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Top Tips for Cat Flea Control
So you found a stray cat and decided to bring it home. The intention is very noble, and you are determined to give the poor homeless creature everything it hasn’t had. However, before you do anything else, you need to get rid of the lice and fleas that are riddling its fur.
How do you recognize a flea attack?
Obviously, you will not spot fleas running all over your cat, but you will certainly notice a change in your cat’s moods and activities. It will often find corners of beds and sharp edges of tables to rub itself against. Or it will roll on the ground not just in play, but also to eliminate that disturbing itchy sensation. And finally, you will detect spots that were not there earlier on your cat’s back. These spots and patches are not new colors but fleas resting on the cat’s body.
Fleas are brownish in color and once they enter a cat’s fur, they multiply in incredible numbers, laying thousands of eggs. And when these hatch, a cat’s life turns into hell on earth. All that the poor animal can do is to bite and scratch itself constantly.
Preventive measures
- To begin with, give your cat a thorough shower and keep it spotlessly clean.
- While you bathe the cat, make sure to apply medicated shampoo specifically containing chemicals that will kill fleas. This is vital if your cat has become the victim of a flea attack but you should use this shampoo as a preventive on a regular basis even if your cat is flea-less. This will keep its fur healthy and prevent fleas from settling in.
- Another important activity is grooming. This includes regular brushing and trimming of your cat’s fur.
- Normally, it is better to use soft-bristle combs to brush fur but if fleas have appeared, use a brush with close bristles. This will drag out the fleas and provide immediate relief.
Get a veterinary checkup done
If, after you have tried your level best, your cat is still flea-infested, consult a veterinary doctor. There are injections and stronger medicines than cleansing shampoos that can be used to kill fleas. At all events, do not ignore a flea attack. Make sure you grasp the seriousness of the situation and take strong steps. We would have said nuke the fleas, but that would be totally inappropriate, wouldn’t it?