Indoor Cats Need
When deciding on indoor cat vaccinations and parasite protection, youll need to take lifestyle into consideration. Indoor cats can be exposed to viruses on our clothing and other animal visitors or when traveling, boarding, or going to the groomers.
Besides the kitten vaccination series, the American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends that all adult indoor cats be vaccinated against feline distemper , rabies, and feline leukemia . All cats regardless of indoor/outdoor status should be on a year-round flea, tick, and heartworm prevention protocol.
Please contact the team at Mobile Vet M.D. for more information. Your veterinarian can help you determine the right vaccines and parasite protection plan for your indoor cat.
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What Is The Best Flea Control Product For Cats
Wondering how to get rid of fleas on your indoor cats?
Revolution PLUS is the best flea control product for cats that I have used, and it was recommended by our vet.
She and I both really love Revolution PLUS because it easily treats the current flea problem, helps prevent future flea infestations but also protects cats and kittens from all sorts of parasites, both inside and out.
*and I have no affiliation with this product or brand. I am sharing my favorite cat flea control product with you based on personal, unbiased experience. Even though my cats have always been indoors, fleas have been an off and on issue and Revolution PLUS has been the best flea control product for cats I have ever used - hands down.
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.
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How Often Do Cats Need Flea Prevention
The question, How often do cats need shots? arose out of the context of flea prevention. Do all cats require flea preventatives, or are they more important for outdoor cats? Many people believe that fleas are contagious and are transmitted from pet to pet. Although a flea-infested cat may spread the infestation to any cat with whom he comes into contact, remember that fleas, although thoroughly detestable, have a remarkable capacity for spreading and surviving. Fleas can roam freely and can make their way into houses under their own steam. Therefore, indoor-only cats are at risk of flea infestation even if they do not come into contact with any other animals.
This does not necessarily mean that every cat requires a monthly flea preventative. Cats with no skin problems and no visible flea infestation can often get by with only occasional applications of flea preventatives. So, in short, flea prevention can be considered optional for all cats, but especially for indoor cats.
Be aware, however, that fleas are insidious, and it is not uncommon for cat owners to be unaware of significant infestations on their pets. Modern flea preventatives generally are safe, and fleas can cause all sorts of health problems. Therefore, unless you really know how to monitor for fleas, its better to err on the side of using flea preventatives rather than risking an infestation.
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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.
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