How to Get Rid of Fleas in Cats

There are some symptoms that can help you detect fleas on your cat. The most obvious sign that there are fleas on your cat, is if you notice that your cat cannot stop scratching itself, specifically their tail and head. Fleas tend to target and settle on a cat’s tail and head. However, it is possible that the fleas spread, and that your cat has fleas all over its body. If your cat has fleas, you might notice that it is less eager to play, spends more time laying down and has a noticeable lack of energy.

If you find that your cat wants you to brush it more often, this is likely because it has fleas and scratching relieves the itching.

The best way to check if a cat has fleas is to brush its coat with a flea comb, or rather, a fine-toothed comb. While brushing your cat, carefully look to see if the comb picks up any: nits, larvae or fleas (they are really small, so take a close look). You can also look directly at your cat's fur, using your fingers to separate the hair, check your cat’s skin. Don't just look for fleas, but also for flea traces. Sometimes fleas with leave flea eggs on your cat and this also requires adequate attention.

If you've carried out the relevant checks and noticed that your cat has fleas, the next step will be to go to the vet. A professional will be able to provide you with the available anti-flea treatments. The following anti-flea cat treatments are the most recommended:

• Pipettes: these are currently one of the most commonly used antiparasitic treatments, because they are very easy to use and really effective. This product needs to be applied along the cat’s topline (an area they can't access during their daily grooming). It is then immediately activated, killing the fleas on your house cat.

• Antiparasitic collars: these are made of plastic and contain insecticides which repel fleas, in addition to killing those which have already become attached to your cat’s body. These antiparasitic collars last for up to 3 months, after which they become ineffective and should be replaced. These are the alternative to pipettes, although the former last longer and don’t cause irritation on the feline.

• Flea shampoos: essentially, these soaps are to help rid the cat of fleas. It isn't recommended to use these as a preventive measure, since in order to protect the animal you would need to bathe them every other day, which isn't natural for cats. However, if you want to get rid of fleas on cats without bathing, we recommend avoiding this option.

Once you’ve gotten rid of the fleas on your cat, we recommend getting rid of the cat fleas in your house. These bugs nest in any space and may have laid eggs on your sofa, carpet or any other space where your pet has been. Therefore, we recommend disinfecting your home to stop these fleas reappearing on your cat’s body^[1].

In addition to the medical treatments already mentioned, you should know that there are also some natural remedies to get rid of fleas on cats fast.These home remedies include;

• Essential oils: mix a few drops of citronella or lavender oil with anti-flea shampoo in order to strengthen the defleaing process. Citronella is one of the most commonly used natural insect repellents, both for animals and people. The scent from lavender also works as a natural insecticide. However, this remedy isn't recommended for cats under 1 year old, in case it causes itchy skin.

• Lemon: citrus also repels insects, so a good way of killing fleas is to mix squeezed lemon juice with a little bit of water (the quantity of juice to water should be the same). Then, pour it into a spray bottle and spray a little bit of the mixture on your cat.

• Chamomile: making a chamomile infusion is another great home remedy for removing fleas on cats. All you'll need to do is boil some water with chamomile and strain the infusion after 10 minutes (once it is cool), extracting the herbal remains. You should then soak a cloth with this concoction and apply it over your cat's body.

If you want to know how to get rid of fleas on kittens, take a look at our article; Homemade Flea Treatment For Kittens.

In order to protect your pet from fleas, it's important that you either apply the aforementioned pipette or put a flea collar on them. By doing this, you'll manage to keep the fleas off of your cat. Additionally, however, it is also recommended that you brush your cat on a weekly basis to ensure that they remain free of fleas^[2].

A more natural way of preventing fleas on cats is to have a citronella or lavender plant at home. These essential oils for fleas on cats; repel the insects. Such strong scents will be useful in stopping fleas from invading your home. We also recommend that you keep your house clean and tidy, so that your cat can live in optimal conditions.

This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.

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