Things You'll Need:
- Cat flea comb
- Bowl of water with soap
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Step 1
Determine if your cat will take to combing, and get him used to a daily "spa" time. You can use an ordinary comb to get your cat used to the routine. Even if your cat is hard to handle, limited combing around the jowls and neck usually feels good and your cat may become easier to handle when you do it regularly.
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Step 2
Figure out what kind of comb is right for your cat's fur.
A good flea comb will have tight teeth to catch the fleas and remove eggs. However the tight teeth can be hard to get through a cat's fur, and if the flea comb's teeth are not smooth enough, they may cut through some of the hair, and damage your cat's lovely coat. Combs with short, smooth round teeth tend to work best to preserve the fur and catch fleas. -
Step 3
Have a shallow bowl of warm water nearby, with a small amount of soap in it. Soap will prevent fleas from escaping the water.
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Step 4
Comb your cat in places fleas are easiest to catch (but also where your cat will let you). The throat is often the best place the fur is thick yet short, and most cats really enjoy having their throat and jowls combed. Shoulders can also be good. Cat fleas like to congregate in warm areas on the belly and haunches, but many cats do not like being combed there.
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Step 5
When you catch a flea, trap it against the comb with your finger or thumb. Don't let go to look at it - they are fast and they can jump. Release it in the water bowl. Fleas have a hard body so you can't just squish them with your thumb. You have to either drown it in soapy water, or crush it between the back of your thumbnail and something hard. This takes quite a bit of practice, since they can often get away.
Comments
luyoung said
on 11/8/2009 Great article on natural flea control. Sounds like it would work for dogs too.