How Can I Get Fleas to Come Up to the Surface on My Cat So I Can Kill Them?

If you're a cat owner, you might have already dealt with fleas or you may end up encountering them in the future. Because fleas attack the skin, not the fur, they need to be brought to the surface to be killed effectively. If they're not treated quickly, they can infest your home, bedding and furniture and even start biting humans in the house. There are several options available, including bathing, commercial flea medication and regular brushing.

Things You'll Need

  • Commercial cat flea shampoo
  • Dawn soap (optional)
  • Flea comb
  • Container of hot water
  • Commercial cat flea medication (optional)
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Instructions

  1. Bathing Cats to Kill Fleas

    • 1

      Fill a bathtub or the kitchen sink with warm water.

    • 2

      Place the cat in the water, and follow the instructions on the label of the commercial cat flea shampoo. If the cat is under eight weeks, use Dawn soap instead as the commercial shampoo may be too strong.

    • 3

      Avoid getting the shampoo in the cat's eyes and massage the shampoo all over the cat's body, including the cheeks, ears, tail and top of the head. This deep massaging will help uproot the fleas and make it easier to get rid of them.

    • 4

      After the cat's bath and while the cat is still wet, use the flea comb to carefully comb the cat's fur. This will catch and bring to the surface any fleas that may have been missed. As you catch fleas in the comb, dip the comb into the container of hot water to remove them.

    Using Medication

    • 5

      Determine the best type of flea medication for your cat. There are medications that are applied directly to the skin as well as flea collars that are placed around the cat's neck to repel fleas. Some medications are available by prescription only, while others can be bought at a pet store.

    • 6

      Follow the directions on the flea medication, applying the amount exactly as directed and however often the medication packaging specifies.

    • 7

      Brush your cat regularly, and use a flea comb if fleas are still present even after using the medication. The medication will not work immediately, and you can use the comb to pull fleas up to the surface and kill them by dipping the comb in hot water to provide your cat with some relief.