Nov 15, 2021
Fleas are a nightmare for cat owners as they aren't just annoying; they're also dangerous. They become a hassle once they’ve taken up residence in your cat’s fur as they cause itching, injuries, secondary skin problems, and even flea allergies called dermatitis in cats.
If left untreated, cats may harm themselves by scratching, leaving them vulnerable to infections, and there’s a fair chance that fleas may cause blood loss, leading to anemia.
Of course, the best way to deal with a flea infestation is to avoid one in the first place. So, if you have started to notice that your cat is scratching and licking itself more than usual, or that it appears to be uncomfortable, here's some information on how to save your cat from fleas that will help you deal with these pesky critters.
Fleas are easy to spot. All you have to do is look into your cat's fur for any sort of movement. Or else, you can also perform a white towel test by passing a flea comb through the fur while laying your cat on a white towel. It is an easy technique to detect the presence of fleas as the white towel will make it easier to spot any flea dirt (or fleas!) falling off of your cat.
Once you are certain that fleas have invaded your cat’s fur, it’s time to run the flea comb over its fur to remove fleas. Although this won’t remove all the fleas, it can remove some easily accessible ones to make your cat feel better.
The first step to dealing with fleas is to start the flea treatment immediately. Now, your goal should be to relieve your cat's discomfort and to get rid of all the fleas in its fur. So, how would you get rid of the fleas? Thankfully, there are various types of powerful flea treatments available today. Read on to find out some of the best flea treatments for your cat, and remember, you should always ask your vet for their recommendations before choosing one for your kitty.
Flea control treatments for cats come in a variety of forms, like spot-ons, oral treatments, collars, sprays, and shampoos. All these products consist of some important ingredients that act effectively against fleas, including:
Spot-on treatments are one of the most effective kinds of treatments. They work faster and for longer periods as compared to other kinds of flea treatment products.
Spot-ons are liquid formulations packed in pipettes and are usually applied to a single part of your cat’s body. Its effects can last for up to a month (or more) before needing to be reapplied. Many of them can begin eradicating fleas in a period of as short as 12 hours. Some of the popular spot-on treatments for cats include:
Frontline Plus for Cats is one of the most trusted topical treatments among cat parents. This fast-acting treatment from Boehringer Ingelheim (Merial) contains Fipronil that kills 100% of adult fleas in 12 hours, and ticks and chewing lice in 48 hours. It is also a long-lasting and waterproof treatment, so you need not to worry about the solution being washed off if your kitty is a water baby.
Revolution for Cats is a highly effective, all-inclusive spot-on treatment as it prevents and controls flea infestations as well as intestinal worm infestations. Its main ingredient is Selamectin, which remains active for an entire month and works actively to eliminate fleas by preventing flea eggs from hatching and breaking the flea cycle.
Bravecto Plus for Cats is an advanced flea control product as it gives additional protection against gastrointestinal worms and heartworms. It contains Fluralaner that kills fleas by causing hyperactivity in their nervous system. With the regular use of Bravecto Plus, 100% of parasitic egg counts can be reduced. Bravecto Plus for Cats is an excellent product as it shields cats for as long as 8 weeks.
If you wish not to undergo the messy application of the spot-ons, oral treatments are perfect for you to save your cat. Oral flea treatments come in the form of chewables or pills that you can directly administer orally. Furthermore, oral treatments are often more long-lasting than topical treatments.
Credelio for Cats is a highly palatable monthly oral treatment. With its active ingredient Lotilaner, it can neutralize 99% of fleas within 12 hours of administration by causing uncontrolled neuromuscular activity, leading to the death of the insect. Furthermore, it also helps in controlling Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD).
Capstar for Cats is a swift action treatment that kills adult fleas. It contains a potent ingredient, Nitenpyram, which starts killing fleas within just 30 minutes of administration. Adult fleas can be killed in as little as 6 hours and the tablets have no odor, so cats take them up without any fuss.
A Flea collar is not like the traditional flea prevention treatments. It is worn around your cat's neck to provide a constant supply of flea preventive. The effectiveness of these collars lasts for many months.
Bayopet collar for Cats is a very popular flea collar for cats and it can keep fleas at bay for up to 16 weeks. It is made of lightweight resin and has an adjustable clasp to fit your ball of fur perfectly. It is an excellent flea control for cats as it controls flea infestations and flea-borne diseases.
Flea sprays are very convenient to use and are long-lasting. You just have to spray it on your cat directly on the back, stomach, legs, shoulders, sides and neck. But remember to spray it with a gloved hand or a washcloth, being careful not to get any of the products into your cat's eyes or mouth.
Frontline Spray is a highly effective spray containing Fipronil that starts killing fleas within an hour of administration and eliminates 100% of fleas by the next day. It is also useful in controlling Flea Allergy Dermatitis and, most importantly, it can be even used for treating kittens that are as young as 2 days old.
The nightmare of fleas is still not over after you have treated your cats with the above mentioned products. You cannot underestimate the flea eggs that are all over your house if your cat had fleas? Most cat-parents are not well aware of the eggs. Flea eggs can hatch sometime soon to begin a new flea cycle, and so, it is equally essential to eliminate the eggs from your house.
Vacuuming each and every corner of the house, regular washing of bed sheets and sofa covers, and cleaning all the floors and furniture are all important aspects to de-flea your house.
Fleas are a nuisance to everyone involved. Therefore, the best way to prevent fleas from returning is to prevent them from taking hold in the first place. Remember, you don’t have to treat your cat after she gets an infestation, but you have to prevent the infestation from happening.
The perfect way to achieve this is by keeping your cat on year-round flea prevention. Taking care of these little things will keep them from coming back and those critters will be no more than an unpleasant memory!
Also, please note that the cat flea treatments mentioned in this article are not interchangeable with dog flea treatments available under the same brand name, so always choose the product branded exclusively for cats, and if you are unsure about which one to choose for your beloved kitty, take your vet’s advice on the same.
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