SolveYourProblem.com Article Series: Cat Care
Cat Care Tips
Cat
Flea Treatment Options
Before you adopt your first cat or take in that stray that
you have been feeding, consider all of the flea treatment
options for this cat. Are you willing to be proactive
and aggressive in your stance against these pesky fleas?
Cat ownership consists not only of wonderful companionship
but also all of the care of the cat as well. That means
regular grooming, veterinarian visits, cat food and toy
purchases and of course, flea treatment. As long as you
know that fleas will never truly go away, you should
be ready to tackle owning a cat and all that entails.
Flea
treatment options for your cat extend to your immediate
environment as well. The yard, cars, inside your home … wherever
your cat goes, fleas are there. So putting a flea collar on
your cat is just the tip of the iceberg! Let’s talk first about
your cat itself. What measures can you take in regards to eliminating
or at least greatly reducing those fleas on them? Flea
shampoos are one line of defense. Just watch those hopping critters
“abandon ship” when you are bathing your cat. You will literally
see these fleas jumping off your cat and watch them float to
their death in the soapy water. Those flea shampoos are effective
for a day or two and will get rid of a lot of mature fleas,
but you still have to think about the flea eggs that might
still be lingering in your cat’s fur.
Flea
dips are another option, but should be reserved for severe
flea problems. Dips leave a lingering chemical accumulation
on the fur. And since cats love to groom themselves by licking,
prolonged ingestion of this chemical could be harmful for the
cat. With flea powders and sprays that are applied directly
on the cat, these treatment options usually work only on the
mature, adult fleas, leaving the flea eggs behind waiting to
hatch. Besides, the powders and sprays last for only up to
two or three days at the most. One possible reason to use these
methods is if you are traveling. These treatments are not invasive
and can easily be bought no matter where you go.
Spot
treatments for fleas are very popular with cat owners.
These can last for up to a month, longer if the weather is
cold. All of the spot treatments take care of adult fleas.
Some of these flea treatments also contain ingredients that
can inhibit the flea eggs from hatching, stopping reproduction
of these irritating creatures in its tracks. For the most part,
these spot treatments require a prescription from your veterinarian,
so ask them about the best course of action. Spot flea treatments
are easy to apply. You would just part the fur on the back
of the cat, usually between the shoulder blades or along the
spine, and apply a dose of the treatment. That’s all there
is to it!
Oral
medications are an alternative as well when it comes
to flea control. If your cat loves to eat, it may be easier
for you to hide a pill in a food treat. These flea medications
are effective and stop the flea eggs from hatching and producing
new fleas. These pills that your cat takes by mouth work in
this way: The medication flows through the bloodstream. The
fleas love gorging themselves on the blood of your cat. They
in turn will ingest this blood that contains the medication.
As a result, any flea eggs that are laid will never hatch!
Please note that this method does not get rid of existing adult
fleas, only the eggs. This is a perfect method of breaking
the cycle of flea reproduction and should be used in conjunction
with a flea treatment that kills adult fleas. Some of these
oral medications do come in the form of a shot, which is especially
important if your cat does not take medication very well.
Besides the hands-on flea treatments for your cat, you should
also aim your attention to your surroundings. Treat the outside
yard area. Vacuum daily. Use carpet flea powders to get those
fleas and the eggs that like to burrow in the carpet. Wash
area rugs and the bedding your cat sleeps on. A combination
of several flea treatment options will give you and your cat
a relatively flea-free existence.
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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