How to get rid of fleas and stop them biting your cat.

In order to get rid of fleas you much treat both the cat and the home. Here is a link to TREATING FLEAS IN THE HOME

To claim victory, you must kill all the forms of the flea, on the cat and in all the spots the cat likes.

Fleas can be found as eggs, larva, pupa (cocoon), and adult fleas. Adults are most likely to be on the cat but eggs, larva and pupa are most likely to be off the cat, in it's bed or in areas it hangs out on. To eliminate fleas you must get rid of all the phases of the life cycle in all the spots your cat likes. You might want to check out my Life Cycle of the cat flea. If you only kill the adult flea, the other forms will become adults and re-infect your cat.

There is more need for flea control in the warmer months since conditions are better for flea development. Fleas can multiply very quickly so quick action once you spot a problem can prevent a much larger problem just a few weeks later.

Because of the ability of the flea to slow down its development in poor conditions, a flea infestation can persist for several months even when no animal is present. A cat flea can dine on cats but also on many other animals including dogs mice and raccoons. Although they will bite humans they cannot lay eggs easily after a human meal.

University of Kentuky has a good article on flea control. It is not specific to cats so before you use some of the suggested flea control insecticides, CHECK THAT THEY ARE SAFE FOR CATS.

What are the methods of flea control on the cat?

• Spot treatment on the cat, shoulder blade drops.
• Pills, can be used
• Insect Growth Regulator
• Shampoo
• Flea powder and spray.

Spot-on Treatments

Spot on Flea treatments is an effective way of controlling fleas on cats. It is (in my opinion) the best and overall safest method of controlling fleas on cats. A drop of insecticide is placed between the cat's shoulder blades. Gradually the flea treatment migrates over most of the cat's body because of oils on the skin of the cat and the active grooming a cat does. This insecticide is geared specifically to the flea and has proved to be very safe for most cats.

Spot on treatment work either as a systemic insecticide, where the flea killing chemical is absorbed by the cat and the flea is poisoned when biting, or as a surface insecticide where the flea is killed by the product that is on the outside of the cat.

Spot on treatments are usually applied once a month. Bravecta is an exception, it is applied once every 3 months.

There are many different brands I use a product by Bayers called Advantage II. I have found that it works very well for my cats. I have one cat that is sensitive and reacts to it. The others do well with it. It kills without the need for fleas to bite.

I have also used "Revolution" for cats and it has worked well. I buy it from my vet. Good Spot treatments are pricey but they work very well and in the end save you trouble and money.

Done regularly over a year or more, the life cycle of the flea is disrupted and fleas are eliminated.

Although most cats tolerate spot-on treatment quite well, some are sensitive and will suffer side effects such as drooling, twitching or erratic behaviors. The spot on treatment are insecticides which are nerve poisons to the insect. Older cats, kittens or sick cats are more likely to suffer side effects, sometimes quite severe.

Young children should not be allowed to come in contact with the cat immediately after administering the treatment.

Dog spot treatment should NEVER be used on cats. Cats are more sensitive to poison and some of the medicines that are perfectly safe for dogs are DEADLY to cats such as Pyrmethrins.

Many spot treatments will have an insecticide that kills adult fleas, and an insect growth regulator the interferes with the development of the eggs, larva and pupa. This prevents them from maturing into adult biting fleas.

Some spot treatment also help prevent and treat ear mites, ticks, mange, and some internal parasites. Here is a link to Veterinary Partner. It has links to the various products for fleas on Cats and Dogs. The link is a pdf file. It lists the chemicals in the various spot and pill (also one injection) used for flea control.

I've used Bravecta, it controls fleas and ticks on cats for 3 months. Some cats are sensitive but for me it worked very well.

Medications given in Pill (Oral Medications.)

These act in a similar way as spot on treatment to kill fleas. Most pills do not contain insect growth regulator to control the larva egg and pupa. They kill the flea when it bites the cat.

Some of the pills are flavoured and some cats will take them with no argument at all. Others need the usual subterfuge to administer the medicine.

Insect Growth Regulator

These systemic medications appear to be quite safe but have not been around long enough for long term effects to be completely identified. Since they work by interrupting a process that is specific to the flea, usually preventing an enzyme or protein that regulates chitin formation they are very specific to insects since cats don't make chitin at all.

Insect growth regulators often are combined with insecticide to kill adult fleas. The insect growth regulator then breaks the life cycle by preventing the other forms from developing and becoming adult fleas.

This breaks the life cycle thus gradually eliminating the fleas.

Insect growth regulator are sprayed around the house and on the cat's bedding. Others are packaged with insecticide used in flea sprays. Read the instructions and follow them.

Flea Shampoo

There are many brands of medicated shampoos that kill fleas on contact. It is very effective in the short run and will kill all the adult fleas on the cat. Typically the fleas will run to the dry head of the cat and can be picked up. Alternatively a ring of wet sudsy shampoo can be made around the neck before the cat is immersed in water thus creating a barrier.

Typically the flea shampoo gets washed off as the cat is thoroughly rinsed off. Very little insecticide remains on the cat. Gloves should be worn. It may be necessary to regularly shampoo to kill newly emerged fleas.

Shampooing a cat or kitten is effective as a start for a heavy flea infection, but other methods such as systemic pills, or spot treatment should back it up. Shampoo does nothing for breaking the life cycle of the flea so it is useful as a start when backed up with insecticide spray or insect growth regulator for the premises.

Don't use dog products on cats EVER. I'm boring about this but cats have livers that cannot produce some enzymes used to get rid of toxins and so are easy to poison. Dogs can produce the enzymes so more substances are safe around dogs than cats.

If your cat is very sensitive just bathing your cat in water can be effective and will force the fleas up where you can pick them up and put them in alcohol or soapy water.

Bathing your cat with ordinary cat shampoo (not medicated) or with pure soap with no scent or colour, can be an effective way of controlling fleas particularly if the bath lasts for a few minutes and is long enough to drown the fleas. It helps to have a helper looking out for fleas which will crawl to the cat's head. If your cat has short hair it might be possible to use a flea comb. I've not found flea combs to be much good over the full body but to get fleas off a cat's head they work. Flea combs is useful to check for fleas, if you can pull it through your cat's hair.

Use a mild shampoo designed for cats.

Flea Collars

Flea collars repel and kill fleas by using an insecticide impregnated in the collar. Without being very effective they somewhat work, there are several drawbacks.

Flea collars contain insecticides which can poison your cat if he chews on it. Sometimes where the collar contacts the skin gets irritated or the cat reacts badly to the collar. The same warnings for small children applies, it's hard not to handle a flea collar if the cat is wearing it. To work properly the collar must be properly adjusted. There is always a danger of chocking if the cat is allowed outside and the collar gets caught.

Some cats respond badly to flea collars. In the same way as spot treatment, cats can be very sensitive to the insecticide and suffer convulsions, drooling and erratic behaviour. The collar can also cause irritation, allergic reactions and hair loss where it touches the cat.

If you plan to use a collar, a good plan is to leave the collar on for a week or less, then remove it for 3 weeks then replace it for another week. This way the adult fleas are killed, then as new generation emerges they get killed when the collar goes back on.

Follow instructions carefully for size and age of the cat.

NEVER use a collar designed for a dog on a cat.

Flea collars are not a great way of controlling fleas and can poison you, your kids or your kits.

Flea Dips are dangerous

Flea dips are chemicals that are diluted and applied to the cat either by dipping in the solution or by using a wet cloth or sponge. The Dip is not rinsed off.

Dips are dangerous and any mistakes or misuse can lead to serious toxic reactions. Do not use dips on your pets unless you have no other choice. Never use on a sick, old or very young cat. Cats which have been treated this way should not be handled by young kids. Wear gloves if you use. In fact Avoid dips, there are better ways for everyone.

Sprays and Powders

There are many formulations of sprays and powders. Some as dangerous and toxic, others are relatively safe.

Breathing in the spray or powder can be dangerous for you and your cat. Be careful when you apply.

Diatomaceous earth with or without pyrethryn has been used and is relatively non toxic. However, other stabilizer are added to the mix and these are often quite dangerous to cats. Only use food grade formulations from reliable companies. Pyrethrins degrade in sunlight and has a relatively short life, but is fairly safe for cats. Flea will fall off a cat quite quickly but sometimes recover. The cats bedding should be vacuumed soon after the cat has been treated.

Diatomaceous Earth Food Grade 10 Lb
Diatomaceous earth can safely be used in the vegetable garden to control various insects as well as fleas.

It's important for you and your cat not to breathe in the dust, it makes it tricky to apply to a cat safely. It's better to use powders on bedding and in places where the cat hangs out.

Pyrethrin is NOT the same as permethrin. Permethrin is a synthetic pyrethrin, and is less easily broken down than pyrethrin. Although its toxicity is relatively low, it is higher than that of pyrethrin. Pyrethrins can be used on cats; permethrins should NOT be used on cats and can be deadly.

Use only cat products on cats. Sprays and flea powder aimed at other animals can kill your cat.

You must treat the home and cat bedding too.

If you want to eliminate fleas, you must actively treat the home as well as the cat. Here is a link to my page on treating fleas in the house

Here is a link to a commercial flea trap:Pumpkin Style Flea Trap with 2 Glue Discs

This will not rid you of fleas but will reduce numbers or adults. Larvae and eggs will not be affected. It is a good way of figuring out if you have a large infestation and where the fleas are though.

Ask your Vet

Talk to your vet for the latest in flea medication. There is a large range of products available, some are very safe while many are quite dangerous to you and your cat (and other pets) if mis-used. Some products control fleas, ticks, mites, parasites and some even target heart worm. Once you have a plan you can do the work and don't need to see the vet again unless you have problems.

Ear Mite Control

As a side benefit of controlling fleas in particular with drops between the shoulders, cat and dog ear mites will also be reduced or eliminated, and reinfection after treatment will be slowed.

Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station has an interesting article on fleas.

Alternative Treatment for Flea Control

There are several alternatives to insecticides. They are not as effective but they are not usually as toxic either. Some plants are dangerous so do your research. Just because it's natural does NOT mean it's safe.

Garlic is toxic to cats and dogs. Do not treat your animals with garlic. It might repel fleas but it is poison. ASPCA page on garlic toxicity to dogs, cats and horses.

Link to my page on Natural Flea Control for Cats

Treating Cats for Fleas, Summary

• Keep your cat inside so it cannot come in contact with fleas in the first place.
• Keep the cat out of areas that are hard to reach and clean so that he doesn't get re-infested. Flea eggs fall off the cat and can stay alive for several months before hatching.
• Drops can be applied on the shoulder blades and some are very safe and effective while others are more dangerous. Some cats are sensitive though. Some drops can treat ticks and ear mites as well.
• Bathing in Vet approved flea shampoos is effective to remove adult fleas.
• Just bathing in a mild shampoo can remove and drown fleas, particularly if you pick off fleas that flee to the head to avoid drowning.
• Flea collars are also available but carry some risks and are not very effective.
• Powders and sprays are available. They have to be applied carefully in order that the cat does not inhale dangerous powder or aerosols. Or for that matter that YOU do not inhale nasty flea killer.
• Fumigating Flea bombs and dips where the chemicals are allowed to remain, are dangerous and should not be used.
• Insect Growth Regulators are very effective in preventing fleas from developing. They are relatively safe as well.
• Do not use Dog products on Cats. Some dog flea treatment products containing permethrin can cause deaths in cats. Even just being close to dogs that have been treated with it can be dangerous to cats.
• Garlic, nutritional yeast, and most essential oils don't work. Essential oil can poison a cat. See my Natural control of fleas and cats. Electronic flea repellant DO NOT work, don't waste your money.
• On to TREATING FLEAS IN THE HOME

emails: Christine

This article is provided for information only. It is not to be used instead of consulting a VET. If your kitty is sick get some help.