Before you adopt your first cat or take in that stray that you have been
feeding, consider all of the flea treatment options for this cat. Are you
willing to be proactive and aggressive in your stance against these pesky fleas?
Cat ownership consists not only of wonderful companionship but also all of the
care of the cat as well. That means regular grooming, veterinarian visits, cat
food and toy purchases and of course, flea treatment. As long as you know that
fleas will never truly go away, you should be ready to tackle owning a cat and
all that entails.
Flea treatment options for your cat extend to your immediate environment as
well. The yard, cars, inside your home
wherever your cat goes, fleas are
there. So putting a flea collar on your cat is just the tip of the iceberg!
Lets talk first about your cat itself. What measures can you take in regards to
eliminating or at least greatly reducing those fleas on them? Flea shampoos are
one line of defense. Just watch those hopping critters abandon ship when you
are bathing your cat. You will literally see these fleas jumping off your cat
and watch them float to their death in the soapy water. Those flea shampoos are
effective for a day or two and will get rid of a lot of mature fleas, but you
still have to think about the flea eggs that might still be lingering in your
cats fur.
Flea dips are another option, but should be reserved for severe flea problems.
Dips leave a lingering chemical accumulation on the fur. And since cats love to
groom themselves by licking, prolonged ingestion of this chemical could be
harmful for the cat. With flea powders and sprays that are applied directly on
the cat, these treatment options usually work only on the mature, adult fleas,
leaving the flea eggs behind waiting to hatch. Besides, the powders and sprays
last for only up to two or three days at the most. One possible reason to use
these methods is if you are traveling. These treatments are not invasive and can
easily be bought no matter where you go.
Spot treatments for fleas are very popular with cat owners. These can last for
up to a month, longer if the weather is cold. All of the spot treatments take
care of adult fleas. Some of these flea treatments also contain ingredients that
can inhibit the flea eggs from hatching, stopping reproduction of these
irritating creatures in its tracks. For the most part, these spot treatments
require a prescription from your veterinarian, so ask them about the best course
of action. Spot flea treatments are easy to apply. You would just part the fur
on the back of the cat, usually between the shoulder blades or along the spine,
and apply a dose of the treatment. Thats all there is to it!
Oral medications are an alternative as well when it comes to flea control. If
your cat loves to eat, it may be easier for you to hide a pill in a food treat.
These flea medications are effective and stop the flea eggs from hatching and
producing new fleas. These pills that your cat takes by mouth work in this way:
The medication flows through the bloodstream. The fleas love gorging themselves
on the blood of your cat. They in turn will ingest this blood that contains the
medication. As a result, any flea eggs that are laid will never hatch! Please
note that this method does not get rid of existing adult fleas, only the eggs.
This is a perfect method of breaking the cycle of flea reproduction and should
be used in conjunction with a flea treatment that kills adult fleas. Some of
these oral medications do come in the form of a shot, which is especially
important if your cat does not take medication very well.
Besides the hands-on flea treatments for your cat, you should also aim your
attention to your surroundings. Treat the outside yard area. Vacuum daily. Use
carpet flea powders to get those fleas and the eggs that like to burrow in the
carpet. Wash area rugs and the bedding your cat sleeps on. A combination of
several flea treatment options will give you and your cat a relatively flea-free
existence.