Cats have the natural ability to hunt, fight, and play in the most flea infested places. Cat fleas can be brought in from under a house or an abandoned complex were fleas are patiently lurking. These parasites simply hitch a ride back to your home and there, they multiply. Dog and cat health can be compromised by fleas and protecting them is vital in the relentless battle against the parasites. Your techniques to combat cat fleas are similar tactics used on your home and yard. Basic cleaning, as with yard and home protection, is the best foundation for your attack.
Combs – If adult fleas have trenched themselves in the cat fur your most efficient tool is a flea comb. Combing has many advantages. It can remove adult fleas, thereby reducing insecticide requirements. Two, when combined with an alcohol or soap solution, can kill adult fleas upon contact. Adult fleas prefer thick fur so they can accumulate around the neck, front and sides of the tail.
Solutions – Shampoo can be used to chemically exterminate unwanted intruders. After combing your pet, a soapy bath becomes a gentle insecticide that subdues light infestations. Allow shampoo to soak for 5-10 minutes before washing.
Insect Growth Regulators – Available as sprays, spot-on’s, pills or food additives IGR’s target flea egg and larvae development. When exposed to an IGR, adult fleas are incapable of reproducing, eggs fail to hatch and larvae die before maturation. The problem is that the IGR can kill the adult fleas. To resolve this problem, IGR’s are often coupled with a mild insecticide to kill the adult fleas. Cat enclosures best
Enclosures – You can choose the location that your dog or cat roams after leaving the safety of your home. Dog and cat cages, or enclosures, are often built out to sunny spots where fleas are less likely to thrive. It is important to provide shade but keep the area dry. Parasites thrive in moist areas. Besides the added benefit or protection from cars, your pet is residing within your well fortified yard and the chance of flea infestation is reduced.
There are a plethora of products aimed at destroying fleas. How do you distinguish between the many acronyms like IGR’s and the jargon of chemistry such as pyriproxyfen? Don’t worry, I’ve done all the legwork and now you just need to read. This article is divided into three short, but informative chapters. Chapter I will give a quick overview of the flea’s life cycle. This is crucial to understand how you can get rid of them. Chapter II and Chapter 3 provide information on how to protect your home, garden, and pets from flea infestation. You will find a link at the end to the specific products you need to eliminate these parasites from your house. For now, we start with an astonishing fact, how many eggs did you say fleas lay?