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Cat fleas love it when the temperature rises and they can multiply undisturbed in your household. But how can you prevent the small, annoying cat fleas from driving your cat and you crazy? Fighting cat fleas can sometimes be very tedious. Here you can find out how to recognize a cat flea infestation and which remedies really work against cat fleas.
Cat fleas - where there's one, there are more
As a rule of thumb: for every cat flea discovered, there are at least ten unseen ones.
Female fleas lay around 30 eggs on the host in 24 hours, which then fall off and spread in the surrounding area. This is because only adult parasites remain on the infested animal. After 4-5 days, the first larvae hatch, which feed on flea excrement and live in cracks and carpets to avoid drying out.
To become even more resistant to dehydration, the larvae moult twice and then pupate. At this stage, they can survive for a very long time without food. The complete development from larva to adult cat flea takes about a month. In very cold or dry conditions, for example, cat fleas can delay their development for up to six months. The cat fleas wait for favorable hatching conditions and thus prove to be very viable. As adult parasites, cat fleas can live on the host for 1-3 months. As the small parasites multiply quickly, it is important to track down cat fleas at an early stage.
How can I recognize cat fleas?
You will often find small, black crumbs in your cat's fur. If you crush them with a damp handkerchief and red traces remain, they are flea droppings. Many cat owners also become aware of flea infestation when their pet scratches more often. In individual cases, your four-legged friends are allergic to flea bites and pluck their entire backs bare due to the itching.
If you suspect a flea infestation, you can observe your cat closely and often see cat fleas scurrying along your pet's back or belly. Then it's high time to act with the right flea repellent! Both cats and humans are bitten by cat fleas and you can see bite marks on the skin, e.g. on the legs.
Fighting cat fleas - step by step
The only way to combat cat fleas properly is to act quickly and consistently. This way, you won't give any larvae that hatch later the chance to nest on your pet again. It is important that you carry out the following measures for at least six weeks and check all animals living in the house and their surroundings. Dogs can also be infested with cat fleas.
Cat flea home remedies - natural and gentle
To combat the cat fleas that have made themselves at home on your pet, you can use the cat flea remedy called Flea-EX powder. You can simply spread the dry powder on your cat's or dog's fur. Make sure that the powder reaches the skin - in the case of long-haired animals, part the coat and apply it in stages.
A natural environmental spray is recommended to rid the surrounding area of parasites. You can apply this to all affected areas and rooms - such as lying areas, cars, furniture and carpets. This kills larvae and eggs and successfully repels adult cat fleas.
Essential oils are often the basis of a natural flea repellent. Cats can react negatively to some of these oils. Therefore, always make sure to air out the room well after use. Dogs are less sensitive to this. If you have an aquarium, cover it before treating the room. This is especially true if you use chemical products.
Washing, vacuuming, cleaning the car
It is essential to thoroughly clean all washable textiles, preferably at 60°C. Before you start vacuuming your home thoroughly, vacuum in some flea powder - this will kill any cat fleas that have been sucked in. Be sure to dispose of the used bag afterwards. The car can also be affected by cat fleas if, for example, a dog lives in the household that is often taken along in the car. Here too, vacuum thoroughly and apply the environmental spray.
Do not lock your cat out or bathe it
There is no point in locking your cat out. On the one hand, hatched larvae are always looking for a host and will also multiply on your cat outdoors. Secondly, the cat serves as a flea catcher: it picks up the hatched cat fleas from the rooms. With regular treatment with a cat flea home remedy, you can kill the cat fleas - before they can lay new eggs. Generally speaking, larvae and pupae are more difficult to control than cat fleas - because in the latter case at least you know where they are. I also advise against bathing, as this irritates the skin even more and the cat flea home remedies used can no longer work properly. In addition, cat fleas are stubborn and usually survive the bath.
Cat flea remedies - combing the cat properly
It is very important to comb out your cat daily with a flea comb. This has many closely spaced teeth in which cat fleas get stuck when combed. You can then dispose of the cat fleas found. A simple and effective cat flea trap is a bowl of soapy water with a candle in the middle. This will attract and kill the cat fleas in a dark room.
Deworming
If cat flea treatment is carried out consistently for six weeks, your pets should be cat flea-free. However, a new problem usually arises in cats and dogs: Tapeworms. Therefore, consider starting treatment against tapeworms at an early stage, as the flea is a carrier of these parasites.
Prevention against cat fleas
If you want to prevent cat fleas, there are many cat flea remedies to choose from. You can use so-called spot-on preparations as flea remedies for cats, which have been developed on a plant basis and can effectively repel parasites. These are generally much better tolerated than conventional preparations, which consist of chemical components and can have side effects. If your pet regularly comes into contact with strays or hedgehogs living in the garden, it may be advisable to treat these animals with the drops as well - as other animals can serve as carriers of cat fleas.
How do you protect your cat from cat fleas? Which cat flea repellent have you had good experiences with? Share your experiences with parasite infestations with me and our community in the comments!
We wish you and your cats an itch-free time!
Your AniForte team
