Infected animals are disturbed by periodic itching that occurs when the skin is punctured. In the process of a flea bite, it releases saliva into the wound, which causes an allergic reaction. With prolonged scratching of damaged areas, scratches form, which can lead to hair loss.
Important! Flea infection is especially dangerous for kittens. The presence of parasites can cause weight loss and anemia, and if there are a lot of fleas, it can even be fatal. Therefore, you need to know how to get rid of fleas in kittens.
Causes and signs of infection
Many are surprised at the parasite infection of their pet. Why did fleas appear if the cat does not go outside the apartment, and where did they come from? Bloodsuckers can get into the hair of cats in various ways.
- Upon contact with infected animals;
- A person can become a carrier of fleas through shoes or clothes, having been in an infected room;
- Parasites can move into the house from unclean neighbors or from the basement if the apartment is on the ground floor;
- From the grass while walking.
The presence of fleas in the hair of a cat can be determined by the following criteria.
- The cat is itching hard.
- Parasites and traces of their life in the form of small black dots resembling ground pepper can be detected by visual inspection of the pet's hair.
- White flea eggs can be seen in a cat's berth.
- The presence of an allergic reaction on the body of the pet, which is a consequence of a flea bite. This is due to the fact that insect saliva contains toxic substances.
Look like parasites, their eggs and traces of life, you can see in the photo.
If these symptoms are found in an animal, it is necessary to apply an anti-flea remedy. If the destruction of parasites is not done on time, it will be more difficult to remove fleas from a cat, as bloodsuckers breed very quickly.
Means for removing fleas in domestic cats
When pet parasites appear, owners of pets are interested in how and how to get fleas from a cat. Picking up effective means for removing fleas, you should pay attention to the composition of the drug. It is also necessary to take into account the age of the cat or cat, the breed of the animal, the degree of infection with parasites and the possible presence of other pets. This is due to the fact that not every remedy is suitable for use by kittens or is effective with a large accumulation of parasites. Knowing these nuances will help you choose the right tool and properly handle the cat.
For kittens or cats "on demolition" the safest is the method of combing bloodsuckers using a small comb. Complete elimination of bloodsuckers can be achieved with daily combing of animal hair. Periodically, the comb should be washed with water and wiped with a light cloth. Combed fleas, their larvae, eggs and excrement are burned or destroyed by hand.
Today, there are a lot of tools that will help rid a cat of fleas.
Shampoo
One of the means by which a cat can get fleas is shampoo. Its use gives a good effect, however, not every pet likes it. The method of using anti-flea shampoo is quite simple. The detergent must be foamed well on the cat’s coat and left for a couple of minutes, then rinse thoroughly with clean water.
When buying shampoo, you should pay attention to the composition of the drug: it should not contain components harmful to the health of the animal. Shampoos are especially popular today. Leopard, Lugovoi, Insectin and Phytoelitis.
Injections and pills
If you find fleas in a domestic cat, you can help the animal get rid of them with the help of injectable drugs. Their advantage is the safety of the pet in case of possible contact with their relatives. Flea injections are contraindicated in nursing and pregnant cats due to the fact that the active substance of the drug can harm the health of kittens. You can make a flea injection in almost any veterinary office.
Have similar action tablets. The advantage of this method lies in its action from the inside, which limits the ability to lick the drug with a cat from the surface of his coat. The active substance contained in the tablets, getting into the blood of an animal, acts destructively on biting insects. The maximum effect can be achieved by combining this method with other methods of control.
Drops
Quickly enough, you can rid a cat of fleas using drops at the withers. This tool has a destructive and repelling effect on parasites. Using drops is easy enough. They need to be applied in the withers and along the spine. The effect of the drug is so effective that you can observe how the bloodsuckers are in a hurry to leave the cat's body. How often you can poison fleas is indicated in the instructions. Well-proven such drops:
- Inspector;
- Adventage;
- Blokhnet;
- Stronghold;
- Dana Ultra Neo;
- Rolf Club 3D;
- Delix;
- Drops at the withers 4 with a tail.
Collars
Means for removing fleas in cats can be made in the form of special collars. They not only quickly rid the pet of insects, but are also used as preventative measures. The advantage of collars is ease of use, especially when walking. Another positive point is a long period of action (collars protect against parasites for 2-5 months). The following collars are in demand among consumers:
Sprays
Good effect in the fight against parasites give sprays. The drug is sprayed onto the cat's coat, causing the death of insects. It is important to use the product in accordance with its instructions. The main condition is to prevent the substance from getting into the eyes and mucous membranes of the pet. Etching fleas in this way is preferable in the fresh air or in a well-ventilated area. More often, cat lovers prefer sprays like Front line, Delix or Bars.
Folk remedies
How to get rid of fleas in a cat with folk methods very simple.
- Scares off parasites smell of wormwood, rosemary, lavender, geranium, eucalyptus, tansy. The broth prepared from these herbs should be treated with animal hair and a cat's mattress. In case of severe defeat by fleas, the procedure must be repeated after 3 days.For preventive purposes, cat hair should be treated 2 times a month.
- If the house has a flea cat, then insects can be poisoned with essential oils - cedar or rosemary. It is enough to add a few drops to the shampoo and wash it well with the pet’s hair.
- You can also get rid of fleas with garlic. Its smell causes parasites to panic. To process the pet's coat, you need to take 2-3 cloves of garlic and grate or chop with a knife. Pour 1 liter of warm boiled water and insist for 10-12 hours. This infusion needs to treat the withers of the cat. The effect will increase if brewer's yeast is added to the infusion on the tip of the knife. In no case should you apply the product to other parts of the body, since garlic has toxic properties and is contraindicated in animals.
- You can also poison fleas in a cat with saline and needles, which need to be filled with the bedding.
What to do if a cat has found fleas
The removal of fleas in cats at home is a simple process, however, it requires patience.
- First, parasitic insects should be removed from the hair of a cat or cat using one of the available means. After several days, it is necessary to comb the pet's hair from dead fleas and their larvae.
- The purchase of a collar will prevent the occurrence of cat fleas. For this purpose, tablets can also be used.
- It is also necessary to pay attention to the place where the animal is sleeping. To process its mattress or bedding with any anti-flea remedy, after which it is better to stuff with needles.
- Parallel required to process the room with the most effective means, which contains a domestic cat to destroy the insects that have spread in it. It is necessary to wash the floor using whiteness, herbal decoctions or a solution of soda and salt. Especially carefully go through the places where parasites were found.
- To eliminate seedlings, you can use a household hair dryer. It will help not only to dry dampness in hard-to-reach places, but also flea eggs, which will not endure such tests. The bedding and items infected by the bloodsuckers need to be rubbed and ironed.
- If possible, contact with infected animals should be avoided so that parasites do not have to be poisoned again.
- Regularly inspect the cat's coat and do prophylaxis using sprays, tablets or collars. You can periodically bathe your pet using anti-flea shampoo or herbal decoctions. After all, preventing a disease is much simpler and more effective than treating it. Therefore, if you deprive fleas of the opportunity to infect a domestic cat or cat, then subsequently treatment of the animal will not be needed.
Reviews
Oleg: The question of what to do if a cat has fleas has become relevant for us this summer. I tried various folk remedies, I can’t remove these parasites. We'll have to use chemicals, no matter how I would like to protect my pet from harmful substances.
Irina: Our cat was infected with fleas in the summer at the cottage, from neighboring pets. Before returning to the apartment they were taken out with drops of Bars. They helped us quickly enough, but also put on a flea-proof collar for prevention.
Natalia: Our cat suddenly got fleas. They took them out for a long time and realized that it was important not only how and how to treat the cat from fleas, but also to do wet cleaning in the apartment. After all, these creatures breed very quickly and infect the entire room. How to wash? I use salt or whiteness for this purpose. Cheap and effective, as practice has shown.
Elena: Having discovered fleas in a cat, she bathed him in a decoction of tansy and wormwood herbs, and put on an anti-flea collar. For the purpose of prevention, such water procedures are repeated every 2 weeks. You can also use laundry soap.