Flea Prevention

By Dr. June Fitzgerald
July 2023

It’s time; it’s begun…

Are we prepared? These most common external parasites bother and irritate us, especially our cats. What are they? Fleas, of course! Prevention is essential; the milder temperature favors their development due to their prevalence between June and October. This summer promises to be very favorable to their often-exponential proliferation.

Indoor cats can also contract fleas through contact with an infected environment. For example, a dog may drop eggs/larvae, or a person with an animal in the home may bring fleas or infected material through their shoes. Those are factors to consider. Of course, cats that go outside are even more at risk, and other infected animals can take refuge around the house and facilitate the contamination of your environment and the cats that remain inside, especially if the doors and windows remain open.

Some telltale signs to watch for in your cat are:

They may lick more often, chew, have lesions, and be more anxious.

Many will develop tapeworms: the flea is the intermediate host, and one or more white segments at the end of a very long worm will move near the anus. When they dry, they look like pieces of white rice grains.

Fleas can often be seen. You can detect small black debris by placing the cat on a fabric or a pale surface and rubbing it against the hair. Many will be curved; these are flea droppings. Blood from the fleas’ last meal will be visible by putting a drop of water on these. The most important thing is to treat the cat and the environment and not remove the cat from your home, because fleas will attack you instead and try to bite you.

Some cats are allergic and have very few flea bites. Sometimes fleas are not found because they swallow them while cleaning themselves, but they still develop an itch. They must also be treated against fleas.

What to do?

It is recommended to start applying preventively, as soon as there is a suspicion of fleas, an effective treatment recommended by veterinarians by following the instructions by the book. Some products start working quickly as a Spot-On liquid. According to the instructions, it is applied behind the cat’s head, killing the fleas, eggs, and larvae in a few days. In addition, it prevents heartworms and eliminates round and hookworms, Cheyletiella mites, and ear mites. However, this will not eliminate the tapeworms mentioned above; it is necessary to deworm the cat several times every two months (inform the veterinarian to have the required prescription). It should be used monthly throughout the breeding season or more, depending on the cat’s response and surrounding conditions that could increase the chances of re-infestations. The product is also available in a formula that eliminate ticks.

Immediately vacuum the places the cat frequents, such as sofas, carpets, cushions, beds, wood cracks, stairs, etc. Make sure you have a few mothballs in the vacuum’s canister, and seal and dispose of the contents afterward. Larvae penetrate between fibers (carpets, sofas, etc.) and continue to mature into pupae and form cocoons that may delay hatching into fleas when conditions are less than ideal. Under ideal conditions, fleas will quickly emerge from cocoons.

Some will use food-grade diatomaceous earth. This fine powder can be sprinkled in places where the cat frequents or may frequent and where it lies down. It can be sprinkled into the hair by massaging the coat every two days during the first week and then once a week for a few months. It is essential to wear gloves, to protect the cat’s head with a cloth, and to protect yourself during the application so that no powder goes into the lungs, the respiratory tract, or the eyes. Be careful not to use products intended for dogs, and avoid toxic products from pet stores that are ineffective or dangerous. Better to take advantage of the advice of a regular or holistic veterinarian. When the job is done, you can use a water spray bottle of Shungite Excellium to clean the air in your rooms by spraying a fine mist.

To Be Continued…

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