Cat Flea (Ctenocephalides felis) Problem And Treatment

Cats are very prone to picking up fleas and unless treated promptly they can reproduce and cause an infestation both on your cat and in your home in the soft furnishings and carpets.

Fleas are parasitic bloodsuckers. The females can get through on average 12-15 times their own body weight in your cat's blood and it is therefore of no surprise that severe infestations lead to anaemia, particularly in kittens who are still building up their immunities and strength and just can't cope with losing a lot of blood.

The female flea is slightly bigger than the male, usually about 2mm long, and can jump to heights of 15cm - that's an incredible 75 times its length. In human terms, on average that's about one twelfth of a mile from a standing start.

If you see your cat scratching repeatedly and you find specks of dirt on the comb when you groom the cat, you can assume there are fleas biting the skin. It is important to take immediate steps and use some form of cat flea treatment to deal with them, and to stop them reproducing and making the infestation worse.

You can buy a cat flea collar, and these come in different forms. Some are herbal, and contain natural herb extracts to discourage fleas from infesting your cat for up to three months. Cat flea control will be especially effective if you use a cat comb regularly to ensure that not only have you combed out the fleas but that you get rid of the larvae on your cat's skin and in the fur so that they do not irritate or set up infection. The larvae feed on dried blood and organic matter found at the base of the fur and cats may scratch so hard they damage their own skin and develop skin abscesses.

Highly Recommended: Advantage cat flea control and Frontline cat flea treatment - They are very effective in clearing cat fleas, at least to 98% up to 1st 12 hours of application.

If you're thinking of using a treatment spray for flea control, cats may well disappear faster than you can catch them. The hiss of the aerosol can sound remarkably like that of a hissing cat, and they're unlikely to want to stay around to find out, so the best solution is to ask your veterinary surgeon for preparations which not only deal with the existing fleas but prevent their return. You also need to make sure that you can treat the cat both on a regular basis and effectively, so that you stop all fleas dead in their tracks.

Ask you veterinary surgery for advice. They may suggest Advantage cat flea control which is incredibly effective against fleas and ticks and starts killing fleas within 3 to 5 minutes of application. It can prevent their recurrence for up to a month at a time. The application dose will depend on the weight of your cat, and once you put the required amount of drops on the skin behind the neck when you part the fur you can rest assured that they'll be itch free. Your vet may also suggest Frontline cat flea treatment, which is a prescription only treatment. It is administered in the same way and deals with fleas, ticks and lice and therefore gives a more comprehensive protection against cat parasites.

Remember also that if fleas infest the soft furnishings you will need to treat these too, and in this case you would be able to use a spray once you know the cat is safely out of earshot. You also need to treat your cat's bedding and keep it clean. You can buy treatment sprays without prescription over the counter in most supermarkets, but remember that these are solely for use on furnishings and must not be used on animals.

Highly Recommended: Advantage cat flea control and Frontline cat flea treatment - Try it on your precious cat. Do your kitty a favor.

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