For pet owners, cat flea treatment is just as important as keeping your dog flea-free.
You can easily see fleas crawling on white cats but if your cat has dark fur you may not realize your feline has a flea problem.
Dogs will furiously scratch at fleas and draw your attention with their grunts and whines.
Your cat, on the other hand, appears to be grooming himself as usual and it may not be until you notice areas of thinning fur or raised bumps from bites that you realize there is a problem.
Some cats seem resistant to the flea activity in their fur.
It's not unusual to find one cat in a household that has few, if any, fleas while it's housemate of a different color is being eaten alive by the parasites.
Though cat owners may think their white and light colored cats are more prone to having fleas it's more likely the fleas and their detritus are easier to see in the fur of a pale cat.
Fleas threaten the health of a cat.
When they bite they are drawing blood.
A cat with a large number of fleas can become anemic and display pale, almost white gums.
This is caused by blood loss and can be life threatening if not treated.
For a small cat, a moderate flea population in his fur can lead to anemia.
Fleas also carry other parasites such as tapeworm.
All fleas are not the same.
There are five types of fleas that feed on blood and can be difficult to get rid of.
There is a dog flea but the common flea we encounter in the U.
S.
is the cat flea that also can use dogs (and people) as hosts.
It is not the type of flea that determines what cat flea treatment to use but the species of pet.
Most flea treatments for dogs are clearly labeled "for dogs only" and further warnings are often included in the packaging stating the product should never be used on cats.
Permethrin is an example of why this warning exists.
Permethrins are effective as flea control for dogs but can be fatal to a cat's delicate metabolism.
Some dog flea products such as k9 Advantix warn against use on a dog if the canine has close contact with a cat in the household.
Some cats suffer from flea allergy dermatitis and for these animals you need a product that quickly kills adult fleas and then continues to interrupt the life stages of the flea to prevent biting.
These products use an IGR (insect growth regulator) in combination with a product to kill adult fleas.
Cats with flea allergy dermatitis may have bare spots or thinning of the fur around the base of their tail and you can feel bumps on the cat when you pet it.
The bumps are most often located around the neck and behind the ears and are allergic reactions to flea bites the cat has suffered.
Untreated, cats with flea allergy dermatitis may develop skin infections.
Over the counter products like Itch Stop can ease the skin reaction and itching until the cat flea treatment takes effect and rids your feline friend of nasty fleas.
Kittens less than 10-12 weeks old should not be treated with topical flea drops.
Instead, gently bathe the kitten with warm water and gentle dish soap such as Original Dawn or Ivory Liquid.
Rinse thoroughly and use a fine toothed flea comb to remove any fleas or flea dirt left on the cat.
To keep the kitten flea free for a while, wash or treat the pet's bedding when you bathe the animal.
Spot on products that claim to provide freedom from fleas for your cat are often sold in pet stores and discount stores at low prices.
These products are not the same formulation as the poplar Advantage and Frontline Plus cat flea treatments and will not eliminate fleas for more than a few days, if that.
Buy a cat flea treatment product from a reputable pet medication site.
No prescription is required and prices are significantly less than purchasing through your local vet's office.
You can easily see fleas crawling on white cats but if your cat has dark fur you may not realize your feline has a flea problem.
Dogs will furiously scratch at fleas and draw your attention with their grunts and whines.
Your cat, on the other hand, appears to be grooming himself as usual and it may not be until you notice areas of thinning fur or raised bumps from bites that you realize there is a problem.
Some cats seem resistant to the flea activity in their fur.
It's not unusual to find one cat in a household that has few, if any, fleas while it's housemate of a different color is being eaten alive by the parasites.
Though cat owners may think their white and light colored cats are more prone to having fleas it's more likely the fleas and their detritus are easier to see in the fur of a pale cat.
Fleas threaten the health of a cat.
When they bite they are drawing blood.
A cat with a large number of fleas can become anemic and display pale, almost white gums.
This is caused by blood loss and can be life threatening if not treated.
For a small cat, a moderate flea population in his fur can lead to anemia.
Fleas also carry other parasites such as tapeworm.
All fleas are not the same.
There are five types of fleas that feed on blood and can be difficult to get rid of.
There is a dog flea but the common flea we encounter in the U.
S.
is the cat flea that also can use dogs (and people) as hosts.
It is not the type of flea that determines what cat flea treatment to use but the species of pet.
Most flea treatments for dogs are clearly labeled "for dogs only" and further warnings are often included in the packaging stating the product should never be used on cats.
Permethrin is an example of why this warning exists.
Permethrins are effective as flea control for dogs but can be fatal to a cat's delicate metabolism.
Some dog flea products such as k9 Advantix warn against use on a dog if the canine has close contact with a cat in the household.
Some cats suffer from flea allergy dermatitis and for these animals you need a product that quickly kills adult fleas and then continues to interrupt the life stages of the flea to prevent biting.
These products use an IGR (insect growth regulator) in combination with a product to kill adult fleas.
Cats with flea allergy dermatitis may have bare spots or thinning of the fur around the base of their tail and you can feel bumps on the cat when you pet it.
The bumps are most often located around the neck and behind the ears and are allergic reactions to flea bites the cat has suffered.
Untreated, cats with flea allergy dermatitis may develop skin infections.
Over the counter products like Itch Stop can ease the skin reaction and itching until the cat flea treatment takes effect and rids your feline friend of nasty fleas.
Kittens less than 10-12 weeks old should not be treated with topical flea drops.
Instead, gently bathe the kitten with warm water and gentle dish soap such as Original Dawn or Ivory Liquid.
Rinse thoroughly and use a fine toothed flea comb to remove any fleas or flea dirt left on the cat.
To keep the kitten flea free for a while, wash or treat the pet's bedding when you bathe the animal.
Spot on products that claim to provide freedom from fleas for your cat are often sold in pet stores and discount stores at low prices.
These products are not the same formulation as the poplar Advantage and Frontline Plus cat flea treatments and will not eliminate fleas for more than a few days, if that.
Buy a cat flea treatment product from a reputable pet medication site.
No prescription is required and prices are significantly less than purchasing through your local vet's office.
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