How To Remove Fleas From Cats And Cats At Home: How To Get Rid Of Them From Kittens And Adult Animals By Folk And Other Means, Photo

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 22:26

Fleas in cats: small but dangerous bloodsuckers

Fleas in a mustachioed pet are always a big nuisance. In addition to the fact that a person often has an aversion to various insects, these parasites also pose a threat to the health of both the pet and its owner. Fleas are able to live outside the animal, they actively feed on human blood if there are no other sources of food. What danger is there in the neighborhood with an infected animal and what to do if the pet has fleas?

Content

• 1 External characteristics of fleas in cats

  1.1 How to determine if a cat has fleas

• 2 Life cycle of a flea
• 3 What is the danger of parasitic insects

• 4 Folk recipes for fleas in cats

  4.1 Photo gallery: components of folk recipes for fleas in cats

• 5 What types of products are there to protect cats from fleas

  • 5.1 Insecticidal drops on the withers
  • 5.2 Flea sprays
  • 5.3 Flea shampoos
  • 5.4 Anti-flea collars
  • 5.5 Flea powder
  • 5.6 Flea key rings
  • 5.7 Vaccinations against fleas

• 6 Remedies for pregnant cats and small kittens

  • 6.1 Fleas in a newborn kitten
  • 6.2 Fleas in a month old kitten
  • 6.3 Flea control in 2 month old kittens

• 7 Preparations for home treatment

  • 7.1 Aerosols and sprays
  • 7.2 Flea Powders
  • 7.3 Temperature treatment of the room
• 8 Video: veterinarian Olesya Ratushnaya about methods of combating parasites
• 9 Testimonials from cat owners on different ways to protect against fleas

External characteristics of fleas in cats

Most often, when the owner notices blood-sucking parasites in his cat, we are talking about the cat flea, or Ctenocephalides felis. Despite its name, this type of parasite lives not only on cats, but also on rats and dogs. They can also feed on human blood.

In addition to the cat flea, other types of fleas can be found on fluffy purrs:

• canine;
• rat;
• human;
• rabbit.

Their external differences can only be detected under a microscope. Therefore, an ordinary person with the naked eye will not be able to determine which fleas have chosen their pet.

Cat fleas are very small, smooth and look like a shiny grain. If they did not move, it would be very difficult to notice them.

A cat flea can also parasitize other animals and feed on human blood

A typical cat parasite is approximately 2–3 mm long. The flea's body structure provides it with the following characteristics:

• A cat flea has no wings, so it is difficult to catch and hold.
• The parasites have a flat body. This provides ease of movement between the victim's hairs.
• The elongated hind legs help make big jumps.
• All parasites that attack a cat are dark brown or black in color.

Fleas cause a lot of trouble for both animals and humans

How to tell if a cat has fleas

Fleas can be found on the body of an animal by several signs:

• the cat behaves restlessly;
• small wounds may appear on the trunk;
• if you put the cat on a blank sheet of paper and start combing it, tiny black grains will begin to fall out of the fur, which, upon contact with water, turn blood red;
• small insects run over the body of the animal.

To see flea feces, you need to put the cat on a white towel or paper and start combing it.

The favorite places of fleas on an animal are the chest, back and abdomen. And due to the fact that they reproduce at an extremely high speed, their appearance is possible on the rest of the body.

Flea life cycle

During its life, this blood-sucking insect goes through a number of stages, in each of which it looks different and has a specific name:

1. Egg. Flea eggs are very small, do not have a sticky surface, so they practically do not stay in the animal's fur, but crumble from it. A favorite place for eggs is cracks in the floor, the space behind the baseboards, furniture, carpet lint. In comfortable conditions, the development of the egg takes several days.
2. Stage I larva. Worm-like larvae develop from the egg, feeding on the remains of organic matter (excrement of adults, dead epidermis, etc.). This stage of the flea feels great in crevices between floors and furniture, in old clothes, rags, etc.
3. Stage II larva. As it develops, the size of the larva increases, reaching 4–5 mm.
4. Larva stage III. After about 3-4 weeks, the flea larva pupates. The pupated larva is one of the most tenacious stages of the cat flea. Under favorable conditions, an adult from the pupa can appear within 7–10 days. If the pupa is in unfavorable external conditions, the development of an adult can take up to one year.
5. Doll. Due to the presence of special receptors on the surface of the cocoon, the pupa determines the onset of optimal conditions for the emergence of an adult flea. The pupa stage is the most unproductive from the point of view of the fight against blood-sucking insects indoors. It is practically not affected by disinfectant solutions in usual concentrations. At the pupal stage, the flea population is capable of wintering.

6. An adult insect, or imago. An adult emerges from the pupa in favorable conditions, which is looking for food for itself. Both male and female individuals bite their owners and feed on blood.

   

   During its life, a flea goes through several stages of development.

The emergence of new offspring of fleas occurs as a result of mating of two individuals. On the second day after fertilization, the flea begins to lay eggs. In addition to eggs, the female leaves feces. If you wet them with water, they will turn into a red liquid, since they are made up of digested blood.

For fleas, species specialization is characteristic, therefore, feline fleas look for a cat for food, and canine fleas look for a dog. Cats and dogs, and often humans, are just food for parasites. And the development cycle of insects occurs outside the body of a living organism.

What is the danger of parasitic insects

No one is protected from fleas. In order for an uncountable number of these parasites to appear in your apartment, it is enough to bring one such bloodsucker. In this case, it is not at all necessary for the pet to be in contact with a flea animal. The flea is able to "arrive" on your shoes or on the paws of any pet.

Fleas carry a large number of diseases that pose a threat to both cats and humans. The main and most common health problems that can arise from these insects can be identified:

• Allergic reactions. Some cats are allergic to flea saliva. In this case, the animal will itch even more. And if the allergen is not eliminated in time, then such a neighborhood in some cases leads to hair loss and the formation of scabs on the cat's body.
• Worms. Fleas carry the eggs of parasites such as pinworm, roundworm, flukes. Licking its fur, the cat swallows a considerable number of these eggs. And in kittens and weakened animals, helminthic invasion in some cases is fatal.
• Anemia. In advanced situations, long-term coexistence of the animal with flea beetles leads to anemia in the pet (a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood).

Human contact with fleas is dangerous because these insects can be carriers of serious diseases. One bite of such parasites can infect a person:

• worms;
• salmonellosis (acute intestinal infection of animals and humans, caused by salmonella);
• encephalitis (an inflammatory process that affects the brain);
• typhoid (an infectious disease accompanied by mental disorders against a background of severe fever and intoxication);
• tularemia (an acute infection that affects the lymph nodes, skin, lungs, sometimes the mucous membranes of the eyes, throat);
• brucellosis (a dangerous infection that affects all body systems).

One flea bite can lead to many diseases.

Folk recipes for fleas in cats

There are many ways to get rid of unwanted guests. Even before special products were available, people used recipes based on the ingredients at hand.

I dealt with fleas in my pets in the following way. You need to throw 20 g of dried or 40 g of fresh wormwood leaves into a saucepan. Then pour 1/2 liter of cold water over them, let it boil and boil for 1/3 hour. Cool and strain, and then grease the whole body of the animal with broth. Please note that these parasites will start fleeing from the victim. Treat the cat as needed. Wormwood is not toxic to the animal and repels fleas well.

Wormwood protects well against parasites

There are many ways to deal with flea infestations. Let's list the more effective ones:

1. In the war on fleas, apple cider vinegar is a good weapon. We also need ammonia and cologne. All products must be mixed in equal proportions. Pour the resulting liquid into a spray bottle. Spray the animal's fur with it. Then you need to wrap the cat in a bag so that the head remains outside. Keep the animal in this form for about 10 minutes. Then you should wash the cat and carefully comb out the fur to remove the dead fleas.
2. The strong specific aroma of garlic makes the parasites flee in panic. In order to prepare a tincture, you need to take 6-7 large cloves of garlic and pass them through a press, and then pour 600-800 ml of water at room temperature. Let it brew for 13 hours. With a ready-made product, treat the cat's fur where it cannot reach (usually it is the withers, the area between the shoulder blades). The animal should not be allowed to lick off the infusion, as it may have a malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract and poisoning.
3. You can also use regular salt. Dissolve 1 cup of table salt in a small amount of water. To completely dissolve the salt, it is allowed to boil this solution. Then dilute it with 10 liters of warm water and wash the cat in it for 5 minutes so that the entire woolen coat is saturated with the solution. Then you should rinse the animal with warm water. This recipe is allowed to be used for breeding flea beetles in small kittens.
4. You can make your own flea shampoo. To do this, rub 1/3 of the baby soap on a grater, pour 600 ml of water and boil over low heat until a jelly-like substance. Cool, and then add 1 chopped onion head, 1 egg yolk and 1 tbsp. l. infusion of nettle. Lather the pet with the resulting product and rinse off with running water after a quarter of an hour.
5. Geranium and lavender have good antiparasitic properties. Pour 60 g of these plants in equal proportions with 0.6 l of water and boil for about 20 minutes. You need to bathe the animal in a filtered broth. It is imperative to ensure that the liquid does not get into the eyes and ears.
6. Citrus has a pleasant scent for humans, but a cat, like fleas, may not like the smell. You need to chop 1 lemon and pour 0.4 liters of warm water over it. Let stand for a day in a dark place. The resulting infusion is applied to the pet with a spray bottle.
7. Essential oils (cedar, lavender, rosemary, geranium, mint and lemon) help well in the fight against fleas. To spray a cat, 3 drops in 3 glasses of water are enough. Oils can also be added to shampoos and applied to the collar. It is not allowed to use tea tree oil because it makes the cat vomiting and weak.
8. You can resort to mechanical removal of parasites by combing with a fine comb. But this method can only help if there are very few fleas.

Photo gallery: components of folk recipes for fleas in cats

The smell of garlic will provoke fleas to stampede

Lavender oil is used as a flea repellent

Fleas cannot stand lemon scent, so this citrus fruit is a great alternative to fight parasites.

Geranium has a pleasant smell, does not irritate the pet, and repels parasites

What types of products are there to protect cats from fleas?

It is more convenient and reliable to use industrial flea products. Most of these drugs not only help to destroy parasites, but also have a preventive effect.

Insecticidal drops on the withers

Drops are applied to the skin of the withers so that the cat does not have the opportunity to lick them off until they are completely absorbed. This agent is not harmful when used externally in an animal. According to the manufacturers, the active substances accumulate in the fatty layer of the skin and hair follicles. They are effective for a long time, almost immediately killing the parasites that attack the cat. It is allowed to bathe the cat no earlier than two days after applying the product.

Flea remedies from the following manufacturers help well:

• Celandine (contains fipronil and permethrin);
• "Biafar" (natural composition);
• Bars (as part of permethrin);
• Frontline (contains fipronil).

Drops cost from 120 rubles to 1100 rubles. This product can cause allergies in your pet. Do not use these drops for kittens under three months old. Application of the drug must fully comply with the recommendations in the instructions for use.

Drops on the withers are easy to use and quite effective against fleas in cats

Flea sprays

Flea spray is sprayed evenly over the entire animal's coat. Some of them are highly toxic. Therefore, you need to use this tool carefully. Some sprays are forbidden to be applied to the coat of pregnant and lactating cats.

The following lines of drugs do their job well:

• "Bars" (contains permethrin, can lead to allergies);
• "Hearts" (low-toxic agent, can even be used in two-month-old kittens, is used mainly for prevention);
• Frontline (considered safe for cats and kittens, and also used for prophylaxis).

Spraying your cat is best done outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. In 20-30 minutes after applying the drug, the cat needs to be combed to remove dead parasites. So that fleas do not bother the cat in the future, it is advisable to spray its bedding for rest with a spray. Sprays cost from 200 rubles to 2 thousand rubles.

In the case of a strong infection of the cat with ectoparasites, the treatment of the pet's coat is best done with sprays.

Flea shampoos

Many people use flea shampoos because:

• they are easy to use;
• they are safe for kittens and pregnant cats;
• have a low price;
• used for several tasks (cleaning wool and killing parasites);
• can be used for cats with sensitive skin and prone to allergic reactions.

Any flea shampoo contains an insecticide (a substance used to kill harmful insects). Also, it may contain useful components that strengthen the animal's hair.

The shampoo penetrates the parasite, disrupts its metabolic processes, which leads to the death of the flea.

Many shampoos approved for washing long-haired cats are forbidden for grooming smooth-haired or hairless cats. They have a different number of sweat and sebaceous glands in the skin. Therefore, you should carefully read the instructions before buying.

Best flea shampoos for cats:

• Ms.kiss (contains 0.5% permethrin);
• "BioVax";
• Celandine (contains 0.4% permethrin);
• BIO-GROOM;
• "Lugovoi" (in the composition of the 3rd generation synthetic pyrethroid).

Flea shampoos cost no more than 400 rubles.

The most popular flea remedies are shampoos.

Anti-flea collars

According to the principle of action, flea collars practically do not differ from the above means. They kill fleas and drive them out using the same insecticides. That is why you should not consider them less toxic and allergenic. The collar only does not save flea larvae, but the adult parasites try to escape immediately.

The usual shelf life of a parasite collar is 2 months. But American and German products can serve a cat for even 7 months.

Most popular collar brands:

• Hartz (100 rubles);
• Bolfo (200 rubles);
• Beaphar (completely natural and the price is 64 rubles);
• Bars (45 rubles);
• Doctor Zoo (50 rubles).

Flea collars are effective against parasites

Flea powder

In most cases, powdered flea repellents are allowed to be used for kittens from 3 months of age and pregnant cats. They also effectively deal with parasites and do not cause allergic reactions in the animal. Basically, natural plant elements are used in powders. But particles of matter are scattered throughout the house. This will not affect a healthy person in any way, but if an allergic person lives with you, then he may have an unwanted reaction of the body.

This tool is not very convenient to use. The powder should be applied to the cat's torso and rubbed thoroughly into its skin. For animals with long and thick hair, such a remedy will not bring the desired result.

Most reputable flea powders:

• Hartz;
• Puldis;
• "Fluff";
• "Pussy".

The average price is about 200 rubles.

Flea powder is inconvenient to use on long-haired cats

Flea Keyrings

The keychain emits ultrasonic pulses of a special frequency, which the parasites cannot withstand and run away both from the cat's body and from the house. It is completely safe for people and animals. The keychain not only causes the parasites to flee, but also prevents the fleas from re-attacking the animal, since it does not allow insect eggs to develop. This product protects the animal not only from fleas, but also from ticks.

The best flea charms:

• FLEA & TICK CONTROLLER;
• TickLess Pet;
• "Anti-tick".

Such key rings cost at least 900 rubles.

The flea keychain emits special ultrasonic waves that repel fleas

Flea vaccinations

When a vaccinated cat bites, the poison enters the body of the parasite, causes paralysis of the nervous system in it and leads to the death of the flea. This method of fighting blood-sucking parasites is very simple. You just need to bring the cat to the vet and ask for a flea injection. The flea vaccine only protects the animal for a month.

Flea vaccination contains the following substances:

• ivermectin;
• eprimek;
• lufenuron.

Products for pregnant cats and small kittens

There are such relatively safe means for removing parasites:

• anti-flea collars;
• flea drops;
• special shampoos for cats.

Not all preparations of these forms can be used for pregnant cats and small kittens. It is imperative that you carefully read the instructions before use and get the recommendations of a veterinarian.

Fleas in a newborn kitten

If fleas were found in a fluffy baby who is not yet 1 month old, then you need:

• change the litter daily;
• it is good to vacuum the home;
• comb out the crumb with a comb with frequent teeth.

This will alleviate the condition of the animal, but will not completely remove the fleas.

Fleas in a month old kitten

If the baby is already one month old, then you can remove parasites with some anti-flea shampoos. But you need to be careful when choosing a product, since not everyone can wash such crumbs. The package must indicate what is allowed to be used for kittens from 1 month.

The shampoo must be diluted with water and lather the pet's fur with this solution. After 5-10 minutes, the baby must be thoroughly washed in warm water and dried. Then it is advisable to comb it out with a comb in order to completely destroy the parasites.

Flea control in 2 month old kittens

At 2 months, you can already prescribe more types of flea drugs. Almost all antiparasitic shampoos for kittens and some types of drops on the withers are used. But if the kitten has not yet been separated from its mother and is feeding on her milk, then drops cannot be applied to the withers. The mother can lick the medicine, some of which will get into the milk and have a toxic effect on the baby.

You can also use flea powder. But sometimes it is quite difficult to apply it, especially for long-haired kittens.

From the age of three months, you can already use all the flea remedies for cats

For small kittens you need to use products labeled "for kittens"

Home treatment preparations

In order for flea control to be effective, you also need to treat your home from parasites. First you need to clean all soft items (toys, blanket, carpet, etc.). Then you should pack them in cellophane, and also hide all food and utensils in containers or bags. Only then can the house be treated against parasites. You should always read the instructions on how to use this or that tool.

At the end of the procedure, it is imperative to ventilate the apartment and vacuum it, reaching every corner and crevices. When dry cleaning is finished, you should treat the vacuum cleaner with "Dichlorvos" or another flea-control agent so that it does not become a new shelter for parasites. At the end, you need to carry out a thorough wet cleaning of the entire apartment.

There are four ways to kill fleas in an apartment:

• use of aerosol;
• powder application;
• heat treatment;
• call of specialists (the best and simplest method).

Aerosols and sprays

Before using the aerosol, you need to:

• vacuum the room;
• to bring animals and people not participating in this process;
• close doors and windows.

The best flea aerosols:

• Flee (contains cyclopentasiloxane and dimethicone);
• "Clean house" (after a few hours, the treated apartment is safe for people even without wet treatment, but the product does not destroy the eggs of parasites, so re-treatment is required);
• Raptor (low cost, but efficient enough)

The price for these aerosols is not less than 300 rubles.

In order to get rid of fleas, you also need to treat the house.

Flea Powders

Cleaning fleas at home using powder is time consuming. The powder must be poured into the places of accumulation of parasite larvae.

The most reputable flea powders are:

• "Phenaxin" (highly toxic drug);
• "Pyrethrun".

A package of 125 g of "Fenaxin" can cost 50 rubles. But with "Pyrethrun" it is more difficult to find on sale, therefore it is very difficult to determine the price of a finished drug. Even on the official website, it is negotiated separately with each buyer.

Room temperature treatment

The essence of the method of temperature treatment of the room is either to lower the temperature in the apartment to minus 20 ^o C, or to burn out fleas at +50 ^o C. This method is available only to specialists when using heat guns.

Video: veterinarian Olesya Ratushnaya on methods of combating parasites

Testimonials from cat owners about different ways to protect against fleas

When choosing any option for eliminating fleas, it is important to consider the fact that each animal is different. For some, flea collars may be ideal, for others, one shampoo is enough, and for others, several products need to be applied at once. To do this, you need to assess the condition of the animal, its characteristics, the severity of the disease and, based on these data, choose the most effective treatment option.