Controlling Fleas in Cats Only Ctenocephalides felis, one of the many flea species on the world, is harmful to cats. However, when your kitty friend has a flea infestation, that usually doesn’t offer much solace. For cats and their human owners, fleas are a bothersome issue. Fleas can also harm cats’ health in more significant ways.
Conditions Resulting from Cat Flea Infestation
The following conditions in cats are brought on by fleas:
Controlling Fleas in Cats
A cat with flea allergy dermatitis has an allergy to the saliva of fleas. An allergic cat’s immune system overreacts when attacked by fleas, causing excessive scratching, secondary hair loss, skin damage, and infection. “Flea Allergy Dermatitis in Cats” has further information.
Flea bite anemia When a cat has a flea infestation, she loses more blood than she can produce, which results in flea bite anemia. Particularly in kittens, elderly cats, and cats who are already weak from another illness process, this condition can be fatal.
Bartonellosis Cats can contract bartonella henselae infection, which is known as bartonellosis. Through flea bites, this infection is transmitted. How much the bacteria affects the cat directly is up for debate. It may contribute to other chronic inflammatory diseases or the excruciating gum disease stomatitis, however this is not known for sure. A human may contract Bartonella when a cat scratches itself and picks up flea filth in her claws before scratching another person. Cat scratch fever is the sickness that follows from this, and immunocompromised individuals are particularly vulnerable to its seriousness.
Feline hemotropic mycoplasmosis A dangerous condition called feline hemotropic mycoplasmosis is spread by flea bites. Mycoplasma haemominutum or Mycoplasma haemofelis are the bacteria that the fleas spread to the cat. These microorganisms cling to her red blood cells. The damaged red blood cells and parasites are both killed by the immune system after the cat’s body detects the bacteria. If the cat has a significant infection, this may cause major anemia. If the illness is not correctly identified and treated with tetracycline antibiotics, death may result.
Tapeworm infection the host cat ingesting an infected flea is the cause of Dipylidium caninum. Although cats are not at risk from tapeworm infections, it is unattractive and annoying for owners when tapeworm segments are rectally transferred to the cat’s bedding and other places of the house. When tapeworm segments are shedding, cats may bite at their behinds or push them over the floor. “Tapeworms in Cats” has more information.
Flea life cycle in cats
Eggs: Adult female fleas lay eggs on the cat. The eggs then drop off the cat and hatch in their natural habitat. This typically occurs in the carpet, bedding, or furnishings of a home.
Pupae: The flea pupae grow into adult fleas inside the cocoon. Fleas in this stage are extremely difficult to eradicate. Pupae can dormancy for up to a year inside the cocoon. They wait to leave their shelter until they spot a host that can act as a food source nearby. They pick this up by vibrations, sound, light, and fluctuations in carbon dioxide.
Adult fleas: In order to consume their first blood meal, adult fleas vigorously look for a host. Within two days of eating, the female flea will start laying eggs, and she will continue to do so until she dies. From there, the cycle starts over again. After their first meal, fleas can live for 4 to 6 weeks, but the host cat frequently grooms them off earlier. The average female flea can lay 40 to 50 eggs each day, which means that if the host is not destroyed or the flea is not removed, she will lay 2000 eggs in her lifespan.
Flea control products for cats
The market today is flooded with effective solutions to treat cats from fleas. Control fleas in cats with these most commonly prescribed items currently on the market below. The list is not exhaustive.
Lufenuron A substance called lufenuron sterilizes adult female fleas, preventing them from reproducing and causing a significant flea infestation in your home. As the treatment doesn’t kill adult fleas, this might not be enough for a cat with a flea allergy. Lufenuron-containing goods include:
Program®: This medication is offered for cats as either a monthly oral tablet or liquid that is administered at home with food or as an injectable that is administered by your veterinarian every six months.
Imidacloprid is a drug that works wonders at getting rid of adult fleas. The following products are included in the Advantage® line that offer it:
Advantage II® for CatsPyriprifen is also present in Advantage II® for Cats along with imidacloprid. This enables the medication to destroy both adult fleas and flea eggs and larvae. The cat does not need to be bitten for fleas to die on contact. The topical formulation is a monthly one.
Advantage Multi® Moxidectin is included in Advantage Multi® for Cats along with imidacloprid. As a result, it can prevent heartworms, treat ear mites, and eliminate adult fleas. Additionally, it manages a few intestinal parasites. The topical formulation is a monthly one.
A flea and tick collar called Seresto® for Cats comprises the drugs imidacloprid and flumethrin. It eliminates adult fleas, repels ticks, and kills them. Eight months are used up by the collar.
Imidacloprid is also available in a range of Advantage® flea-killing products, including shampoos, direct cat sprays, carpet sprays, yard sprays, and home foggers.
Adult fleas and ticks can be killed by the drug fipronil. Frontline® products contain it.
Fipronil, which kills adult fleas and ticks, and (S)-methoprene, which kills flea eggs and larvae, are both ingredients in Frontline Plus® for Cats. The topical formulation is a monthly one.
Fipronil and (S)-methoprene from Frontline Plus are both contained in Frontline Tritak® for Cats, along with etophenprox. Additionally, this substance kills adult fleas, which enables this medication to start working within fifteen minutes.
Revolution® for Cats contains the drug selamectin.
Ticks, ear mites, adult fleas and flea eggs, as well as some intestinal parasites, are all killed by Revolution® for Cats. Infection with heartworms is also avoided. It is a topical medicine taken every month.
Nitenpyram quickly kills adult fleas.
The product that includes nitenpyram is called Capstar. It is an oral tablet that is recommended for usage up to once per day. It effectively keeps fleas off an allergic cat while waiting for another medication to work and kills them swiftly. Additionally, it works well for swiftly getting rid of fleas on your cat after she has visited a kennel or another location. This stops fleas from getting inside your house and breeding.
A substance called dinotefuran kills adult fleas. Products made with Vectra® contain it.
Dinotefuran and pyriproxifen are both ingredients in Vectra® for Cats. This enables it to both sterilize and kill adult fleas, inhibiting their growth inside your house. A monthly topical product, that is.
There is spinetoram in Cheristin®.
The monthly topical treatment Cheristin® eliminates adult fleas on cats.
The active component of Activyl® is indoxacarb.
A monthly topical treatment called Activyl® sterilises and kills adult fleas.
Caution: Before using medication, consult a veterinarian
Treatment for a Flea Infestation in Your Home
Make sure you treat your cat and all other pets in the house with the proper treatments if she develops a flea infestation. Your veterinarian can offer product advice depending on the requirements of your specific household. The surroundings may also require treatment. For use in the house and yard, there are many different sprays and other treatments. Make sure you carefully read the labels because it’s possible that people and animals should avoid treated areas for a while.
Controlling Fleas in Cats
