How to Get Rid of Fleas On Cats

If your cat has fleas, chances are you will know it nearly as soon as he does. He may scratch himself until he bleeds, be covered with tiny bites and black flea dirt, and you may even be able to see the fleas themselves jumping around in your carpet - or on your legs. If the flea infestation gets bad enough, you yourself may get a taste of what your cat is going through as you get a few painful, itchy bites of your own. In addition to the discomfort and unpleasantness, a flea infestation, if left unchecked, could lead to your cat's developing serious health problems such as anemia or tapeworms. In order to rid yourself of a flea problem, you need to attack on three fronts - your house, your yard, and the fleas on your cat.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Flea comb
• Bleach
• Shampoo
• Topical flea control product for cats
• Washer and dryer
• Vacuum cleaner
• Flea bomb for house/yard if needed
• Professional exterminator if needed/wanted

1. Comb your cat with a flea comb all over her entire body. Have a jar or bowl of bleach mixed with water nearby to dip the comb in as you collect the fleas in order to make sure that they're dead as well as gone.

2. Shampoo your cat thoroughly. You may use a flea shampoo made for cats, but you can actually use just any type of cat shampoo or even baby shampoo. The soap and water alone should be enough to get rid of any remaining fleas on the cat's body.

3. Apply a topical flea control product made especially for cats. These products are usually applied once a month to the skin at the base of the neck.

4. Wash all of the cat's bedding in hot water. Dry it in the dryer on high heat. The heat may not be necessary for killing any remaining fleas, but it is better to err on the side of caution.

5. Vacuum the carpeting thoroughly, as well as vacuuming any bedding that could not go in the washing machine. A flea infestation can best be controlled by vacuuming on a daily basis and disposing of the vacuum bag or emptying the canister to get rid of all vacuumed-up fleas and flea eggs.

6. Use a flea bomb or professional exterminator if the infestation is a serious one, but make sure all food and dishes are covered up and that all pets and humans are out of the house when the house is being treated. Make sure that the product used is one that is cat-safe, as well.

7. Spray an outdoor flea treatment in your yard , again choosing a cat safe product and making sure that all pets and humans stay out of the yard for the length of time specified in the product's directions. You may choose to hire a professional to take care of the yard treatment but if you do it yourself you'll need to wear a protective mask and gloves.

Tips & Warnings

• Never use products for dog flea control on your cat - make sure that all products are labeled as safe for use on cats

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