Tips & Advice: Controlling Fleas and Ticks for cats

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Today we have some useful tips from Medicines4Pets for you on Controlling Fleas and Ticks for cats. Missed their first post on vaccination? No worries you can find it here!

Controlling Fleas and Ticks for cats

Fleas and ticks can be a real nuisance for cats and in some instances they can cause health problems.

For most cats, fleas are common all year round whilst ticks are usually found during the warmer months of the year. However, all cat owners should keep an eye out for ticks because they can cause problems in cats, even if your cat is predominantly based at home and hasn’t spent much time outdoors.

The health of your cat can be severely affected by fleas and ticks and regular treatments can help to keep them at bay. The problem is that cats can be quite sensitive to insecticidal chemicals, more so than dogs, so treating your cat with the right product will help to reduce the health risks associated with fleas and ticks.

What Effect do fleas and ticks have on cats?

Some cats are only mildly affected by fleas and at worse they may experience a small amount of scratching. For other cats, it can lead to more severe problems such as an allergic reaction to the bites which causes a severe itch, this is known as miliary eczema or miliary dermatitis, this often comes with crusty sores that appear all over the body as well as hair loss. It is also possible for those cats who have a large number of fleas to lose enough blood which can lead to them being anaemic and small kittens are extremely susceptible to this.

The real danger is where ticks are involved because they release a toxin when they feed, which can cause paralysis and even death. This is noticeable by a change in the sounds that your cat makes and they may also look weak in their hind legs. The paralysis will become progressively worse until they can no longer walk and they may even experience difficulty with breathing.

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Avoiding Flea and Tick infestation

The products that you use to stop your cat from becoming infested with fleas and ticks have to be safe and suitable for them,  so don’t be tempted to use flea treatments for dog because they can lead to serious illness.

There are several products to use such as Frontline Plus and Advantage which come in liquid form and are applied to the back of the neck.

Revolution and Advocate flea treatment for cats are similar but they help to deal with intestinal worms and heartworms.

When it comes to dealing with ticks there are two products are you can use and these are Fido’s Fre-Itch Rinse and Frontline spray and they should be used on three-weekly cycles to ensure that your cat is safe.

When fleas become out of control

Acting fast is the best way to deal with fleas that take over your cat. By using a Capstar tablet, this can bring the problem under control. The fleas are killed within 30 minutes and your cat will be free of all fleas; introducing a topical treatment can also help to provide a longer lasting treatment.

One of the problems with fleas is how wide they can spread because the fleas themselves are not the main problem; the eggs are far more dangerous as they can result in larvae and pupae. These have to be dealt with as well and the flea treatment won’t be successful without the removal of the eggs. This can be done by using insecticidal spray or foggers which contains a growth regulator. This stops the fleas from developing into adults.

With the number of treatments on the market, there is no need for your cat to have to put up with the problems and discomfort that come with fleas and ticks. It can be tricky to keep them under control but keeping your cat healthy and safe is the main reason to do so. Whichever product you use, ensure that you follow the directions to ensure that your cat receives the right amount of treatment to give the treatment every chance of success.

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Author Bio

Medicines4Pets are an online retailer of prescription pet medicines, pet supplies and accessories.

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8 thoughts on “Tips & Advice: Controlling Fleas and Ticks for cats

  1. Vivi.m says:

    Very interesting!
    If I can also offer a more natural solution – a mixture of vinager and water weekly is good against flees and also recommended for kittens who are too young for chemicals

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