How Do I Prevent My Cat From Getting Fleas?
It’s highly likely that one or all of your pets come in to contact with other animals regularly, all of which may be carrying at least one flea! As they say, prevention is better than cure, which is certainly the case in helping stop your cat from getting fleas. Protect your pet by keeping their flea treatments up to date all year round.
Cat Flea Symptoms
Aside from seeing fleas on your cat, a cat flea symptom is ‘flea dirt’; black dots throughout your cat’s coat.
Flea dirt is excrement and dried blood, left behind by fleas whenever they live and breed on your buddy. Places to check for fleas or flea dirt include in armpits, groin, around the ears, belly and the base of the tail.
Test whether your cat has fleas by placing a large piece of damp paper towel beneath them as you brush their coat with a flea comb. As the flea dirt hits the damp paper, a small red blot will appear.
Other cat flea symptoms include:
- Scratching
- Chewing
- Licking
- Restlessness
- Head shaking
Get rid of cat fleas by breaking the flea lifecycle
Fleas lay hundreds of eggs and can infest a household in a matter of weeks. The adult fleas that are visible on your cat makes up only 5% of the number of flea eggs and larval in your cat’s environment. This is why it’s important to treat your house for fleas as well as your cat, and why your cat should be treated even when we don’t see any actual fleas on them!
1. Wash your pet’s bedding, and anything else your pet sleeps on, in hot water
Washing your pet’s bedding is essential. Your pet won’t stop scratching for long if they jump in to a flea-riddled bed shortly after being treated! Use hot water if you can (a trip to the laundrette might be in order) for the best chance of killing any flea eggs that might be present. If your pet shares your bed or sleeps on the couch, factor in time to wash these things too.
2. Vacuum carpets frequently
Thoroughly and frequently vacuuming carpets in your home will help draw out fleas and their eggs.
3. Keep your pet’s flea treatments up to date!
The most important step in keeping your cat flea-free. All other steps will be less effective if your pet’s flea treatment is not kept up-to-date all year round.
As part of their ongoing healthcare, your cat should also be vaccinated and their worm treatment kept up to date.