Products that help in cat flea and tick control come in many forms including shampoos, spot-ons, sprays, wipes, dips, collars, foggers and dusts. Spot-on products are applied directly to the cat’s skin on the nape of the neck. Shampoos, dips, wipes and dusts require the product to be applied to the entire pet. Sprays and foggers to treat houses are generally used at the same time as products on the cat to treat both the house and the pets.
Cat flea and tick control products are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency and are available through pet supply stores, catalogs, the Internet and veterinarians. You will need to determine the best product for you and your cat based upon the cat's age and health, ease of use of the product, how often you need to apply the product, etc. It is best to discuss prevention with your veterinarian before you begin your regimen. Always read the label carefully and follow application directions exactly on every cat flea and tick product you use. It is VERY important that you do not use any flea and tick products that contain permethrin which is highly toxic to cats. Permethrin will be found in flea and tick products geared towards other pets, but it should not be found in any cat-specific flea and tick products. To be on the safe side, always read the label.
Many of these cat flea and tick control products act as repellents to keep the fleas and ticks from coming in contact with your cat. Others only act to kill adult fleas and ticks after they are already on your cat. Some products attack the immature fleas, preventing them from developing into adults. A few products are capable of preventing the fleas and ticks from settling on your cat and killing both adult and im mature pests. Some products even have the advantage of preventing heartworms in cats as well.
Many cat owners prefer more natural, non-insecticidal flea control methods such as combs, eucalyptus oil, neem oil, sonic collars, flea traps, garlic and brewer's yeast, etc. These methods tend to work better at keeping fleas away rather than killing or eliminating present infestations. Generally, it is not necessary to treat the outside of your home. If you wish to treat outdoors for fleas, treat where fleas live: shaded areas, under porches, decks, at the edges of woods, and especially in places where your pets lie down outdoors. Diatomaceous earth, boric acid and silica aerogels can be used to treat your lawn for fleas and ticks.
{mosimage}Fleas and ticks consume your cat's blood and can be dangerous to both its health and yours. Reaction to fleas by cats can be overlooked as regular grooming. Fleas generally affect cats on the face, neck and back. Flea bites can cause an allergic reaction called flea allergy dermatitis which can lead to permanent hair loss and other skin problems due to the scratching by the cat to rid itself from the fleas. If a pet is overwhelmed with fleas and/or ticks, they can suffer from anemia because of the loss of blood. Fleas and ticks can also carry other parasites, including tapeworms, from sources previously bitten and can cause Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
{mosimage}When you treat your cat(s) for adult fleas and ticks, you are only treating part of the problem. Once a home becomes infested, cat flea and tick control can be difficult, time-consuming and expensive. The best defense is both ongoing treatment and prevention. It is advised that you continue your flea, tick and heartworm treatments year-round. Cat flea and tick control is necessary to maintain a healthy and happy feline companion.
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