Today, veterinary pharmacies and pet stores have a huge selection of anti-flea medications. However, sometimes it is better not to use insecticides to treat your pet. In such a situation, natural anti-flea remedies will help the owners.
We will find out what folk remedies for fleas exist, how effective and how dangerous they are, as well as how to use them correctly to quickly cure your pet.
Why do cats get fleas?
Cat fleas are the most common type of blood-sucking parasite. They can do without a host animal for a long time, and flea eggs and larvae can develop in the external environment. For some time, the larvae do not need the blood of the host animal, and this only aggravates the problem.
The flea is the most common blood-sucking parasite in the world.
Most cats become infected with fleas outdoors. The infestation cycle can begin with just one flea. Even if you keep your pet away from stray cats and dogs, the parasite will still find a way to attach itself to the animal’s fur. A flea that gets into the house will begin to multiply quickly, and its eggs will end up on carpets, furniture or the cat's bed. When the new fleas grow up, they will begin to look for a new “donor”.
For some time, humans can become the host of fleas. This will be a temporary self-assembled tablecloth for parasites. In addition to the fact that the flea will feed on human blood, this person will also become a vehicle. Sooner or later, people will bring fleas closer to their four-legged pets. Sometimes fleas enter the house on a person's clothes or shoes. Even if a flea-covered dog ran past your entrance, this already becomes a threat of infection. One flea could enter the entrance and climb up to your door. When you cross the threshold, the parasite will pass with you.
Young kittens are usually infected by their mother cat. Moreover, there will be more fleas on a kitten than on an adult cat. And if you live in a private house, and your cat likes to hunt mice, then a rodent can also become a carrier of fleas. Regardless of the method of infection, you need to choose an effective and safe method of treatment. The main thing is not to miss the moment. Parasites need to be detected as soon as they appear. This is not difficult to do if you know what fleas look like.
Fleas are characterized by a body that is flat on the sides.
Cat fleas can be black or brown in color. The size of the insect depends on the degree of satiety. A hungry flea can be 2–3 mm long, and a well-fed one reaches 5 mm. And also the size of the flea depends on its age (old fleas are larger). The insect's body is flat, without wings, but it has long hind legs. Thanks to this body structure, the flea can jump long distances (up to 50 cm). By this feature, fleas can be distinguished from many other insects - fleas disappear from sight almost at lightning speed.
Signs of infection
A flea may begin to bite a cat from the first day of infection, but it is difficult for a person to detect its presence. But when the offspring of the first flea grows up, a colony of parasites forms. They will lead to the appearance of symptoms, a person cannot help but pay attention to this. The main symptom is that the cat will itch intensely. Cats living outside, feeding their flea parasites for years, may not pay attention to the bites, but an indoor cat with delicate, well-groomed skin can itch until it bleeds. When bitten, some cats flinch or bite into the fur (or directly into the skin).
In places where severe scratching occurs, sores appear that become wet or bleed. They will not be able to heal quickly, as the cat will continue to itch. In addition, insect excrement (small black particles) will appear on the cat's fur. If fleas have appeared for a long time, the fur may become thinner, fistulas, abscesses or allergic dermatitis may appear.
Photo gallery: symptoms of flea infestation
When you try hard to scratch an itchy area, small sores appear first.
To see flea excrement on a cat's fur, you need to slightly part the fur with your fingers, creating a parting.
An abscess is a bulging purulent abscess (when it “bursts”, a fistula appears - a hole in the skin)
With allergic dermatitis, the entire body is covered with red spots (they are easiest to see on the stomach)
Why fleas are dangerous for animals and humans
In addition to skin problems caused by flea bites, your cat may also develop other parasites. A cat that licks fur or itchy skin swallows fleas whole. An insect may contain larvae of worms, etc. Thus, both a cat and its owner can become ill with helminthiasis. And if the worms then pass to a small kitten, then the helminthic infestation can lead to the death of the pet. In addition, advanced infestation with parasitic insects can lead to anemia (anemia) in the animal.
The cat owner faces more than just infection with worms. Of course, a flea cannot live permanently on the human body, but even one bite can lead to trouble. Fleas are carriers of diseases of the blood and lymph (for example, erythrema, a lesion of the lymphatic system that leads to severe inflammation of the skin). You can also become infected with pulicosis (a very itchy rash all over the body) through a flea bite. After this disease, scars remain on the skin that do not heal even with time.
If the cat begins to feel unwell, and later one of the household members joins it, then it may be dipilidiasis. Symptoms of this disease are weakness, nausea, and vomiting. This disease affects the organs of the digestive system, hence the symptoms, like intoxication. Another danger is brucellosis (symptoms: high fever, aches, joint pain, sweating). Of course, if it comes to such serious symptoms, then you need to urgently consult a doctor, and the cat needs to be taken to a veterinarian.
If the owner of a cat is bitten by a flea, and later unpleasant symptoms appear, an urgent need to consult a doctor
Symptoms of flea infestation
It is difficult to detect fleas at the initial stage. However, this is quite possible if you examine the cat’s stomach. It is in this area that, upon careful examination, insects or their feces can be seen.
Signs of flea infestation:
- active scratching;
- the cat is worried, reacts sharply to stimuli, meows;
- loss of appetite;
- weakness, reluctance to play.
If you do not get rid of fleas on a cat in time, the animal will begin to lose weight, and ulcers will begin to form at the bite sites. In addition, advanced infestation is associated with the presence of bald spots in the fur.
How to get rid of cat fleas at home
If you already find fleas on your cat, then you don’t need to wait until the fleas bite someone else. The main remedy for fleas and preventing their occurrence is regular cleaning. Most flea eggs are deposited on the floor, so it is most important to keep this area of the house clean. The cat owner needs to know that sweeping the floor with a broom and mopping does not guarantee a clean floor. Only a vacuum cleaner will help here; it can remove (even from the carpet) fleas, larvae and eggs. It is especially important to use a vacuum cleaner for those people who live in a private home. Surely the cat has access to the street, and fleas can come through cracks in the wooden floor.
However, if fleas have already appeared, then a vacuum cleaner alone will not help. To completely exterminate fleas, a lot of complex work is needed:
- chemicals for treating cats (spray, drops, etc.);
- complete sanitary treatment of all rooms in the apartment (house);
- protection of adults and children from infection, etc.
sanitary cleaning of the entire apartment is one of the important rules if there are cat fleas in the house
Insecticides
Almost all insecticides for fleas affect the nervous system of insects. The chemicals contained in the product block the transmission of nerve impulses, the flea is paralyzed and dies. The main differences between different drugs are the form of release of the drug and the active substance itself. Modern cat flea treatments include either pyrethroids or organophosphates.
Pyrethroids include components such as permethrin, phenothrin and etofenprox. They have a slightly slower (prolonged) type of effect, so the effect of such a drug lasts longer. And organophosphorus compounds are characterized by a powerful, immediate effect, sometimes dangerous for animals, but irreplaceable. By the way, “Karbofos” and “Dichlorvos” are made on the basis of organophosphates.
Treatments for cat fleas are sold at any pet pharmacy. The owner of the animal can compare the qualities of all offered products and choose the most suitable one:
- shampoo;
- collar;
- drops;
- spray;
- tablets, etc.
Modern pet stores and veterinary pharmacies have such a wide range that there is any product you ask for.
Flea shampoos
Shampoo for cats with an antiparasitic effect is an effective and useful product. Typically, shampoo contains both synthetic and natural ingredients. Shampoo is designed to repel fleas or kill them. In addition, the foaming product takes care of your pet’s fur and skin. Based on these characteristics, all anti-flea shampoos are divided into 2 types:
- Medicinal. They contain insecticides (pythethroids) that destroy parasites.
- Preventive. They contain non-toxic components (extracts of chamomile, pelargonium, calendula, coltsfoot), essential oils (wormwood, lavender, cloves, geranium) that repel fleas.
Shampoos are convenient because they are easy to use: you just need to lather the animal, wait a little, and then rinse off the foam. In addition, shampoo is convenient for removing fleas and long-haired cats. The preventative composition also has a beneficial effect on the fur - it becomes softer and easier to comb. Some owners of fluffy cats also use this product to prevent tangles. Many shampoos are even suitable for kittens. Another advantage of flea shampoo is its low price. The first thing your veterinarian will prescribe if your pet has fleas is shampoo. However, it should be understood that a soft, gentle remedy does not always have a 100% effect.
Once, while shopping, I got lost in a large shopping center (I was choosing laminate flooring). When I finally found a way out and approached the car, I heard a plaintive squeak. It turned out that a small kitten had crawled under the hood. Judging by the number of fleas on his small, emaciated body, I realized that the baby was left without a home and a mother. I took the kitten with me, and on the way home I stopped at the pet pharmacy. A pharmacy employee recommended shampoo to me (it cost about 100 rubles). The baby easily succumbed to my hands, and I managed to wash him. Most of the bloodsuckers immediately remained in the water, many others I combed out with a fine comb later, when the kitten was dry. But after a couple of days I saw that some parasites still survived.
Photo gallery: examples of effective flea shampoos
The shampoo contains herbal extracts, so this gentle product can be used with other effective drugs
German Green Fort shampoo is suitable not only for cats, but also for caring for other pets
Inexpensive Russian-made insecticidal shampoo contains both strong chemical components and natural raw materials
Bianco & nero anti-parasitic shampoo is suitable for caring for heavily flea-infested cats, but this product is not cheap - 400 rubles
Flea shampoo “Lugovoy” is one of the most popular in Russia (it can destroy fleas and improve metabolism in the animal’s skin)
Insect repellent collars
Some cat owners believe that shampoos, drops and other similar products can poison their pet. It seems to such people that a flea collar is a milder remedy, but in essence the collar differs from other insecticidal products only in form. Anti-flea collars are saturated with the same poisons found in shampoos, sprays and drops. The constant, indelible presence of a collar on the animal’s body is good because it kills existing fleas and keeps away those that are nearby. However, the collar is powerless against larvae and eggs. Even if the larva experiences the effects of poison, it will physically not be able to leave the animal’s coat.
The big advantage of this method is prevention. For example, if a cat is taken for a walk, a collar placed on it will prevent blood-sucking parasites from getting closer. Such gadgets come in different colors and sizes or even with patterns. The downside of the collar is that it is deceptive. As soon as there are no fleas left on the cat, the owners remove the miraculous thing from their pet. And after a while the insects appear again. The fact is that the eggs and larvae that were on the floor turned into adult fleas, and then found their victim - a cat left without a protective gadget.
One of my cats had fleas (it is unknown how they appeared in the apartment, because I never walked that cat). The cat was still small (7-8 months), so the veterinarian advised me to just buy a collar, saying that if there were a small number of young fleas, this remedy would quickly help. The collar was inexpensive (about 30 rubles), its size was regulated using a plaque. Indeed, the insects completely disappeared after a couple of days, but I didn’t take off the gadget for about 2 more weeks (the collar’s instructions said that it was effective for about 30 days). The bloodsuckers did not appear again, but there were few of them. Perhaps in advanced cases there will be no such effect.
Photo gallery: anti-flea collars of different brands
Celandine collars are sold in every pet pharmacy
The 4-tail cat repellent collar is waterproof
Collars differ in their validity period (from 30 to 180 days)
Some collars can only be worn by adult cats, but there are gadgets for kittens too
Insecticidal drops
Flea drops are convenient and effective. The product must be applied to the cat’s skin in a place where the animal cannot reach it (neck area at the base of the skull). Manufacturers of the drops assure that a single application to the withers is enough for the tenacious parasites to leave your pet’s body once and for all. The drops contain the same insecticides that are used in other products. Moreover, the chemical is presented in the form of a solution so that the cat does not get poisoned and the fleas die. But for most kittens, the drops are dangerous; the baby can be poisoned. The dosage should be selected depending on the animal’s body weight:
- small cats and cats - 0.5 ml (about 15 drops);
- medium-sized cats (from 5 kg) - 1 ml;
- big cats (10–20 kg) - 2 ml.
Table: comparison of drops from different manufacturers
| Drug name | Active substances | Additional effect | Price | Validity | Contraindications |
| "4 with a tail" | essential oils of eucalyptus, citronella, lavender, schizandra | antifungal and antiviral effect | 120 rubles | 2 months | nursing cats, kittens under 2 months |
| Bayer "Lawyer" | imidacloprid, moxidectin | use for the treatment and prevention of intestinal nematodes | from 380 rubles | 28 days | cats weighing less than 4 kg, kittens under 2 months |
| RolfClub | fipronil, cifenotrin, pyriproxyfen | protection against most other types of ectoparasites | from 140 rubles | up to 2 months | using drops together with other insecticidal preparations or accessories |
| "Celandine" | permethrin, fipronil | protection against most other types of ectoparasites | from 30 rubles | 1.5–2 months | cats weighing less than 0.5 kg, kittens under 2 months, sick and recovering animals |
Flea sprays
Among most cat breeders, it is believed that the safest flea treatment is a spray. Currently, a spray against biting parasites is available in any pet pharmacy. Most special sprays have a pleasant or neutral odor. The aerosol should be evenly distributed over the animal's fur, applying it against the growth of the fur. Long-haired cats can be combed (for better distribution). It is recommended to keep children away from the cat for 3 hours after application, although the product may not be considered toxic. These “sprinklers” are not cheap (from 200 rubles to 2000 rubles), but they do not contain chemicals. Strong-smelling plant extracts and oils repel insects, forming something like a protective film. Repellent sprays may contain the following active substances:
- neem oil and silicone oil (dimethicone);
- wintergreen, glycerin;
- oat amino acids;
- geranium essential oil;
- extracts of peppermint, aloe vera, cloves, etc.
Photo gallery: examples of flea sprays
IMMOShield (Netherlands) is a spray in the mid-price segment
Ark Naturals Flea Flicker Tick Kicker - American-made flea spray, price exceeds 1,400 rubles
Camon on is produced in Italy, its price ranges from 400 to 600 rubles
The disadvantage of this drug is that it is ineffective against fleas that have already appeared in the house. Maybe they won’t bite a cat as long as there are traces of aerosol on its fur, but fleas will multiply on the floor, furniture and in the owner’s clothes. Therefore, the apartment will have to be processed additionally. To achieve this, repellent manufacturers produce insecticidal sprays for indoor treatment. These products already contain more powerful chemical components. Such aerosols should be used with caution.
Table: tablets for blood-sucking parasites
| Drug name | Active substances | Number of pieces per package | Exposure time | From what age can it be used? | Price |
| Comfortis 270 mg | spinosad (a naturally occurring insecticide that causes flea neurons to be stimulated, leading to their death) | 6 tablets | after 15 minutes the drug is absorbed into the cat’s blood, after which it begins to act (complete removal from the body occurs after a week) | from 3.5 months | 3500 rubles |
| Lufenuron 95 mg | lufenuron (the action is aimed at stopping the development of chitinous cover and the formation of eggs) | 12 capsules | It lasts for 1 month, but to achieve the desired effect, a therapeutic dose must accumulate in the cat’s blood | from 3 months | from 800 rubles |
| Capstar 57 mg | nitenpyram (leads to paralysis of insects) | 6 tablets | activates 2–3 hours after administration, lasts 1–2 days | from 2 months | from 480 rubles |
Folk remedies
The most environmentally friendly and inexpensive are traditional methods of fighting fleas
Previously, when there were no pharmacies for animals, people treated their pets with folk remedies. Some of them have survived to this day. Cat owners who live in private homes especially often resort to folk methods. The most commonly used folk remedies are:
- pine sawdust or shavings of coniferous trees;
- wormwood herb;
- common geranium;
- lavender and tansy;
- garlic;
- Brewer's yeast;
- lemon infusion.
Most folk remedies are medicinal plants. The effect is achieved due to the strong smell. Fresh plants emit an aroma that is pleasant to humans, but unbearable to insects. For example, sawdust from coniferous trees. The resin contained in shavings and sawdust is good at repelling cat fleas. It is customary to place them under a pet’s bed, but some sew the shavings directly inside the bed.
The fresher the pine sawdust, the stronger the smell of the resin
Wormwood has the same repellent effect. Bitter grass will not only protect your pet from bloodsuckers, but can also become a kind of talisman for your home. Wormwood scattered at the threshold will not allow insolent insects into the house. For a stronger effect, it is sometimes mixed with the same sawdust.
When I was little, it was customary in my family to spend all holidays with my grandmother. In the summer she took me with her to bereznik (birch grove), where we collected various medicinal herbs. Some were for tea, some were for ointments (my grandmother made them herself). We also collected wormwood. Moreover, we collected “delicious” herbs first, and wormwood last, so as not to spoil the tea grass with bitter hands. We chose only those bushes that managed to become covered with yellow flowers. I used a bitter bouquet to sweep the floor in the house, and then my grandmother crumbled this broom onto the porch. She said that the rain would drive all the bitter poison into the boards. There were never fleas in my grandmother's house.
There is another way to use wormwood. A handful of chopped (or dried) herbs should be poured with a glass of boiling water. Until the water has cooled, the broth should be put on fire and simmered over low heat for 5–10 minutes. Cool the broth and strain. This liquid can be used to treat not only the floor, but also the cat itself. There is no need to wash the floor after wet bitter cleaning. This will prolong the effect of the decoction. You can make a decoction of other herbs in the same way.
Wormwood is easily recognized by its pungent, spicy smell, small yellow inflorescences and leaves similar to parsley leaves
For those who value aesthetics, geranium is suitable. The beautiful flower can be grown as a houseplant. A person quickly gets used to its smell, but insects (not only fleas, but also mosquitoes) fear it like fire. Every cat breeder can afford to grow a bright flower with a fresh, tart aroma on the windowsill.
And if you don’t have the skills to care for plants, then a bouquet of tansy will do. A small bunch of tansy can be placed under the cat's bed, hung on the wall next to the cat's house, or placed directly in a vase on the table. This herb will be effective even when it turns into dead wood.
The smell of lavender also repels blood-sucking insects well. However, it is not always possible to find fresh lavender, so lavender essential oil or dried inflorescences are most often used. A drop of oil can be “smeared” on the cat’s bed. You can also add a few fragrant drops to the water you use to wash the floor. By the way, this is why many cat shampoos contain lavender extract.
Lavender essential oil is sold in any pharmacy for people
If “airy”, smelling products do not help, then you need to use a more powerful product. Some poison parasitic insects with garlic and brewer's yeast. This is one of the oldest ways to fight fleas. Nowadays, in the windows of pet stores you can find a ready-made mixture called “Brewer’s yeast with garlic.” But if you don’t trust pharmaceutical drugs, then you can make your own folk remedy.
Brewer's yeast and garlic should be mixed in a ratio of 10:1. You need to be careful with garlic, too much of it is harmful to cats. You need to coat the floor with a thick mixture (even if it is not wooden). But carpets cannot be treated in this way - it can ruin the pile. Within 10 hours, yeast and garlic have a suffocating effect on parasites, after which the floor must be thoroughly vacuumed. The dried mixture will be removed along with dead insects and their larvae. If you do not wash the floor immediately after this, the smell will remain in the floor covering, so the effect will last for some time.
Another effective and safe way to expel fleas is a lemon solution. To do this, boil the lemon without zest in 0.5 liters of water, and then let the solution brew for 7 hours. The liquid can be poured into a spray bottle. It should be applied directly to a flea-infested cat, at a close distance, so that the fur is well wet. This homemade spray repels fleas well due to its high content of essential oils. Instead of lemon, you can use other citrus fruits.
Citrus fruits contain a large amount of essential oils, which have a strong effect on fleas
Comparative table: pros and cons of different folk remedies
| Means | pros | Minuses |
| Pine shavings or sawdust | the smell of resin does not disappear for a long time, and by wetting it, its presence can be prolonged | Finding pine sawdust is not always possible |
| Wormwood | easy to find (wormwood grows like a weed), has a pleasant smell, and works even when dried | the bitter juice of the herb can get on your hands and then into your mouth |
| Common geranium | a beautiful flower that can decorate your home | you will have to take care of the flower, and its effect extends to the floor, not to the cat |
| Lavender oil | can be bought at any regular pharmacy (costs from 60 rubles), the effect is strong, it smells for a long time | Some people get migraines from the strong smell of lavender |
| Brewer's yeast and garlic | strong effect, kills fleas both on the cat and on the floor, lasts a long time | It smells unpleasant, and it is recommended not to wash off this smell for as long as possible |
Reviews
Oleg: The question of what to do if a cat has fleas became relevant for us this summer. I tried different folk remedies, but I can’t get rid of these parasites. You will have to use chemicals, no matter how much you would like to protect your pet from harmful substances.
Irina: Our cat became infected with fleas in the summer at the dacha, from the neighbor’s pets. Before returning to the apartment, they were taken out with Bars drops. They helped us quite quickly, but for prevention they also put on a flea collar.
Natalya: Our cat suddenly developed fleas. We took them out for a long time and realized that it is important not only how and with what to treat the cat against fleas, but also to do wet cleaning in the apartment. After all, these creatures multiply very quickly and infect the entire room. What to wash with? I use salt or white for this purpose. Cheap and effective, as practice has shown.
Elena: Having discovered fleas on the cat, I bathed him in a decoction of tansy and wormwood herbs, and put a flea collar on him. For the purpose of prevention, I repeat such water procedures every 2 weeks. You can also use laundry soap.
How to get rid of fleas on a kitten
It is more difficult to remove fleas from a kitten than from an adult cat.
In theory, kittens are freed from fleas using the same means that are used for cats, but only in much more gentle versions. Most insecticide manufacturers offer special product lines for kittens. The baby's owner needs to be very careful when choosing a product. Kittens suffer more from fleas than cats, and react more strongly to medications. It is most dangerous to use insecticides to treat newborn kittens (up to 1 month) against fleas. Babies still have very weak immunity, they can get poisoned and die. To rid such a small kitten of fleas, you can do the following:
- comb the kitten with a fine comb (fleas and their larvae will get stuck between the teeth);
- change and wash the bedding (bed) on which the kitten sleeps;
- Thoroughly vacuum the room in which there are fleas.
Such manipulations must be carried out daily. Even if this does not help completely free the cat from parasites, he will at least be able to wait for the period when it will be possible to use some means. Along with this, you can use folk remedies. This way there will be fewer fleas, and the animal will not be so nervous and suffer. When the kitten is one month old, you can go to the pet pharmacy and buy a flea medication for kittens. However, even after purchasing an insecticide, it is recommended to carry out complex treatment:
- comb the kitten with a fine-toothed comb;
- bathe the kitten with anti-parasitic shampoo or special soap (insecticidal chemicals will affect fleas);
- use anti-flea drops, spray, powder or flea collar.
Several of my friends, when fleas appear in kittens, remember tar soap. They believe that tar soap is completely natural and therefore safe. However, I have heard that this soap makes the fur of some animals hard, so I have never tried this method myself. I also have a family I know where a cat named Aisha is washed with scented soap and black cumin oil. This soap is brought from the Emirates and Turkey. It is unknown what the composition of this fragrant product is, but Aisha’s owners claim that it kills all fleas the first time.
Video: how to safely remove fleas from small kittens
Precautions when using insecticides
Insecticides are based on poison. Both cats and their owners can be poisoned by the drug, so you need to take some precautions:
- When treating a cat with shampoo, it is important to prevent the product from getting into the eyes and mucous membranes of the cat’s mouth and nose;
- When washing your cat with insecticide-based anti-flea products, you need to use rubber gloves;
- the cat must not be allowed to reach with its tongue the area treated with anti-flea drops;
- the spray must be sprayed so that not a single drop gets into the cat’s eyes, nose or mouth;
- When treating a cat with a spray, you can use a respirator and safety glasses;
- when treating rooms, you need to close the room and keep cats and children away (for the entire period specified in the instructions);
- before allowing children into the treated room, it must be ventilated (at least 2 hours);
- after treating a cat or room, as well as after putting on an anti-flea collar, you should thoroughly wash your hands with soap;
- if you or other family members get insecticide in your eyes, you need to immediately rinse them with running water;
- If any insecticide gets on the mucous membrane (eyes, nose or mouth), it is recommended to consult a doctor or call an ambulance.
It is important to understand that even if the packaging of a flea product says that it is safe, some people may have an individual intolerance to a particular component. It is not recommended to use insecticides to control cat fleas for people suffering from the following diseases:
- chronic diseases of the liver and biliary system with frequent exacerbations;
- allergic diseases, including skin diseases;
- chronic diseases of the nervous system;
- dystrophic and allergic diseases of the upper respiratory tract;
- chronic eye diseases (eyelids, conjunctiva, cornea, lacrimal ducts);
- chronic diseases of the bronchopulmonary system with frequent exacerbations.
When treating cats and premises for fleas, it is recommended to use personal protective equipment.
Prevention
After you have treated your pet, you need to disinfect the room. Remember that fleas live in warm places, in crevices between the floor and the wall, and in high piles. Therefore, purchase wormwood extract or bleach at the pharmacy and treat the entire room, window sills (if they are wooden), furniture where there are cracks. Give a vacuum cleaner a good run through cracks and carpet piles, as well as upholstered furniture, to remove etched fleas and their eggs. An effective method would be to clean the room with dichlorvos.
The pet's bedding and clothing should be boiled or washed in hot water, and then ironed with plenty of steam. Put a collar on your pet or ask your veterinarian to prescribe a medication in drops that is used to prevent fleas.
How to choose an effective remedy
The most effective flea remedy is one that can expel all parasitic insects without harming the health of the cat and its owners. To choose an effective remedy, you need to remember several criteria:
- pet's age;
- characteristics of the cat (allergies, intolerance to some component, fear of spray bottles, etc.);
- physical condition of the animal (illness, pregnancy, breastfeeding kittens, etc.);
- the specifics of the drug (what qualities it should have);
- in what conditions the product should be used (house, apartment, etc.);
- presence of children in the house, etc.
If you know exactly how, where and why the product will be used, then choosing it will not be difficult. The pet pharmacy employee will ask you the same questions. Even if you have already decided on a specific insecticide, you still have to carefully read the instructions and annotation for the drug to make sure that the choice is made correctly. Based on the analysis of various flea remedies, the following conclusions can be drawn:
- To prevent infection, collars and drops on the withers are suitable. These flea control products have a fairly gentle effect on the pet itself, rarely lead to side effects, but at the same time reliably repel fleas.
- If the animal has few fleas, the best remedy for fleas is a collar or drops.
- In case of severe parasite infestation, it is necessary to resort to the use of special flea sprays or shampoos.
- For pets that regularly go outside but live in the city, collars are suitable. You can remove them at home, and the animal’s skin on the neck will not be irritated.
- Animals that are taken to the country for a long period of time need to have drops applied to their necks.
- Kittens and puppies over the age of one month can be bathed with special shampoos. Older kittens can be treated with drops and put flea collars on them.
- It is not recommended to use any insecticides at all on lactating and pregnant cats. Only if the infection is too severe, threatening serious damage to the offspring, can you use special drops or bathe the animal with shampoos.
In order to rid your cat of fleas without harming its health, you need to approach the issue of choosing the best remedy with all responsibility.
Preventive recommendations
To prevent parasites from lingering in your home, it is recommended to clean with a vacuum cleaner as often as possible. The vacuum cleaner bag must be shaken out immediately after cleaning. Thoroughly clean the space under furniture, corners, and cat litter. Clean all areas where the animal is, such as a car or carrier.
Keep your home clean so that pests do not have food in the form of various debris and dust. As a preventative measure, repellents containing pyrethrins can also be used. They help protect the area from fleas.
There are a huge number of ways to deal with fleas in cats. You can use both natural folk remedies and modern medications, collars and shampoos in the fight against these parasites. The main thing is not to neglect the treatment of your pet and carry out preventive measures. As a result, all your efforts put into fighting fleas on your cat will be rewarded with happy purring and love from your pet.
