Our friendly neighborhood Insect Guy, John Blatchford, has written a great article on Cat Fleas that every cat owner should read, because once you understand the lifecycle of the flea, they are much easier to get rid of and control!
When you are trying to get rid of fleas, you have to make sure that you kill the fleas at every stage of life. You have to treat not only your pet but also your home and property! It is hard to believe how quickly your house can fill with fleas, especially if you have a dog that goes outside.
How to Get Rid of Cat Fleas
Here's what you can do to get rid of fleas. Be persistent about these steps, and they will be gone for good!
- Vacuum twice a daily using a canister vacuum cleaner. After each vacuuming, empty the canister and immediately take the bag to the trash.
- Spray your carpets and furniture with a spray that kills all stages of the flea's life cycle. It will say they contain an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR). The powders are also good, but they leave your house with dust in the air for a couple of hours after you vacuum. It gets EVERYwhere!
- Wash the cat's bedding every 2 or 3 days in hot water and bleach (color safe bleach if you have colors).
- Wash down any hard surfaces the cats sleep on, like your desk, tabletops, and bookshelves.
- Bathe the cat in a good flea shampoo to kill the adult fleas and continued to do this weekly.
- Continue to run a flea comb through their hair daily as part of their grooming regimen.
- Use a spot on flea treatment that has an insect growth regulator (IGR). Examples of this treatment are BioSpot, Frontline Plus, and Advantage. There are also two great products that all control worms and parasites – Revolution, and the new Advantage Multi.
- Treat your yard with flea and tick granules. If you have fleas in the summer, a well-maintained lawn will host less fleas.
It can take up to 3 months to complete eradicate fleas in your house and break the flea life cycle, but it is well worth the effort. Even when you don’t see fleas on a regular basis, it is a good idea to use a flea prevention treatment on your cat. An ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure when it comes to fleas!
If you have any questions, join us in the discussion area!
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