How To Tell If Your Cat Has Fleas

If you notice something blackish and small crawling around your cat's fur, you are probably right to suspect that they are cat fleas. When cat fleas strike, they can mean big trouble and it's important to get rid of cat fleas quickly and thoroughly. A flea infestation of your home can happen in no time at all as the fleas lay eggs on carpeting. A cat flea treatment often isn't enough and you'll have to deep clean your whole home.

It is quite easy to notice the presence of cat fleas. Your cat may be scratching very frequently and more intensely than normal. You or your family may have red itchy spots on your ankles or stomach as well.

Comb your cat's fur near its tail and you will find small bits of dead fur and blackish dirt. This is the excrement of fleas. To test, tap the hair and dirt onto a white piece of paper and sprinkle over with water. If the little bits of crumbling, dark stuff dissolve into what looks like blood, you can be sure it is definitely a case of cat fleas. You might even notice the tiny black insects crawling or leaping about. It is critical that you send your cat for a flea treatment immediately, as you need to get rid of cat flea problems as fast as you can.

Your vet will be able to offer easy solutions for cat flea treatment. "Advantage" is one product that will help get rid of the cat flea problem without having to give your cat a bath in insecticidal solutions (also available at your veterinarian). The Advantage cat flea treatment is a spot-on treatment. The pet owner places a drop of the solution onto your cat's skin in between its shoulder blades. Reapply at scheduled intervals to ensure that all fleas are killed. That's it! "Frontline" is another popular choice for spot-on treatments.

Natural options for cat flea treatment exist as well. However, these are far more painstaking than spot-on treatments. Washing your pet with 1 - 2 rounds of soapy water and then combing (once it is dry) with a fine-toothed flea comb can help get rid of cat flea eggs, larvae and mature insects from your cat's fur. You'll probably have to comb your cat every night for several in order for the cat flea treatment to be effective. Wiping a lemon-juice repellent on your cat's fur can help to remove any cat flea hitchhikers on your kitty, though you'll still have to remove the eggs and larvae by hand.

Whichever treatment you choose, for the cat flea treatment to be effective, you'll need to thoroughly vacuum your home and steam-clean all upholstery as well. Wash all bedding, throws, or blankets the cat is in contact with in hot, soapy water. Secure the vacuum bag in a plastic bag before throwing it into the outside garbage bin.

Prevention is worth a pound of cure. You can try these natural remedies to get rid of cat flea worries before the pests invade your pet. Feed your cat garlic in its meal and add a dash of apple cider vinegar to its water. If it doesn't want to drink it, then just use the apple cider vinegar as a spray to deter fleas by misting your pet every now and then.

To get cat care information, click http://www.My-Pet-Cat-Page.com

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