Home Remedies for Cats With Fleas
These small, flat-bodied insects are no bigger than a pinhead, yet they have literally conquered the world. Fleas are found just about everywhere, they are tough to kill, and they can leap many times their body length.Fleas can live off the blood of just about any warm-blooded animal, but they prefer the higher body temperature of dogs and cats over humans. They reproduce quickly, and their eggs can survive in the environment for long periods of time -- time enough to hatch out and take over the skin of the next host that happens by.
In areas that have cold winters, outdoor fleas die off (although untreated indoor infestations can last year-round). In warm and humid regions like south Florida and Louisiana, however, "flea season" is a year-round event.
A cat with fleas may scratch a lot, but then again, she may not. Surefire signs of fleas are small, black comma-shaped droppings in the cat's coat and, of course, the presence of live fleas. Both may be noticeable when the cat is being combed or brushed -- another good reason for regular grooming. To check a cat for flea dirt, stand her on a white or light-colored surface and ruffle her fur vigorously. If you see black specks around her, moisten a cotton ball or tissue and smear the specks. A streak of blood confirms flea dirt.
What to Do
Make no mistake about it, when your cat has fleas, you are going to war against an enemy that is not about to surrender. You have to wipe it out or put it into retreat down to the last man, woman, and child. There's no such thing as peaceful coexistence.
 ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. A bath will usually not be enough to rid your cat of fleas. |
Kill them in your home. If your cat has fleas, your house has fleas. Not a pleasant thought, but true. If you just bathe, dip, or spray the cat, any fleas not killed will immediately abandon ship (remember their astounding jumping ability) and wait until the coast is clear to return to your cat. Or, they may switch over to a human host for a while until the pesticide on your cat is gone. Actually, treating the cat for fleas is the easy part (although it may not seem like it at the time). Treating your home is more complicated.
"Evict" fleas from your home by thoroughly vacuuming the entire house, including floors, carpets, and upholstery. Immediately dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag. In hot water, wash the bedding and linen from anywhere the cat sleeps. Clean up the yard and prevent wildlife from reinfecting it by trimming brush and removing food sources such as pet food bowls, garbage cans, and bird feeders.
The next step is to "bomb" the annoying insects. Cover or securely put away all dishes, eating utensils, baby or pet toys, and other items. Remove all pets and people from the home, and set off the appropriate number of insecticide foggers for the size and number of rooms of your house. Use veterinary-strength foggers, not over-the-counter house or yard products. A good way to coordinate tactics is to take the infested animals for their flea treatment while the foggers are doing their work. You'll probably have to stay out of the house for a few hours after the foggers have been set off. In some cases, you should seek the services of a professional pest control operator.
Even if you've been successful in killing every flea on your pets and in your home, there can still be flea eggs left behind. You'll probably have to repeat the treatments again to catch these stragglers as they hatch out. Newer flea products contain growth regulators that prevent eggs and young fleas from maturing, which can make things easier; however, some people may be allergic to these chemicals.
Keep them out. You may have defeated the enemy on the home front, but you've only won the battle -- the war goes on. Cats who go outdoors are almost guaranteed to pick up fleas again. Fleas can also be brought back inside to indoor cats by the family dog. Even without a dog to serve as the "flea train," though, the more the door and unscreened windows are open during flea season, the more likely one or more of those hardy little critters are to hop into your home. Regular preventative flea treatment in your home will help prevent a sneak attack.
When to Call the Vet
As soon as you see live fleas or flea dirt on your cat, call your vet. The longer you wait, the more fleas you'll have to fight. Your vet can give you the shampoos, foams, dips, sprays, topical treatments, oral medications, and foggers you'll need for your war on fleas, or you can have the vet or groomer do the treatment on the animals.
DANGER LEVEL: Fleas are mostly a nuisance and only slightly dangerous. They can carry tapeworms, which your cat can only get by swallowing a flea. A cat who has a particularly bad case of fleas can lose so much blood she becomes anemic. Anemia is moderately to very dangerous for kittens and weakened cats.
We will conclude our look at microscopic pests that can plague your cat in the next section with thorough discussion of intestinal worms.
