How to Deal With Fleas on Maine Coons

Pets can be a great asset to a household, providing companionship and unconditional love. What is less welcome that sometimes goes hand in hand with having a pet is dealing with fleas. This may be especially troublesome with cats such as the Maine Coon, as they have larger, fluffier coats than many other cat breeds. This can provide an extensive safe haven for the fleas and make it difficult to get rid of them all effectively. However, with diligence, controlling fleas on your Maine Coon can be accomplished.

Things You'll Need

  • Flea comb
  • Petroleum jelly
  • White towel
  • Flea control shampoo
  • Flea control medication
  • Borax
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Instructions

    • 1

      Keep your cat indoors. Allowing your Maine Coon outside can leave it open to any number of parasites, including fleas and ticks. Fleas carry diseases that can be passed on to your cat and to you. Keeping your cat indoors almost eliminates the threat of flea infestation on your cat.

    • 2

      Take a flea comb and run it through your cat. Place a white towel underneath the cat to catch any fleas that may jump or fall off. Then, apply petroleum jelly to the flea comb. This will help the fleas stick to the comb and avoid escape. Comb thoroughly, since the Maine Coon has a dense coat. Take the towel once you're done and put it in water to kill the fleas, then rinse off the flea comb.

    • 3

      Bathe your cat to kill any fleas that may be on it. Fleas cannot live in water, so giving your cat a dip should suffocate any fleas. While bathing your cat, shampoo it with a flea-killing shampoo. You can get flea shampoo from your vet, or check a local pet store. If the cat is too young, do not use the flea shampoo on it.

    • 4

      Keep your cat confined to a flea-free area while it dries so you can treat the rest of your house. Sprinkle your carpets liberally with Borax or diatomaceous earth. Sprinkle the diatomaceous earth on your furniture as well as any pet beds or blankets, or anywhere the fleas may be living. Let the material sit on your carpet and furniture for as long as you can, preferably at least one day. Vacuum it up and dispose of the dust outside of your home.

    • 5

      Apply a flea control substance to your cat. See a vet about buying a monthly, seasonal or annual flea control. Make sure that the treatment you use is safe for cats, as some materials in dog-formulated flea treatment can be hazardous to cats.