How to Kill Fleas on Cats at Home

Fleas can be tough to control. While adult fleas live primarily on your cat, eggs, larvae and pupae live in grass, carpeting, rugs and bedding. For every flea you see, there could be hundreds of eggs somewhere in your home or yard, according to the Pet Education website. While this is not the best of news, you can find assurance in knowing you can take control of fleas by following a few steps.

Things You'll Need

  • Desired flea treatments
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Instructions

    • 1

      Clean your cat's bedding and any areas he may frequent. It's a good idea to wash bedding weekly with a treatment that includes adulticide and an insect growth regulator.

    • 2

      Treat your yard. Fleas thrive in moist, shady areas where they can hide easily under debris. Rake your yard, removing any leaves, pine needles, straw and grass clippings. Use an environmentally safe spray and be diligent with treatments.

    • 3

      Treat your cat. Many shampoos, sprays, dips, oral tablets and collars are available over the counter. Shampoos, sprays, dips and collars kill adult fleas on your cat. Some oral products kill immature fleas and must be used with another product to kill adult fleas. Monthly topical insecticides are also successful, but the key to killing fleas is persistence.

      Discuss the best options with your veterinarian, as many vets recommend a combination of treatments.

    • 4

      Treat other areas your cat may visit. This includes the car, basement, garage or pet carrier.

    • 5

      Practice prevention. Once you have the flea problem under control, the best treatment is prevention. Treat your yard and your home regularly. Treat your cat after it visits a kennel or another household.