Cat Fleas And Ticks – Get Rid
Of Those Itchy Insects

Has your cat become infested with fleas or ticks? If his buggy skin and continuous scratching has been keeping you up all night, not to mention driving your cat crazy, it's time for you to get those fleas or ticks under control.

Even the cleanest cats can end up with a flea infestation. 

All it takes to turn your clean, flea-less pet into a flea bag is a chace meeting with one friendly stray cat or dog that comes along for a visit and leaves his fleas behind.

When a person or cat walks outside, he will pick up the fleas and bring them inside. Even one flea can lay millions of eggs. When the eggs hatch, you will have a full scale infestation both inside and outside your home.

Some people don't want to risk having fleas or ticks at all and use a flea and tick preventative before the insects even appear.

Two of the most well known flea and tick preventatives for cats are Frontline and Advantix.

These products both come as pre-measured liquid treatments which are quick and easy to use. The treatment is applied directly to your cat's skin and works to kill fleas and ticks right away as soon as they hop onto your cat.

However, most people wait until they see fleas or ticks before they begin fighting them.

Of course, if you see tiny black or dark brown insects hopping around, there is little doubt that your cat is flea infested.

By the time you see fleas, though, you probably already have a major infestation on your hands - far better to protect your cat from fleas before they get the upper hand.

Why not make sure you catch any flea problems right away by looking for signs of fleas on a regular basis?

To look for fleas, you should purchase a flea comb.

Carefully comb through your cat's hair, paying close attention to the hair around his head and on his belly.

Fleas like to hide around a cat's ears, eyes, and nose. They also tend to hang out in the creases where a cat's legs and body meet.

If you catch a flea, you will know that your cat is starting to develop a flea infestation.

However, what if your cat has a flea that could make stealth operatives look like amateurs?

While the flea may be able to evade your comb, the dirt he leaves behind will not. If you see specks of blackish dirt in the comb's teeth, this is evidence that fleas are hiding somewhere on your cat.

To find ticks, run your hands over your cat's body, looking for any raised spots.

If you find a raised spot, check it closely to see if it has little legs. If so, your cat has a tick.

Ask your veterinarian about having the tick removed, as removing one yourself can often result in the tick's head staying behind in your cat's skin, which can lead to infections and poisoning if not treated.

To get those cat fleas and ticks under control, you can use one of the liquid flea and tick treatments, flea or tick collars, and flea and tick baths.

If your house has become flea infested, you may also need to use powder or spray on your cat's bedding and your upholstered furniture.

If all else fails, you can use a flea and tick bomb on your house, but be sure to keep your pets out of the building for at least twenty four hours.

To read more about owning cats and kittens, click here to return to the Cat Ownership Tips home page.