Common Feline Diseases Carried By Fleas
As if the itching and stinging weren’t enough, fleas also transmit other conditions which can have a more deleterious effect on your cat’s health.
- Anemia: Unchecked infestations of fleas can actually cause anemia from blood loss this can sometimes be fatal, particularly in kittens. Pale gums are a red flag for anemia in kittens, and a sign that immediate veterinarian attention is needed.
- Tapeworms: Fleas also carry a parasite called tapeworm which are commonly found in cats that have been exposed to fleas.
- Haemobartonellosis : Fleas can also be vectors for a blood born parasite called Mycoplasma Haemofelis in cats. This bacterium can cause anemia, fever and severe illness. Haemobartonellosis is diagnosed by laboratory tests and treated with antibiotics, and in some severe cases, blood transfusions.
S To Take In How To Get Rid Of Fleas On Cats
Everyone wants to know how to get rid of fleas on cats. Once you have an infestation, you will get bitten up by the pests.
The first step in dealing with the problem is to identify if your cat has fleas.
When the springtime comes, so do fleas. Fleas are most active when the temperatures are favorable, and the humidity rises. Fleas feed on blood.
They jump onto passing animals and penetrate into their fur to get to their skin. This keeps them hidden while they feed off of the animal. Their bites can lead to itching and inflammation.
When your cat has a severe infestation, you will see the fleas jumping off of your cat’s body. When the infestation is less severe, you might notice that your cat is getting restless.
She may be scratching more and chewing on certain parts of her body. If she shakes her head often and scratches at her ears, that is an indication that she might have fleas.
If your cat is always licking at her coat, then that is also an indication that she has fleas. Sometimes, your cat may groom the fleas out of her coat before you inspect her.
To see the fleas on your cat, you may have to look fast. The fleas are flat-bodied insects that are dark brown or black in color. Fleas that have ingested a lot of blood are lighter in color.
You should turn your cat on her back to check areas where the fleas may be hiding. The armpits and the groin are places where fleas like to hide.
Here is a video that teaches us on how to get rid fleas on cats:
Finding The Right Treatment
With so many different flea treatments available on the market, finding the right one can be tricky. We have put together this list of some of the best and most effective flea treatments for dogs and cats to get you started, but discovering which works best for you and your pets may require some trial and error.
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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.
Flea Treatment For Kittens: All Your Questions Answered
If youve just welcomed a furry addition to your family, you probably have some questions about flea treatment for kittens. From What age should kittens have flea treatment? to Whats the best flea treatment for kittens?, our veterinary experts can give you the answers. Heres their advice on keeping your kitten happy, healthy and free of parasites.
At what age should kittens have flea treatment?
Young kittens can be very delicate, so most flea treatments can only be given to a kitten aged 8 weeks or more. However, some flea treatments are only suitable for kittens aged at least 12 weeks. As a new pet parent, youll probably be bringing your kitten home when its around 8 to 12 weeks old reputable breeders wont separate them from their mother before this so its important to check that the product youre using is suitable for your kitten.
As well as age, weight can also be a factor when it comes to flea treatments for kittens: many products are made for cats over a certain size. If your kitten is especially small, you might have to wait a little longer. Both FRONTLINE® Spot On and FRONTLINE Plus® are suitable flea treatments for kittens aged 8 weeks and over, as long as they weigh at least 1 kg.
Why do I need to use a flea treatment on my kitten?
Whats the best flea treatment for kittens?
How do I use a flea treatment for kittens?
What if my kittens too young for flea treatments?
I cant see any fleas should I still use a flea treatment on my kitten?
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The Best Otc Topical Flea Preventive
Available without a prescription, Frontline Plus kills adult fleas, flea eggs, flea larvae, ticks, and chewing lice.
Pros: Kills adult fleas, flea eggs, flea larvae, ticks, and chewing lice safe for use in kittens at least 8 weeks of age and in breeding, pregnant, and nursing cats fleas don’t have to bite for it to work
Cons: Not recommended for kittens younger than 8 weeks of age does not prevent any parasites other than fleas, ticks, and chewing lice
Parasites prevented: Adult fleas, flea eggs, flea larvae, ticks, chewing lice
Duration of effectiveness: 30 days
Safe for: Cats and kittens 8 weeks and older, weighing at least 1.5 pounds breeding, pregnant, and nursing cats
Prescription: No
We recommend Frontline Plus because it not only kills fleas and controls flea infestations, but it also kills ticks and chewing lice. Used and trusted by pet owners for more than 20 years, Frontline Plus protects for 30 days with one application. Fleas do not have to bite your cat for Frontline Plus to work they die on contact.
“In flea-infested environments, when they do studies looking at the efficacy of these products, sometimes it takes a few months of consistent, high-quality flea prevention to even see that population completely eradicate because there’s four different stages to the flea life cycle,” said Bourgeois.
Keep The Fleas From Coming Back
Dryden says that even though oral and spot-on medications may kill the fleas on your cat in a matter of hours, its important to continue using them for the duration of recommended time for complete eradication of the flea problem. And you should regularly re-apply the treatment if needed based on the products instructions.
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Ways To Getting Rid Of Fleas
There are many good solutions on the market for getting rid of fleas. Powders, sprays, and other solutions are there to help you eradicate them.
It is always better to use some natural solutions that efficiently get rid of fleas and that will not harm your cat. Avoid using strong chemicals and harsh materials on your cat, and make some homemade solutions that are proven to work.
A good idea is to consult your veterinarian for the best solutions against flea problems. The following are some at-home remedies that may help you in the elimination of fleas from your cat.
These were a few efficient ways of how to get rid of fleas on cats. Hopefully, you will find this information useful if you are having problems with fleas. Fleas are very unpleasant insects, but quite common in homes with pets.
The good thing is that they can be removed very efficiently by taking just a few steps. There are plenty of options and solutions for getting rid of fleas. Every pet shop sells something against fleas, so you may ask around and see what is available. Consult a veterinarian and find out which solution is best to use for your cat.
Fleas And Flea Control In Cats
24th July 2018
The most common flea found on cats and dogs is the cat flea . Occasionally, rabbit, hedgehog and other fleas may be found on cats but these are much less common.While many cats live with fleas and show minimal signs of infestation, control is advisable for several reasons including:
- The cat flea can carry the larval stage of the tapeworm Dipylidium caninum and cats become infected by eating fleas during grooming
- Fleas have the potential to transmit other infectious agents between cats
- Adult fleas feed on cat blood in young kittens, this can cause weakness, anaemia and death
- Fleas are important in the transmission of cat scratch disease between cats and to humans. This is an infection with the bacterium Bartonella hensellae and is spread when fleas feed on blood.
- Some dogs and cats develop an allergy to flea bites, which causes them to scratch excessively or develop skin disease
- Cat fleas can cause itchy bites on sensitive humans, typically around the ankles.
- Using modern treatments it is now possible to control cat fleas very effectively, but where the fleas are very common this may require considerable effort.
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Best Flea Treatments For Dogs And Cats
As pet owners you will know that unfortunately, fleas are an extremely common and annoying occurrence and it is important to treat your dogs and cats for worms and fleas on a regular basis. However, with 95% of flea and egg larvae living in your environment rather than on your pet, it is equally if not more important to treat your home too, otherwise the infestation will return time and time again.
So Tell Me About Getting Rid Of Fleas On My Cat
Start by Answering Some Important Questions
Yes, there are more than a few questions, BUT... theyll really help you find the best way for getting rid of fleas in your household.
Theres no one-size-fits-all answer, so youll be glad you took a few minutes to answer the questions below.
After that, youll have a better understanding of your true situation and will be clearer on what you need to do. Your beloved kitty is worth it!
If its really urgent, there are a couple things you can do right away to get started.
Theres more to it though, so be sure you get back here to see what types of treatments are available for getting rid of fleas on your furry friend!
Your answers make a big difference in getting rid of fleas!
Your lifestyle is important, among other things, but above all, knowing the age, size, and health of your precious one is critical in keeping them safe.
There are all sorts of options available and it can be quite confusing, so, lets get started
Do you understand the life cycle of fleas? Do you know you have to treat for more than just the ones you see?
There are flea eggs, larvae, pupae, and adultsgross!
They lay their eggs in carpets, bedding and all the places we love too.
If you dont get rid of all of these, new ones will hatch and well never get rid of themhorrors!
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How To Tell If Your Cat Has Fleas
The first thing to do is check for a strange behavior of your cat. If your cat scratches uncontrollably and is visibly upset, then chances are high that something bothers it. Good indicators that there are fleas on your cat is seeing your cat constantly chew some areas of its body. Ears scratching and strong shaking of their head also point to a flea infestation. Cats also start to lick their fur excessively when there is something in it.
After checking visible signs and noticing changes in behavior, the next step is taking a closer inspection of your cat. Check their skin and fur. Sometimes you may be able to see the fleas jumping very fast and high. They are small, round, and dark insects. Take your cat gently in your lap and make a good inspection of their groin and armpit area, where usually fleas hide. Also, look behind their ears and inspect for signs of blood, redness, or scratches.
Use a special flea comb to go through your cats fur. Such combs are designed to trap and pull fleas out from a cats hair. Go deep and close to the skin of your cat, but be careful and gentle. Put those annoying fleas you catch in soapy water to get rid of them.
There is a good chance your cat may have caught fleas if the environment is infested. So, this is another important thing to check. Closely inspect areas where your cat eats, sleeps, and urinates. Also, make sure you check areas close to the refrigerator, kitchen cabinets, and windows, as these are top places where fleas nest.
Heavily Pregnant Cat Has Fleas
FRONTLINE DOES NOT WORK ! she has been treated recently with it and the vet told me of course it works. have just realised the poor thing is not only about to drop but she got fleas as well. they seems to be round her teats. will she have dead ones on her. so upset for her. can she be treated whilst pregnant before her babies come. scared for her kittens. thanks
I’m no cat expert but a pregnant stray cat adopted us a few months ago. I took her to the vets and they put a spot on thing on her and that did the trick . She wasnt riddled but got rid of the few she had. Ive no idea what is was called but you may be best doing it before she has the kittens as its a pain de fleaing kittens before there old enough for the spot on stuff. The vet doesn’t have to put it on but he did it for me as I was nearly 40 weeks myself and didnt fancy being scratched. so you can buy it and do it yourself it was less then £10 iirc
thank you. went to the pet shop yesterday and they gave me some Acclaim to spray the house and some more Frontline for her. its fine to use when shes pregnant. they charged e £50 for the pleasure. had to do it though as dont have time to wait for the delivery from internet.
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The Best Oral Flea Control Product
Comfortis Chewable Tablets start killing fleas within 30 minutes and offer a full month of protection with one easy-to-give flavored pill.
Pros: Fast-acting treatment starts killing adult fleas within 30 minutes, safe for kittens 14 weeks or older, easy to give alone or in food
Cons: Does not kill flea eggs or larvae or prevent parasites other than fleas, not labeled for use in kittens younger than 14 weeks or breeding, pregnant, or nursing cats
Parasites prevented: Adult fleas
Duration of effectiveness: 30 days
Safe for: Cats and kittens 14 weeks and older, weighing at least 4.1 pounds
Not labeled for use: Breeding, pregnant, and nursing cats
Prescription: Yes
Our top choice for an oral flea control product for cats, Comfortis Chewable Tablets, is fast-acting and good for cats that can’t tolerate topical flea preventives. Its active ingredient, spinosad, starts to work within 30 minutes and kills 98% of adult fleas on cats within four hours.
Although topical flea control products are typically easier to use , there are some cases when an oral preventive is a better choice. For instance, some cats with sensitive skin can’t tolerate a spot-on treatment. “An oral flea preventive product is better if a cat has had focal hair loss related to the application of a topical product or if it has a severe flea-related allergy,” said Sawyer.
Use Apple Cider Vinegar
A bath or spray of apple cider vinegar has an overwhelmingly foul smell that scares away fleas and is one of the best flea treatments for cats. To relieve your cat from fleas, mix apple cider vinegar with water in the ratio of 2:1, shake well and add to a spray bottle. Applying the spray on cats or kittens will force the fleas to jump off the pets. You may also drench your pets coat with the solution every day for 3 days and see your pet relieved of flea infestation. Apart from apple cider vinegar, you may also use cider chips to keep the fleas away from your cat. Just add some chips on your cats bedding and around outside spaces and you will repel the fleas.
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Advantage Ii For Dogs And Cats
This topical treatment uses pesticides to kill and repel a variety of pests including fleas. It is known for being incredibly fast-acting as it kills all adult fleas within 12 hours of the first application. However, some animals find that the solution irritates their skin. It comes in a selection of formulas which are based on weight.
Flea Shampoos Are Unnecessary
“Nowadays, flea shampoos are rarely if ever needed because the topical and oral flea products are much more effective and safer,” Sawyer said. “For flea-infested animals, we typically give a fast-acting oral product such as nitenpyram and follow with a bath in Dawn dish detergent or another mild cat shampoo. You can use a flea comb to assist in removing dead fleas and flea dirt .”
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