Will my cat get fleas?
Its not uncommon for your cat to get fleas, no matter what the time of year these pesky little things hang around. Coming into Spring brings a new wave of fleas as the warmer weather comes into play. Every cat will get fleas, your indoor cat and cats that venture outside. Fleas can come into the house by another host and also can stay dormant in your home for many months.
How to check for fleas
Regularly check your cat for fleas, you can do this my parting the coat and looking for flea dirt. These are tiny black dots in your cats coat, mostly around the base of the tail, along the back and another good spot is under the chin. If you are not sure if you cat is showing signs of fleas I would suggest you should get a flea comb. This is a comb with the teeth very close together. Comb through your cats coat and look for evidence of flea dirt on the comb, you may also find evidence of live fleas.
Flea comb
How to treat for fleas
Your cat will need to have a flea treatment once a month to prevent infestation. Prevention is better then dealing with a flea infestation . Fleas will also be in your home as they jump off your cat and into your home, so twice a year treat your home with a household spray for fleas such as Indorex. Make sure you vacuum close to skirting boards and under beds and sofas, as they hide way in remote places.
So what treatment should you use on your cat?
Firstly always ask a vet for advice to decide what products you can use on your cat. Use a product that would be recommended by your vet. If the product is very expensive from your vet, there could be a away to get in cheaper online. Research the product online and look for a reputable company who are licenced to sell these products, products such as Advantage can either be brought from the vet or online, but buying online will be much cheaper.
Do not buy products from supermarket shelves or from pet store shelves, these products will be cheap but will not be effective.
For young cats, kittens, pregnant cats and mother cats feeding kittens, please get advise from a vet before using any flea treatments.
a cat scratching is a sign of fleas
Flea allergies
Some cats will have an allergy to fleas, this will show itself by red bumpy patches of skin. Your cat will be allergic to the flea saliva and could develop flea bit dermatitis. This will become itchy and sore, and could ooze and become crusty. This will need need to be treated by a vet.
Keep a trace of your cats flea treatments
Keep a note of when your cat has had its flea treatment. Maybe keep a diary of when you cat was last treated, this way you can keep on top of the issue and prevent fleas from happening. Most treatments are monthly but there are always new products on the market. Speak to your vet about new products and how often they should be used. Never flea your cat again before the recommended time as you could cause an overdose of product. If you treat your cat and it still has fleas, then please consult your vet.
Never use a dog flea treatment on a cat as this can be toxic or even worse fatal.
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