Fleas are all too common here in Oregon, and we see them on cats all the time here in the clinic, even on many indoor cats! If your cat has fleas, then there are two ways in which you should approach the treatment of them:
1. Treat your cat – Keep in mind that not all flea products are the same. In fact, some can even be very dangerous for your cat not to mention many brands have become quite ineffective. At Cat Care Professionals, our doctors recommended using Revolution. Revolution protects cats from fleas, heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, and ear mites! While you can’t buy Revolution from the pet store, you can find it here at CCP, or you can visit our online pharmacy to have it shipped right to your door.
2. Treat your cat’s environment (i.e. your home) – First, you will need to vacuum your home every day to remove as many fleas and flea eggs as possible. Always make sure to dispose of the bag after use because fleas can escape from the vacuum and return to your home. Then, wash all clothes and bedding that your cat has come in contact with. At this point, you may wish to introduce an insecticide. If you do, read the instructions and take all safety precautions to protect both your family and your pets. We recommend using Siphotrol which is a premise spray designed to help the eradication process.
In order to understand why it’s so difficult to control a flea infestation, you have to look at the life cycle of the flea. When an adult flea bites and feeds on the blood of their host, they lay their eggs, and females can lay up to 50 eggs each and every day. Then, in 5 days-10 days, the larvae molt and make a cocoon. They only emerge from the cocoon in their adult form, however, once they have been signaled by their environment that the optimal conditions are present. So, the whole life cycle can actually take anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months. This is important to remember because when you treat for fleas, you must not only kill the adults but interrupt the whole reproductive cycle in order to prevent future generations of fleas from hatching.
This is why we recommend the investment of just a little bit of time each month into a prevention program like Revolution so fleas never even become a problem. As mentioned, our doctors recommend Revolution because it is the safest and most effective flea prevention on the market. Not to mention, it’s really easy to use! As a topical medication, you just apply it to the skin on the back of your cat’s neck every 3 to 4 weeks. As caring pet owners, we can prevent these infestations and save our cats from ever having to experience them.
P.S. We’d love for you to join us on social media where you can connect with everything that’s happening here at CCP. For the latest news, inspiring stories, helpful information to improve your cat’s life, and, of course, adorable cat pics, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/catcareprofessionals.