What to do with fleas in a cat. How to get rid of cat fleas in an apartment and a private house
Now, I grew up and opened a shelter for stray animals. I believe that helping is one of the most important missions in life. In this article, you will learn: cat fleas - how to get rid of, what drugs should be used for adult animals and kittens, and how to protect your pet from them.
Fleas in a cat - how to get rid of them forever
An important point in the treatment of cats from fleas is the observance and maintenance of a clean room. It is necessary to constantly carry out deratization, disinfestation of floors, places of use of the animal, bedding, carriers, care items and everything that has close contact with the cat.
Fleas in a cat - how to get rid of
Particular attention should be paid to upholstered furniture and hard-to-reach places in an apartment or house. Sofas, armchairs, pillows should be vacuumed as often as possible, which will reduce the number of larvae and eggs on their surface.
Currently, veterinary pharmacies offer a wide range of drugs that help fight fleas in cats.Medicines are produced in the form:
- special shampoos;
- drops;
- aerosols;
- collars;
- injection.
Before opting for any particular product, you should consult with your veterinarian. After all, the method of treatment depends on the intensity of the damage to the cat. As a rule, veterinary specialists work in veterinary pharmacies, so you can safely rely on their recommendations.
It must be remembered that mainly the drugs act on adult fleas and practically do not destroy the larvae. The cat can be re-infected over and over again. Therefore, sometimes the processing has to be carried out several times, until a positive result is obtained.
During the treatment of the cat, you must strictly follow the instructions that come with the medication. Improper use, as well as overdose, can lead to serious pet poisoning.
Each instruction describes in detail exactly how to carry out the processing and at what time interval. The introduction of flea injections will be best left to your veterinarian. It is not at all difficult to rid your cat, cat or even a very small kitten of fleas and other annoying pests today.
Important! There are some main contraindications to the use of flea medications:
- Second half of pregnancy;
- Lactating cats;
- Kittens up to 2-3 months old;
- Weakened, sick, emaciated animals;
- Individual intolerance to drugs.
Each anti-flea agent has its own contraindications, so before treating your pet, you must carefully read them.
Collar
The easiest and most effective way to remove fleas is to use an anti-flea collar. The most effective are Harts, Bolfo, Diaz, Kiltiks. The concentration of the insecticide with which they are impregnated is high enough to kill the vast majority of insects living on your pet's body.
The survivors will leave it very quickly. The collar destroys even lice and ticks, which are extremely difficult to get rid of. This remedy is the best option for cats that spend most of their time outside the house. However, it still does not provide absolute protection.
Therefore, the collar is recommended to be used simultaneously with special shampooas well as a flea spray. It is easy to use the collar: just put the animal around the neck and do not remove about three months.There are more durable: "Diaz", designed for 5 months, and "Kiltix", which serves 7 months. After the specified period, the collar loses its properties, and you need to buy a new one. Disadvantages of this method:
- Can cause irritation (especially in a kitten) at the place of wearing. In some extremely rare cases, the collar even developed dermatitis.
- During the entire period of wearing the collar, a specific smell comes from your pet.
- It happens that animals can hardly get used to the collar and feel discomfort from constant wearing.
Drops
There are drops of a longer and more powerful action - Frontline Spot on Cat drops, which expel insects during the day. After getting rid of fleas, they protect against recurrence for about two months, and against tick infestation - for 1 month.
Drops Advocate from Bayer are very strong, eliminating not only fleas and ticks, but also worms. And at the same time - drops "Dana-2 Ultra", which kill fleas, lice, lice and ticks.
To eliminate adults, these drops will not be enough, so you should first treat the cat with an anti-flea spray or wash with an appropriate shampoo. Suitable for cats that often walk on the street and in contact with their own kind.
Sprays
Sprays are powerful and the easiest to use. How to remove fleas from a cat using sprays: you just need to spray the pet's fur and do not allow him to wash for several hours. Fleas and ticks die instantly. A significant disadvantage of sprays is their toxicity. Front Line was recognized as the most potent.
Experts have different views on its harmlessness. According to some opinions, this spray is actually safe for animals and is not scary even for pregnant cats and two week old kittens. But there is an opposite point of view, and it is valid.
Indeed, if the spray instantly destroys insects, it means that it contains at least a small percentage of toxic substances, and therefore cannot be completely poisonous.And therefore, before using it in relation to pregnant or weakened animals, as well as to cubs, it is worth considering whether it is reasonable to use it in this case or other means can be dispensed with. In addition to Front Line, Hartz, Bolfo-Aerosol, Bars, Flea & Tick and Delix are popular among cat owners.
Shampoos
As a rule, rare cats tolerate this procedure. The best result is shown by Insectin and Bars shampoos. Also in demand are: "Rolf Club", "Shampoo B", "Delix", "Demos-Lux", "Flea & Tick Cat Shampoo".
You can also wash a pregnant cat with flea shampoo, since it is deadly for insects, but not dangerous for animals at all. An important point: cats should not be treated with drugs that include permetry, as well as those created for the treatment of dogs.
Source: "kotobormot.ru; vreditel.net"
Traditional methods
You should pay attention to the components that make up the product, some of them may be more toxic than the insecticidal agent. In addition to caring for a cat, it is necessary to process all cat items: a house, bedding, toys, a rug, since both adults and their offspring can be in them.
If you ignore this point, you will not be able to completely remove the fleas. If several cats or cats live in the house, treatment should be carried out simultaneously for all pets, even if only one of them is infected.
Treatment with folk remedies demonstrates a high effect with low infection and is used in the following cases:
- Cat pregnancy;
- Allergic reactions of the animal to the components of insecticidal agents;
- Disease of the animal and the use of traditional household products can aggravate the disease;
- The presence of a kitten in the house.
- Mix equal parts floral cologne, 3% table vinegar and camphor alcohol.
- How to get rid of fleas from a cat with homemade shampoo: ¼ grate a piece of any baby soap, pour a glass of boiling water and cook over low heat until you get jelly. When cool, add the grated onion, yolk and a spoonful of calendula or nettle decoction. That's all. Lather the cat and wrap with oilcloth for 20 minutes, rinse with warm water and dry the animal well.
- How to remove cat fleas with wormwood: make a decoction of wormwood: a tablespoon dry or a few fresh twigs in a glass of boiling water, cook for 10 minutes.
- Homemade flea remedy for cats with tansy: Brew equal amounts of wormwood with tansy.
- Pour 700 ml of cold water overnight with crushed 5-6 cloves of garlic passed through a crusher or meat grinder. In the morning, rub on the withers or upper part back where the cat does not reach.
- How to get rid of fleas from a cat with garlic and yeast: add a little brewer's yeast to the water tincture of garlic, rub it on the withers or upper back, where the cat does not reach. The effect will be stronger than just garlic.
- How to get rid of fleas in cats with folk remedies: simple table salt: pour warm water into a bucket and dilute 1 kg of table salt in it. Pre-wet the cat and, holding it by the paws, so as not to scratch, lower it up to its throat into the bucket. Try to keep the animal in salt water for 5 minutes, then rinse with clean warm water.
- How to remove cat fleas with sawdust: Stuff the pillow the cat sleeps on with pine or spruce sawdust.
- Wormwood is a great flea remedy for cats and at home: add a fresh plucked plant to the sawdust, or simply place 10-15 wormwood branches under the bedding.
Spray the cat's hair, put the cat in a plastic bag so that the head is outside, and try to keep it in it for 6-10 minutes. Then remove the bag, and comb the cat over a white cloth. Throw fleas into the toilet and rinse immediately, or pour boiling water in a bucket.
Cool, wet a piece of cloth and rub the skin of the cat well from head to tip of tail and hold it under an oilcloth or in a towel for half an hour. Repeat the procedure every week. Simple and cheap.
Cool and massage into cat's skin all over, protecting eyes, ears and nose. Hold for half an hour in an oilcloth or towel.
With this method, do not forget to thoroughly dry the animal (I talked about this at the beginning of this article).
You can put sawdust under the bedding if there is no pillow. Fleas do not tolerate the smell of pine resin, which is contained in wood.
Let me remind you: cat fleas can be dangerous to humans, like any blood-sucking insect.
Source: "vita-jizn.net; apest.ru"
Get rid of fleas
Because of their cleanliness, cats are much less likely to suffer from fleas than dogs. But at the same time, the effect of anti-flea drugs is more difficult to tolerate. This is especially true for products such as injections and pills that help get rid of fleas.
Such drugs are used professionally under the supervision of a veterinarian only in cases where external treatment is not possible.
Flea removal in pregnant cats
Pregnant cats require special treatment, especially when breeding fleas. The main condition: the drug should not get inside. Even with all the seeming safety, any of the funds can cause such undesirable consequences as miscarriage or abnormalities in the development of the fetus.
Note that home remedies for removing fleas from a pregnant cat (read - folk) such as dust are unacceptable. You can bring home twigs of wormwood, but the plant will only scare away insects, but will not destroy them.
- The most acceptable veterinarians consider the use of shampoos, collars and, in rare cases, flea drops.
- The second method (with the help of shampoos) is fraught with the following complication. Bathing can be very stressful for your cat. If the cat does not like water, it should not be injured.
- The third method, with the help of drops, is allowed only with the permission of the veterinarian and only in reduced dosages.
The simplest and safest way is an insecticidal collar. After the fleas have been removed, the collar must be removed.
How to remove fleas from lactating cats
Removing fleas from cats and kittens at home at the same time is a rather difficult task:
- Anti-flea collars must not be used. Kittens can accidentally try the insecticide and get poisoned.
- The use of drops should be carried out very carefully - they should not penetrate deeply into the skin, respectively - enter the bloodstream. When buying, be sure to consult a veterinarian.
Experts offer the following algorithm of actions. Wait until the kittens are three to four weeks old. After one of the feedings, the cat is bathed with a special shampoo, it is thoroughly washed off, and the cat is dried.
You can also remove fleas from kittens at home in this way (cat breeders often use it when necessary).
They take the most inexpensive shampoo for kittens and add an ampoule of Neostomazan for every 150 milliliters. The resulting product effectively exterminates fleas and is absolutely safe for babies. But the best way to get rid of fleas is to keep your baby from getting infected. A mother-cat treated from insects in time is the main condition for the birth and development of healthy kittens.
Important. The most competent and correct way to remove fleas from a kitten is to seek help from a veterinarian. As a rule, treatment for insects is combined with the use of anthelmintics.
Sick animals and fleas
Speaking about the breeding of insects in animals, one cannot fail to say about sick or recovering pets. Sick and weakened animals are literally infested with fleas. The latter cause considerable suffering and inconvenience to the unfortunate. This is the only case when it is categorically impossible to engage in independently breeding fleas in cats, cats and kittens.
You should definitely contact your veterinarian and get advice from him on how to proceed in this case.Depending on the condition of the pet, the "cat doctor" will prescribe sparing remedies or recommend waiting until the animal recovers.
Source: "bezklopa.ru"
How to treat a kitten for fleas and other blood-sucking insects
It all depends on the age of the kitten and on how close he is in contact with the mother. If he feeds on breast milk, and the cat constantly licks him, then the choice of treatment options is limited.
Indeed, after treatment with a powerful preparation, insecticides remain on the wool, after licking they enter the cat's body, and from there with milk - into the cub's stomach, as a result of which it can be poisoned. In this case, two main methods are valid:
- Constant and diligent combing out of insects;
- Shampooing (specifically for kittens, not for adult animals).
Kitten up to a month
The method is effective, but it requires patience and time. However, this is the only way to get rid of fleas for blind suckers. For a cat in position, brushing is also suitable.
Pet month
They bathe with shampoo starting from the age of one month. It is desirable that all the same it was a kitten weaned from the mother. The most harmless and, at the same time, effective of all shampoos known on the world market is the Swiss shampoo “Mr. Kiss ".
It is used as follows:
- Dilute 1 ml of shampoo in 300 - 400 g of water, then stir until foam is formed.
- The kitten is immersed in water, but so that it does not get into the mouth, nose, eyes.
- The shampoo solution is kept on the coat for about 4 minutes, after which it is rinsed off abundantly with warm water.
In two months
What is needed to remove fleas from a kitten of 2 months old? It is recommended to wash a two-month-old kitten with Phytoelita shampoo. It gives excellent results and is also suitable for adult cats.
If the kitten is older than a month and is completely isolated from the mother (completely - it means no contact with the mother at all and living in another territory), the range of treatment options is already much wider.You can turn to drops, and to powders for kittens, and to spray, as well as powder "Beaphar". She sprinkles wool, then rubbing her fingers into the skin of the kittens.
At three months
A three month old kitten is already considered a teenager. Therefore, it can be safely treated like an adult animal in all the ways named in the article, including the "Hartz" collar.
Source: "vreditel.net"
Effective folk anti-flea remedies
Removing fleas at home with folk remedies is a laborious and sometimes lengthy process. The overwhelming majority of products have a repelling effect that lasts as long as the wool retains the smell of tincture components, shampoo, etc.
Wormwood can be used as a remedy for fleas in kittens and do not worry about the health of the mother cat, which will lick her offspring.
- Pour 20 g of dry or 40 g of fresh leaves of wormwood with 500 mg of water and bring to a boil, cook for 15-20 minutes.
- Wormwood tincture will help get rid of fleas.
Strain the resulting mixture, cool and anoint all parts of the animal's body. It is necessary to be prepared for the fact that during treatment insects will actively jump off the cat. Treat the pet as needed.
For its preparation, you will need: wormwood, lavender, tansy, eucalyptus, 10 g of each ingredient and one liter of water. Boil the mixture, strain and cool. Anoint the animal itself and all its accessories with the ready-made broth. The course of treatment is 7-10 days.
Vinegar and garlic for fleas
Then "pack" the cat in a plastic bag, leave the head outside. Keep the pet in this state for 7-10 minutes, then bathe it and carefully comb out the coat to remove all dead fleas. Such a folk remedy for fleas in cats is suitable only for the most patient pets.
The smell of garlic will provoke fleas to stampede from their place of deployment. To prepare the garlic tincture, chop 6-7 large cloves of garlic with a squeezer and pour 3-4 glasses of water at room temperature.Let it brew for 12 hours. You can add a few teaspoons of brewer's yeast to the tincture. With a ready-made extract, wipe the cat's hair, mainly in those places where it cannot reach. Garlic should not be allowed to get into digestive tract animal to avoid upset digestive system and poisoning.
Salt products and geranium decoction
Dilute 1 kg of ordinary table salt with a small amount of water and completely dissolve it; to facilitate the process, you can boil the solution. Then dilute this whole mixture with 10 liters of warm water and wash the animal in it for 5-7 minutes so that all the wool is soaked saline.
Pour 30 g of geranium and 30 g of lavender with 3 glasses of water and cook for 15-20 minutes. Bathe the cat in a filtered infusion and make sure that the product does not get into the ears and eyes.
Flea shampoo recipe
Grind or grate the third part of regular baby soap, add 3 cups of water and simmer until the mixture becomes jelly-like substance.
Allow time to cool, then add one chopped onion, the yolk of one egg and a spoonful of nettle infusion. Lather your pet with shampoo and rinse off after 15-20 minutes.
Citruses and essential oils
Unlike many others, the product has a pleasant scent. Cut one lemon and pour 2 cups of warm water over it, leave for 24 hours in a dark place. Spray a pet with a ready-made preparation from a spray bottle.
To the safest folk remedies include essential oils.Source: "apest.ru"
Safe remedies for pests
Modern chemical agents against fleas, which are sold in large quantities in pet stores (agents, not fleas), often cause great harm to the cat's body, at first and not noticeable. Today, everything natural and environmentally friendly is extremely fashionable, so let's figure out how to deal with fleas in cats without chemistry.
Flea combing
The first essential condition is to clean the coat and remove any loose hair and dandruff. In the morning and in the evening, you need to brush and comb with a fine comb - this is very important when caring, especially for long-haired animals.
Brush your pet out on a hard floor so fleas can be seen and caught. Place a bowl of soapy water next to it, throw fleas in there and drown them.
Herbal treatment and eco-friendly flea collar
Herbs are a natural remedy for flea control. You can take any one herb, or a mixture of different herbs in any proportion you like. There are 3 options for herbal treatment:
- Herbal rubbing (take a cotton swab, moisten and treat the skin of the animal with a decoction of herbs).
- Herbal shower (pour herbal decoction over the cat's hair and let it dry naturally).
- Herb powder (sprinkle over the areas where fleas like to bite the most).
In cats, fleas are localized on the face, behind the ears, on the withers, abdomen, at the base of the tail, in the fur you can find dark grains (like pepper). So pay special attention to these places!
Herbal treatment is not an absolute remedy for removing fleas in animals. In most cases, the task of herbs is to scare away insects (not only fleas, but also bugs, ants and other nasty things). That is why do not limit yourself to one step.
Remember, flea control is a whole range of activities! Most flea collars sold in pet stores contain highly toxic substances that will harm your pet if worn for a long time.
To make your own flea collar that is safe for your pet, use a durable absorbent cloth. Sew a strip of it with a length equal to the circumference of your cat's neck + 2 centimeters.
Sew Velcro strips on both sides and saturate the resulting collar, for example, with the following composition:
- Lavender 1 drop.
- Citronella 1 drop.
- Thyme 1 drop.
- Eucalyptus 1 drop.
- Alcohol 5 ml.
- Jojoba oil 10 ml.
The collar, without pressing, dry and put on the neck of the animal. A flea collar will not only keep your pet from fleas for a month, but it will also rid your home of these unwanted visitors. Replace the collar in a month.
Washing beds, toys and cleaning the house
Flea larvae do not develop on the pet itself, but in the place where the animal most often lives. And therefore, even having managed to remove fleas from a cat with folk remedies, you can get a new round of struggle after a few weeks, when the adult insects that have emerged from the larvae will again begin to bite the animal.
Wash (wash) your cat's bedding in hot, soapy water at least once a week.A vacuum cleaner can kill almost as many fleas as any other product. It is especially effective to vacuum crevice wood floors. Vacuum flea-infested areas twice a day. Wash the floor with a decoction of anti-flea herbs or essential oils. Of course, every day!
Room aromatization
Turn on an aroma lamp with essential oils (lavender, thyme, citrus, rosemary, eucalyptus, tea tree, etc.). Make a citrus spray. Cut lemon (or other citrus fruits) into wedges, place in a saucepan and bring to a boil, let it brew overnight.
In the morning, pour it into a cooking spray. You can spray on the cat and in areas of its frequent habitat. Not more than once a month. Chop the garlic and place in saucers around the apartment.
Boost immunity and love
It is believed that fleas do not live on a healthy cat! So add vitamins to your cat's diet, or switch to a higher quality, fortified food. Give your cat brewer's yeast. Fleas don't like them!
Love your cat, give her your attention, play with her. Enjoy every new day together, every minute spent together. You know without me that with love everything becomes easier and easier. Those whom they love are less sick and more joyful.
- Constant itching in the pet. The animal can scratch the skin, bite itself.
- Nervousness and irritability of the cat caused by bites.
- Dark particles fall from the pet. This can be blood dried at the site of the bite or flea waste products.
- Observation of dark particles on the skin and coat in an animal. These are the fleas themselves.
- Decreased immunity and deterioration.
- Damage to the nervous system.
- The appearance of dermatitis. Possible allergies.
- Infection with infectious, fungal, viral infections.
- Complete or partial hair loss of an animal
- for the treatment of premises
- direct processing of the pet itself.
They can appear through direct contact with an infected person: on a walk, when fighting with relatives, in the game, while hunting rats.
Signs of fleas in cats
What do fleas look like?
Flea attack aftermath
How to get rid of cat fleas at home
There are many options for solving this problem. They differ in their safety, efficiency and price. To remove fleas from a cat at home, use the following products:
Shampoos
The use of shampoos effectively helps to rid the cat of fleas. They are easy to use and have an optimal price tag. For some drugs, one application is enough to completely eliminate fleas. They are also more effective for animals that have thick or long hair, so if you have flea, it is Persian or british cat, then it is worth paying attention to this particular tool.
- Bars. It helps not only against fleas, but also against ticks.
- "4 with a tail". Completely safe, because does not include insecticides.
- "Celandine". Has a low price. Can be used for kittens.
- "Phytoelita". It is possible to treat the animal's litter with this shampoo.
- "Lugovoy". Helps with fleas, lice, lice.
- "BIO-GROOM". Prevents reappearance.
- "BioVax". It has a caring effect.
Drops
You can also remove fleas with drops. They are easy to use.
It is necessary to remember about the toxicity of insecticidal products, therefore, test for allergies before use, do not let your pet lick yourself during use.
Mode of application:
Spread the fur at the withers, drip a few drops of the product onto the skin. Then rub in with your fingers. Do not comb out or wash your pet for several days. 
Popular brands:
Collars
The positive side of collars is their ease of use and preventive use. The disadvantage is the ineffectiveness of the larvae.
Mode of application:
Put the collar on your pet so as not to cause discomfort.
Popular brands:
If you want to remove the collar for a while, then you need to put it in the packaging so that it does not lose its properties.
Sprays
These funds are divided into two types:
It is necessary to know the type of the drug and not to use it for other purposes. Most often, sprays have a strong concentration, so they need to be diluted, this should be written on the package.
Mode of application:
Apply the product to the animal's fur and leave for half an hour - an hour. The main rule: do not allow your pet to lick it. After that, bathe the animal and remove the remaining spray. It will then be helpful to take your pet for a walk.
Popular brands:
- Bars. The effect is visible after the first application. The can is enough for a long time.
- "Puls". Has a wide range of effects.
- "Blohnet". It also helps to get rid of the larvae.
- "Front Line". You can also handle the pet's head.
- "Hartz". The optimum ratio of price and quality.
Powders
Most often used as an additional tool.
Mode of application:
- "Feverfew". Safe for animals due to environmentally friendly ingredients.
Pills
The tablets are used internally. Consultation with a specialist is required.
Mode of application:
The pet must eat the correct dose of the drug after eating.
Popular brands:
- "Comfortis".
- "Lufenuron".
How to remove fleas from a cat quickly
What to do to remove fleas from kittens
The kitten is more sensitive to chemicals, so it is worth knowing how to treat it. Some drugs are contraindicated until a certain age. Mechanical removal of fleas is recommended, i.e. direct brushing is the most gentle way. You can also manually remove fleas from a kitten if there are not so many of them yet and they have not had time to lay eggs.
Drops and shampoos.
Carefully consider the choice of the drug. The package must indicate that it is possible to use at a certain age.
In the case of kittens, folk remedies for fleas are useful.
How to save a pregnant cat from fleas
How to get rid of cat fleas with folk remedies
Sagebrush
Use wormwood when bathing your animal.
- To do this, add some broth to the water.
- Apply a more concentrated solution to the skin of the animal.
This remedy is safe. It works effectively due to the smell that fleas are afraid of.
Essential oils
Infusions for rubbing and spraying
- Boil the sliced \u200b\u200blemon in half a liter of water for 5 minutes. Let it brew in a dark place for a day.
- Pour a solution of a mixture of table vinegar into a spray bottle, camphor alcohol and cologne in equal parts. Spray the animal. Bathe in 5 minutes.
- Make a decoction of geranium and lavender leaves: pour 60 grams of herbs with 650 ml of water, boil for 20 minutes.
- Rosemary infusion: boil 90 grams of the herb in 400 ml of water for half an hour. Let it brew.
Salt
This handy ingredient will also help fight fleas. Add a packet of table salt to a bucket of warm water. Place the pet up to its neck in this solution for 5 minutes. Then bathe.
Mix salt and baking soda in equal proportions. Treat your pet's bed, carpets. Vacuum after 24 hours.
Tar soap
Beat the soap into a strong foam, treat the pet. Rinse thoroughly after 5 minutes. Re-process in 3-4 days until the fleas are completely destroyed.
Prevention
Removing fleas is much more difficult than constantly preventive measures... Plus they are not that complicated. Bathe your cat often, and occasionally use a gentle flea shampoo. Wear an anti-flea collar on your pet, it lasts up to 2-3 months. You can also replace it with a simple drop on it essential oil tea tree or eucalyptus. Also, avoid pet contact with infected animals. Keep an eye on your pet, check it often for fleas, because the sooner you know about their presence, the easier it is to get rid of them. Be attentive to your pet.
Read also: Thick blood in a cat: causes, treatment, prevention
Important! The individual sensitivity of an animal is an important and unpredictable indicator. Many substances "harmless" to humans are extremely toxic to cats. Be careful and start processing from a small area of \u200b\u200bthe fur, monitor the condition of the animal. Only after making sure that there are no reactions, proceed to the full processing.
Complete victory is possible only with an integrated approach. In parallel with the treatment of the animal, it is necessary to get rid of fleas in the apartment, regularly handle the cat's bed and all the tools for grooming the hair. After processing the lounger, it is recommended to place a mattress filled with fresh pine sawdust under it. Fleas are afraid of the pine smell and will not be able to reproduce in a sunbed. If a dog, rodents and other mammals live in the apartment, flea treatment should be done simultaneously for everyone.
Note! Means for processing premises, household items and animals are completely different in composition!
Wormwood herb
The smell of wormwood scares off herbivorous mammals, birds and insects. Both fresh herb and pharmacy fees will do. Boil half a liter of water, move the container to a wooden cutting board, add 20 grams of the collection or 40 grams of fresh wormwood leaves. Cover the container and leave to cool completely. Strain the infusion through cheesecloth and transfer to a clean container for storage in the refrigerator (no longer than 48 hours). Use cotton pads or gauze to wipe your pet's fur.
Rosemary leaves
For 1 liter of water, take two full glasses (250 ml) of fresh rosemary leaves. The broth is cooked over low heat for 30 minutes. The resulting broth will be thick, it must be diluted with warm water and poured along the pet's spine. Rub in the liquid with massaging movements and do not rinse the broth - it should dry naturally.
Herbal mixtures
Both infusions are prepared at the rate of 20-30 grams of dry herbs per 1 liter of hot water. The container is closed and wrapped with a towel until it cools completely.
The defeat of cats by fleas in cities and towns in Russia is usually seasonal and by the end of summer and autumn, up to 70% of cats are affected by this ectoparasite.
In nature, there are more than 100 species of fleas infecting our pets, some of which can attack humans.
In cats, Ctenocephalides Felis (cat flea) is mainly found. Simultaneously with a cat flea, fleas from dogs and rodents can attack cats.
Morphology and developmental cycle.
Fleas are wingless insects. They have a bilaterally flattened body, covered with numerous spines and bristles, due to which fleas are held between the hair of the cat's coat. The flea has six legs, the two hind legs are more developed, thanks to which the flea has the ability to move in the cat's hair at any angle and make long jumps, up to 1.5 meters. A flea has special tactile hairs on its abdomen that are very sensitive to any vibration in the air. The chitinous cover protects the flea from any mechanical damage... Adults are brown, female size 2-2.3 mm, male size 2-2.5 mm. Piercing-sucking mouth apparatus, simple eyes, the epipharynx and antennae are located on the chitinous head. Adult fleas feed on the cat's blood. Sometimes they can feed on the blood of other animals. The blood enters the flea's stomach. Which has a volume of about 0.5 µl, at the same time, when sucking cat blood, the stomach is able to accommodate a volume of blood 10-20 times more. The flea stomach is able to digest a small amount of drunk blood, most of blood is secreted by the flea outside into the hair of the cat in the form of small black stools. It has been noticed that the flea has the ability to starve for several months. On external examination of flea-infected wool, we find a large amount of these feces, which look like poppy seeds.
The clinical picture. The defeat of a cat by fleas is accompanied by the presence of highly itchy areas on the body, while the cat does not just itch constantly, but gnaws into the bite with its teeth. As a result of constant scratching, hair falls out in certain areas of the body (the neck area is more often affected), and the combed skin becomes covered with reddish crusts. The constant itching makes the cat nervous. On clinical examination, the veterinarian finds in the hair skin sucked flat miniature dots, outwardly similar to millet grain. Having drunk blood, fleas begin to move actively, and in some cases jump. With the help of a magnifying glass, you can see a dark brown flat, elongated body measuring 2 or 3 mm in size, there are no wings, and long jumping hind legs. Upon close examination, a specialist finds flea waste products in the depths of the fur near the skin - fine-grained excrement of dark color. At the same time, a close examination can find flea eggs, which, unlike excrement, are oval, larger and white in color.
In cats, as a result of flea infestation, complications in the form of pyotraumatic dermatitis often occur. In case of severe damage by fleas, as a result of a decrease in the amount of blood, we register anemia. Sometimes we note the symptoms of lymphadenopathy and eosinophilia.
Diagnosis on the defeat of a cat with fleas, put on the basis of the collected anamnesis, clinical picture disease, season and, of course, based on the detection of fleas or flea feces. When making a diagnosis, you can resort to a thorough combing of the coat with a thick comb. Place the particles combed out of the hair on a moistened filter paper. A few minutes later, a red zone appears around the combed out grains - which is flea feces with excess blood. The presence of a red zone is considered to be a diagnostic sign of flea damage to a cat, even if no live fleas were found. The disease is accompanied by the presence of eosinophilia in the cat.
When carrying out flea treatment, owners have a problem with the fact that up to 90% of the fleas available are not in the cat's body (bedding, in carpets, room dust, etc.) and are very resistant to various adverse environmental factors, they are easy they are transferred, and as soon as favorable conditions come, they begin to multiply intensively. Proceeding from this, the fight against fleas should be carried out in a comprehensive manner and during the treatment you must observe the following:
You need to keep in mind that flea collars sold in the pharmacy network will not be able to solve the problem of flea damage to a cat. have a limited temporary effect and do not sanitize your premises from fleas. In addition, you should keep in mind that collars should never be used if the cat has hypersensitivity caused by flea bites. can lead to allergic reaction in a cat for the chemical elements of the collar. At the same time, electronic flea collars have shown little effectiveness in practice.
Now veterinary pharmacies for combating fleas offer a large selection of anti-flea remedies, including shampoos, drops on the withers and various sprays from both Russian and foreign manufacturers.
When treating to reduce itching, in initial stage of treatment, glucocorticoids are used (prednisone at a dose of 1-2 mg / kg of body weight once a day, for several days). Antihistamines are used and cats respond well to chlorphenylamine treatment.
To destroy fleas on a cat, use low-toxic drugs based on Pyrethrins or Pyrethroids (Bio Kill, etc.), as well as Carbamates.
In order to destroy fleas in habitats, preparations regulating the growth of insects are used. One of the representatives of this group is the analogue of the juvenile hormones Metoprene. Its use in the environment does not allow flea larvae to pupate (it should never be used on cats). A flea-affected cat can be treated with lufenuron emulsion for 4 weeks by squirting into oral cavity... In this case, a flea, having sucked blood from a cat treated with this drug, will be able to lay eggs, but the development cycle as a result of a violation of chitin synthesis will be disrupted, as a result of which flea larvae will not develop. This method promotes the gradual elimination of fleas in your home.
Flea medications in cats
When treating cats for fleas, a number of drugs are used that have an effect on fleas:
- Rolf Club flea shampoo, Celandine shampoo, Fitoelita shampoo, Lugovoy flea shampoo, Mr. Kiss ”, Shampoo“ Bio Groom ”, etc.
- Spray "Bars".
- Flea powder "Flicar", "Insectin", "Celandine".
Folk remedies for fleas in cats
When treating cats for fleas, some owners use folk remedies, justifying this by the fact that the cat will not come into contact with certain insecticides used in the treatment of fleas. And if your cat has a predisposition to allergies to poisons, then this will generally be the only option for getting rid of fleas from the cat.
Folk remedies for fleas include:
- Combing fleas and their eggs from the cat's fur. This method is laborious due to the presence of eggs in fleas. The cat has to be combed out several times during the day. fleas move very quickly along the coat, and you will not be able to identify all fleas at one time. This process will facilitate the use of a special electric comb, which kills fleas with mild shocks while remaining harmless to the cat.
- Bathing a cat using tar soap... A cat affected by fleas must be thoroughly lathered to the skin and kept in this state for 10 minutes, after which all the soap is washed off with plenty of water.
- Unfolding wormwood into the room. Wormwood is placed in various secluded places, the smell of wormwood can scare off fleas for a while.
The most effective today in the treatment of cats from fleas is considered to be drugs based on selamectin (Stronghold, manufacturer Pfizer Animal Health, USA), finpronil (Frontail, manufacturer MERIAL S.A. S, France), imidacloprid (Advantage, manufactured by Bayer, Germany).
Especially convenient are the above drugs, produced in the form of "spot-on" - small disposable pipettes and applied to the withers of the cat. They are applied by squeezing onto the skin (the coat must first be pushed apart) in those places where your cat cannot lick it with his tongue - this is from the back of the head to the shoulder blades. In the event that you keep several cats, then they must be isolated from each other for the period of treatment. Data medicines able to protect your cat from fleas for 4 weeks. Monthly use of these medications will not only protect your cat from flea infestation, but will also be able to destroy the residual flea population, as well as their eggs and larvae indoors.
Frontal... It is a drug of contact action. When applied to the withers, it is evenly distributed over the entire surface of the cat's body during the day, reaching the skin sebaceous glands, while the drug does not penetrate into the blood of the cat and its internal organs... Fleas die as a result of direct contact with the drug.
In veterinary pharmacies, Frontile can be purchased in the form of a spray. The spray is a more potent flea drug. This drug is good because it can be used in kittens from 2 days of age. It is not recommended to wash cats treated with a frontend for two days before starting treatment and two days after treatment.
Stronghold. As a result of applying this drug to the skin at the withers of the cat this medicine evenly distributed over the body of the animal. 
As a result of a bite, a flea receives a lethal dose for itself along with blood and quickly dies. You need to know that with small scales, scabs falling off and the remains of the fleas themselves, this drug gets on the bedding, carpets, furniture and other things in the house and destroys the larvae living there. This drug remains in the blood of a cat for a month, protecting it from fleas.
This drug should not be used in kittens younger than 6 weeks of age, in cats that are sick in one way or another. infectious diseaseas well as recovering animals.
Advantage... This drug belongs to medicines contact action i.e. in our case, fleas on the cat will die as a result of direct contact with the treated skin surface.
The advantage of using this drug is that it is able to kill additional larvae in those places where your cat lives. Which in turn will allow you to destroy the entire flea population in your apartment. The duration of action of this drug is one month. Additionally, it can be used to treat flea allergic dermatitis.
You can also use Advantage to remove fleas from your kittens from 8 weeks of age, as well as apply to pregnant and lactating cats. This drug has the so-called umbrella effect, that is, it will be enough for you to treat your lactating cat with it and this will protect your kittens from fleas.
If the cat freely walks around the yard and the personal plot, flea treatment should be carried out at least once every two months. For cats not leaving the apartment, preventive actions spend once every three months. Do not think that if the cat has not crossed the threshold of the home, fleas will bypass her. You yourself can bring them on clothes or shoes. This is why in houses where cleaning is rarely done, fleas appear even in the absence of pets.
If you use special drops for fleas that are applied to the withers, carefully read the instructions. It may indicate that the cat needs to be washed before using the drops. If there is no such clarification, remember: the cat is not bathed three days before and after treatment.
Be sure to use drugs that are intended only for cats! Some substances in dog products can cause irreparable harm to your cat.
If you sprayed the animal with drops or spray, do not let it lick the coat for at least half an hour.
To get rid of fleas completely, treat the resting area, toys, and scratching post. Vacuum thoroughly all surfaces that cannot be washed: carpets, upholstered furniture.
Observe the dosage indicated on the package. An insufficient amount of the applied product will not cause desired effect, and excess can lead to allergies.
It's easy to guess that a cat has fleas:
- the animal becomes anxious, restless, freezes, as if listening to something, and then makes sharp jumps;
- often itches, licks wool, tries to catch an insect with his teeth;
tiny wounds appear on the skin; - with severe infection, adults are detected visually - for example, on the face of an animal.
To find out if your pet has fleas, place it on a large sheet of white paper and comb it with a fine comb. If several insects have fallen on the paper or dark particles of flea excrement wake up, it's time to sound the alarm.
It is quite easy to rid your pet of fleas: in any pet store or veterinary pharmacy you will find a wide range of different shampoos, sprays, powders, collars and drops designed for this purpose.
Shampoos
There are many flea shampoos available, from the cheapest to the most expensive. However, they practically have no effect on the eggs and larvae of fleas, they are suitable only against adult insects, which means they belong to the category of ineffective ones. However, it never hurts to wash your pet with one of these products.
Powders
Not a very popular flea remedy. Powders have a similar effect (only on adult specimens), but sometimes cause a negative reaction in an animal in the form of irritation of the mucous membrane. Basically, they are used to treat babies.
Anti-flea collars
One of the most popular remedies for animals that "walk on their own." Collars such as "Barrier" or "Beafar" retain their properties for up to five months. Do not be afraid that your pet will be uncomfortable in a collar: it takes no more than one or two days for full adaptation, even in adult animals that have never worn a collar before.
The negative aspects include the following:
- the presence of a specific smell;
- sometimes the fur on the withers of the animal thins.
Collars are produced for adult animals and kittens.
Flea drops
Another very effective remedy - convenient to use and non-toxic, recommended veterinarians and experienced cat breeders.
There are also pills and injections for fleas.
Folk remedies
In addition to professional insect control agents, there are many folk remedies. They are quite effective and can be used in the event that you do not have the opportunity to visit a pet store or veterinary pharmacy.
Salt
To handle a cat, you need a small bowl with high sides, water and table salt. Take two tablespoons of salt for every liter of water. Dissolve the salt in warm water, place the pet in a bowl up to the neck and hold in this position for at least five minutes. After that, rinse the cat's coat thoroughly with clean water, dry with a towel and comb. The salt solution has a detrimental effect on the eggs and larvae of fleas, and adults do not tolerate it.
By the way, the same remedy is used to treat abscesses in cats: moisten a clean cloth with hot saline solution and apply it to the abscess for 5-10 minutes several times a day. A positive result is achieved very quickly.
Sagebrush
The familiar wormwood has proven itself well as a remedy for fleas in cats. Brew a tablespoon of pharmacy wormwood with a glass of boiling water, cool slowly under the lid and moisten the pet's fur in a warm state.
For greater effectiveness, you can add the same amount of tansy to the wormwood. However, be careful: if you see that your pet is not feeling well, immediately wash off the broth and give him an antihistamine. Usually cats tolerate herbal treatment well, but in some cases an allergic reaction may occur.
Coniferous sawdust
Fleas do not like the smell of pine needles and coniferous sawdust. If your cat is used to sleeping on a mattress, make him a special one - not tightly stuffed with pine or spruce sawdust. You can put a couple of dry wormwood sprigs in it. Your pet will smell like a Christmas tree and not a single flea will encroach on him!
How to remove fleas from a cat with kittens
If a pregnant cat has fleas, it is imperative to remove them before offspring. In this case, one cannot do without consulting an experienced veterinarian, since folk remedies or funds bought at random can harm not only the expectant mother, but also her babies. Bathing (unless your cat is a fan water treatments) for a pregnant cat - considerable stress. It is especially dangerous to bathe her at a later date because of the threat of premature birth.
Many veterinarians recommend using Front Line spray during this period. It can be used not only for treating a pregnant cat, but even for kittens from the age of seven days. The Stronghold spray has proven itself well. Bars is quite suitable as a budget option.
How to get rid of fleas from a kitten
Breeding fleas in kittens has its own characteristics.
- The smallest - about a month old - will have to urgently get acquainted with warm water and pet shampoo, and in case of its absence - with tar or even laundry soap. The kitten's fur is abundantly moistened with whipped foam, leaving only the head dry, kept for four minutes, then rinsed abundantly with running water and dried with a terry towel.
- If the kitten is at least two months old, you can wash it with shampoo, which is used against fleas in adult animals. If at this age the kitten is not in contact with its mother, lives in another house (for example, you bought a two-month-old baby), the range of means used is significantly expanded. These can be drops on the withers, intended for kittens, sprays, powder or dusting.
- Starting at three months, the kitten is treated for fleas, as an adult animal, and wearing a flea collar.
In the apartment
To prevent fleas from returning to their chosen place in the fluffy fur of your pet, you need to disinfect the entire apartment.
Professional pest control
The most effective way is to heat the home with a heat gun. The pest control team will assess how contaminated the apartment is, and, in accordance with this, will choose a method for exterminating the insects. All you need to do is prepare your home for the arrival of specialists and pay for their services.
Do not be alarmed if after a few days fleas in the apartment appear again. Surely their eggs or larvae remained in deep crevices. They will not survive on contact with treated surfaces. This phenomenon can be observed up to 4-5 weeks, after which the insects will leave you alone.
Self-processing
If you do not have the opportunity or desire to use the services of professionals, you can disinfect the apartment yourself. For this purpose, you will need an insecticidal spray or powder.
Aerosol treatment
- Before proceeding with disinfection, remove all living things from the apartment: children and adults, except for your helpers, animals, birds, aquarium fish and indoor plants.
- Throw out the trash in advance, get rid of unnecessary things.
- Move furniture away from the walls. If there is carpet hanging on the wall, remove it.
- Treat all items in the apartment with the selected aerosol, including upholstered furniture, clothes, shoes, bedding. Try to get the drug into every crevice.
- Close windows and doors tightly and leave your home for a few hours, preferably at night.
The next day, thoroughly ventilate the apartment, wash and wash everything that has been processed.
Powder treatment
Unlike aerosols, powdered insecticides are less effective. You will have to wait much longer for the desired result. But you don't have to leave your apartment.
Powders are poured in places of the greatest accumulation of fleas: behind the baseboards, in the corners, in hard-to-reach cracks. When in contact with the powder, not only eggs and larvae die, but also adult insects.
An effective flea remedy
One of the most popular remedies for fleas and other blood-sucking insects in cats is a drop called "Bars", which combines a very reasonable price and high quality. These drops can be used to treat kittens from 2.5 months and adult cats.
Watch the dosage! This is very important due to increased sensitivity cats to permethrin, which is active ingredient drug.
A single use of "Barsa" relieves the animal of fleas and ticks for a period of one to two months.
The cost of removing fleas from a cat
- anti-flea collars - from 200 to 500 rubles, you can find from 75 rubles;
- shampoos - from 95 to 800 rubles;
- sprays - from 300 to 950 rubles;
- drops on the withers - from 150 to 800 rubles.