Flea Control - Ten Tips to Prevent Infestation
Preventing fleas is a lot easier than trying to control an existing problem. An adult flea can produce thousands of offspring a month, so it is better to try to bring your flea problem under control. It is next to impossible to try to get rid of fleas altogether. The key to controlling fleas is not only to treat your home but your yard as well. Here are ten tips that will come in handy when trying to prevent flea infestation:
1. Flea dips and baths - A flea bath uses a specially medicated shampoo specifically for fleas. These baths lose their effectiveness within a day or two. Why, your feline would have to take a bath every other day, and for most people that is just too inconvenient! Flea dips last for several weeks and are much more effective. They can, however, cause a chemical buildup which may not be healthy if very much is ingested.
2. Flea powder and sprays - This type of treatment is really not used as often because it is not as effective in the fight against fleas. Only the adult fleas are affected by the powders and sprays.
3. Flea collars - The fleas collar is another measure in order to get rid of fleas on your cat. The collar emits a “poisonous” gas which the fleas hate, and then this gas is absorbed into the cat’s skin. The one drawback of the flea collar is that it only seems to work on that part of the body in which the collar comes into contact with - the neck. Dropping a fleas collar inside of a vacuum cleaner bag will also help to kill these pesky varmits!
4. Flea medication - These medicines are usually in pill form and keep the eggs from hatching. This has to be a continuous method of treatment in order to assure its success. Please be aware that these medications in pill form do not kill any adult fleas but halt the reproduction process. Some flea medicines can be given in shot form so be sure to ask your veterinarian about this.
5. Absorbable or “spot on” medication - These medication are usually in liquid form. It should be applied between the shoulder blades of your cat on its back. One of the most effective spot treatments is Frontline. It is usually effective for a month at a time. It not only kills adult fleas, but also halts the development of the flea larva within the egg.
6. Vacuuming - Your carpets and furniture are havens for adult fleas, eggs, pupae and larva. Daily vacuuming will work wonders. Be sure to put a flea collar inside of your vacuum cleaner bag. Also be sure to change your bag often as this will keep the eggs from hatching.
7. Flea foggers - This is quite a drastic approach and much more inconvenient to the whole family. You must make sure that all food items are put away and anything else that will suffer from the effect of the fogger. Your family and your pets will have to leave the premises and you will not be able to come back until everything is dry.
8. Washing laundry - Be sure to wash your cat’s bedding often. Wash these things in hot, soapy water. This will get rid of quite a number of fleas.
9. Yard flea treatments - If your cat is an indoor/outdoor cat, it would be advantageous to treat your yard for fleas. Each time your cat goes out, it may bring home hundreds of fleas and eggs.
10 Flea combs - This is the most time consuming method of getting rid of your cat’s fleas. However if your cat is expecting kittens or is sick, then this is a good method to use. Specially medicated flea combs are used for this purpose.
