Fleas are one of the most common problems cat owners have to cope with. They are fast-moving, high-jumping parasites that hide in your cat's fur and feed on their blood. The bites cause severe itching and can even introduce other parasites, such as tapeworms, into their bloodstream. To kill the fleas on your cat and in your house, follow the steps outlined here.
Things You'll Need
- Sheets of white paper or paper towels
- Grooming brush
- Flea treatment for cats
- Flea comb
- Petroleum jelly
- Chlorine bleach
- Vacuum cleaner
- Insecticide flea spray with insect growth regulator or insect growth inhibitor
Instructions
Be certain fleas are the problem before proceeding. To check for cat fleas, set your cat on a large sheet of white paper or paper towels. Groom her with a clean brush. When you are finished, you may find dark flecks of residue on the paper. If you do, sprinkle a few drops of water over them. Blood from your cat will begin to seep from the flecks. This residue is known as flea dirt and is evidence of a flea infestation.
Kill the mature fleas on your cat. Apply a monthly topical treatment, such as Revolution, Advantage or Frontline or give the cat an oral medication such as Sentinel, Capstar or Program. These treatments are very effective at killing adult fleas and preventing future flea problems on your pet. That's the good news. According to The Humane Society Cat Care Guide, only 5 percent of the fleas in your home are currently living on your cat. That's the bad news.
Remove as many fleas as you can from your cat's fur. Rub the teeth of a flea comb with petroleum jelly and groom the cat. Shake any fleas from the comb into a bowl of dilute chlorine bleach. While this does not remove all the fleas, it will give your cat some immediate relief, as both the topical treatment and the pills can take up to three hours to begin working.
Get rid of as many mature fleas, flea larvae and flea eggs from your house as possible. Vacuum every room in the house, ensuring your have given an extra sweep to the corners, along the walls, and beneath the furniture and beds. When you're certain you've thoroughly swept the entire house, remove the vacuum bag, tie it tightly inside a plastic trash bag and dispose of it.
Spray the house with insecticide. Choose an appropriate number of house bombs, room foggers, or cans of spray for the size of your home. Select a product that contains IGR, or insect growth regulator. This ingredient will prevent any flea eggs or flea larvae which were missing during vacuuming from maturing into adult fleas. To ensure you gain the maximum benefit from the use of home insecticide, do not run the vacuum for one week after treatment.
Prevent further infestation by treating the area around your home. You can buy flea spray that is specifically for outdoor use or use the same spray you used inside the house. Pay special attention to any places you regularly spot your cat of curling up for a nap and any areas of sand or gravel. If you have a porch, patio or veranda, treat the surfaces as well as any cracks and crevices or shady areas.