So your Cat has Fleas...

Now What?

Fleas are nasty little critters. These parasites jump onto your pets and drink their blood, leaving flea dirt and eggs in their wake. They are hardy insects that are designed to be resilient and uncrushable. What does this mean for you? It means that in order to get rid of fleas for good, you will have to take multiple steps.

Beautiful Certified Cat Groomer near me South East Melbourne Moorabbin Bayside

What’s So Bad About Fleas?

Fleas drink your pet’s blood and leave itchy bumps wherever they bite. Pets can even suffer from anemia (severe blood loss) if the infestation is bad enough! In addition to the blood they steal from your pets, fleas also carry parasites like tape worms and can provoke allergic reactions. Flea allergy dermatitis is caused by fleas and causes severe itching that can lead to secondary infections.

Treating Your Pet is Not Enought!

Fleas don’t just live on your pets: they live in your house and in your yard. This means that the battle against
fleas must be fought on three fronts: pets, house, and yard. Because fleas have a 4-stage life cycle that can take up to 8 months to complete, removing all fleas from your pet’s environment takes time.

Your First Step

Remove fleas currently on your cat. We have given your cat a flea bath with a cat-safe flea shampoo that removes all fleas that your kitty came in with. This provides temporary relief from the current pests.

Next Up : Prevention

Treat your pet with a monthly spot-on treatment like Revolution, Frontline, or Advantage. Your veterinarian can recommend the best product for your area. Be absolutely sure that the product is safe for use on cats. Cats are very sensitive to certain chemicals and if you use a product for dogs, it could result injury or death to your cat!
If you aren’t sure, consult your veterinarian. You cat has just been bathed, so you will need to wait a few days before applying the product (each product is different, so check the product’s label for specifics).

Continuing The Fight

Now that your pet is more comfortable, begin eliminating the fleas in your pet’s environment. If you do not treat the environment, the fleas will just keep reproducing and biting you and your pets!

House: Many different products exist on the market for treating your house. Among them are carpet and floor sprays, bombs and foggers, and powders. Read the labels carefully to find the product right for your home. Again, be sure that the product is safe for cats. 

Yard: If you have fleas in your house, you then you have fleas in your yard. Fleas can jump over 6 feet and can ride in on any carrier they can find: cats, dogs, or humans. There are many insecticides available on the market, but the best long-term flea management contains insect growth regulators. These products prevent anything with a larval stage (like fleas) from maturing so once the current generation dies, the fleas will be unable to replenish their numbers.

Last But Not Least

Don’t give up! A flea infestation can be very difficult to get rid of, but with the right products and diligent effort you and your cat can be flea free!

Provided by the National Cat Groomers Institute of America, Inc.