If you have been a cat owner for some time, then one problem you have a high probability of facing is fleas. Fleas are a natural and rather unpleasant perk of having a life that involves pets. As a pet parent, the thought of our beloved animals catching fleas is a fearful thought. Because fleas are hard to get rid of. Those clingy little bugs just don’t know how to let go. Warm weather usually means a rise in the number of fleas because the temperature makes it more suitable for them to hatch and more adults to jump to the fur of the cats. These parasites can easily infest your home and make the life of you and your fur buddy miserable.
We will discuss how we can spot fleas, how we can fight fleas, and finally what is the best way to prevent them. Even though it is challenging to get rid of fleas, the good news is that with the vast number of commercial solutions and home remedies available these days, this problem is rarer than before. There are many ways to fight the fleas that have infested your home and we will look at some of the best methods on how to get rid of fleas on cats.
Signs of Flea
If you know how to spot fleas, you can react quickly and deal with the problem at a very early stage. When there are not too many of them, they can be hard to detect. But instead of looking for them visually, look out for the signs and the reaction that your pets may give because of a flea infestation. There are many signs that you can look out for to see if your cat has fleas. Let’s look at some of the most popular ones that are easy and obvious to detect.
1. Excessive Scratching: If you see your cat scratching itself and grooming itself more than it does usually, it is one of the most obvious signs of a flea infestation. Remember that fleas multiply quickly and you will see obvious changes in your cat’s behavior because of it.
2. Movement in Fur: If you see any movement in their fur and watch small tiny bugs dropping off their skin, prepare for a battle with fleas.
3. Chewing or Biting Themselves: Fleas can be a real inconvenience to your cat and besides scratching itself, it can also resort to biting itself. You may seem them gnawing at their feet or legs to get some relief.
4. Patchy Hair Loss: The saliva of fleas can cause an allergic reaction to cats which can lead to hair loss. The hair loss can also be a result of them biting their fur off.
5. Dark Specs: If there are dark specs on your cat that look like black pepper, it is most likely flea poop. That is actually dried blood and it will become red if it is mixed with water.
There are also other visual cues like seeing redness in your cat. Its behavior could become more aggressive because of the pain it is in because of the fleas. Also, be on the lookout for bumps and rashes in your cat’s forehead or other body parts.
Treat Your House
A female flea can lay up to 50 eggs on a daily basis. These will reside in your carpets, couch, or comforter. If your cat is infested, then be sure that your house is infested too. And if you don’t flea-proof your house and clean your cat, the problem will occur over and over. So, we need to know how to get rid of cat fleas in the house. You need to start vacuuming and cleaning your house right away if your house is infested. Keep on with the vacuuming for at least 2-3 weeks. Then make sure you wash the items like beddings, carpets, and couch thoroughly. Once you have washed these items, spray everything with anti-flea spray. In the next section, we will look at how to get rid of fleas on cats.
Treat Your Cat
There are many ways we can take care of the flea problem. Some methods involve the use of chemicals and some methods include making DIY stuff that we can use to fight against fleas. Whether we use home remedies or buy products, as long as we are seeing results, we know that we are on the right track. And this isn’t something that can be fixed overnight. It can take up to three months to get rid of fleas completely after you start following these tips. So, let’s see how to get rid of fleas on cats.
1. Use a Flea Comb: Flea comb is a really inexpensive solution to combat fleas. If you combine it with hot water and dish soap treatment, it can kill fleas instantly. Dip the comb in a hot water and dish soap solution. And then, start brushing your cat. This will take care of the fleas. Repeat this action at least once every day.
2. Bathe Your Cat: Cats aren’t a huge fan of water but extreme situations call for extreme measures. So, bathing your cat in a hot water and dish soap will help greatly to fight fleas. Dawn is a highly recommended soap to fight fleas. That is how to get rid of fleas on cats with dawn.
3. Anti-Flea Medication: You can find over the counter drugs at your local pharmacy. These will fight fleas. But remember that some of them might not be as effective as you want them to be. For the more powerful stuff, you will need to get a prescription by taking your cat to the vet.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar: Mix apple cider vinegar with water in the ration 2:1 and apply it on your cat’s fur. Applying this mixture a few times will significantly reduce the flea problem.
Prevention of Flea
There are some products available that you can apply on your cat’s fur to keep fleas away. Additionally, there are some chewable tablets that you can feed your cat once a month. In warm weather, try to make sure that your cat doesn’t go outside the house as this is the time when fleas have the highest activity.
Now you know how to get rid of cat fleas in the house. Keep in mind that this is a long process and there is no way that you will see results overnight. But after trying for 2-3 weeks, if the problem doesn’t gradually go down, you need to seek professional help as it may be dangerous for you and your cat. But hopefully, what you have learned will be enough for you to flea-free your house and your cute furry friend.
Related: Why Do Cats Knead? Top Facts About A Cat’s Behaviour
