Cat Flea and Tick Control
Some friends are not friends at all! Parasites like fleas and ticks like to hang around on your cat for a free meal and a free ride, all the while causing a myriad of problems for kitty. Thankfully there are a lot of safe and effective products available at our clinic to help treat, or even better – prevent parasite burdens. Call us today to find out what is best for your cat.
What are fleas?
Fleas are external parasites, meaning they live on the outside of your cat. Fleas hop onto your cat from the environment and begin feeding and reproducing immediately. Fleas are visible to the naked eye as small brown insects that can move fast and jump extremely high – up to 100 times their body length!
How do fleas harm the cats?
Fleas can be much more than a nuisance, feeding off your kitty’s blood supply, and cases of severe infestation can lead to anemia. Some cats suffer from a condition called Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD). When a cat suffers from FAD, their body has an allergic reaction to the saliva in a flea bite that causes them to be very itchy, lose fur, and become uncomfortable. Persistent scratching for any reason can lead to secondary skin infections that require additional treatment beyond flea control.
Why is treating and preventing fleas so important?
Did you know that the adult flea that you see on your cat represents a very small percentage of the problem, 5% to be exact?! Fleas begin to bite and lay eggs almost as soon as they hop on your cat and can lay up to 100 eggs per day! These eggs fall off of your cat and into the home environment where they go through their life cycle, only to hatch as adults and jump back on your cat and any other fur-bearing animal in the home. This rapid rate of reproduction means that once fleas enter your home, you can have an infestation before you know it! Keeping your cat on a regular, monthly preventive ensures that if a flea does find them, it will die before being able to reproduce or will lay eggs that never hatch (depending on product).
Simple steps for treating fleas in your senior cat
Gone are the days of trying to bath your cat (thank goodness)! The products available now are safe, effective, and easy to administer. Before using any new medication on your senior pet, it is very important to consult with your veterinary health care team. At your cat’s annual examination your vet will prescribe the best option of parasite control for your senior kitty. Please be extremely careful if you are considering purchasing an over the counter parasite control product for your cat that is not sold through a veterinary clinic. Many products that are safe for dogs can be harmful to or even fatal for cats. Read all packaging thoroughly, and if you are unsure, we are happy to have a look for you.
