Cats have an innate ability to play, fight and sleep in the perfect flea infested areas. Cat fleas can be brought in from under a house or an abandoned complex were fleas are patiently lurking. These parasites are able to hitchhike back to their home and multiply. Dog and cat health can be compromised by fleas and protecting them is vital in the relentless battle against the parasites. The same techniques you use to fight cat fleas can be used in your yard and home. Basic cleaning, as with yard and home protection, is the best foundation for your attack.
Flea combs – A flea comb is the best tool to remove adult fleas from cat fur. 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 favor thick fur and therefore accumulate heavily near the face, neck and front of the tail.
Solutions – Shampoo is an obvious choice to drown and chemically eradicate your unwanted trespassers. Soapy shampoo can be used to subdue light infestations. Allow shampoo to soak for 5-10 minutes before washing.
IGRs – These are available as pills, sprays, spot-ons, or pills. IGRs target larvae and egg development. IGR’s cause of death is that adult fleas become incapable of reproducing. Eggs die before hatching and larvae are killed before maturation. The problem is that the IGR can kill the adult fleas. This problem can be solved by using IGR’s in conjunction with mild insecticides to kill adult fleas. Outdoor cat enclosures
Enclosure – Dog and cat enclosures allow you to choose where the animal wanders once it leaves the safety of the home. Cat and dog cages (or enclosures) are usually built in sunny areas where fleas are less likely. It is important to provide shade but keep the area dry. Parasites thrive in moist areas. Your pet will be safe from fleas if they live in a well-kept yard.
There are many flea-killing products. Amongst acronyms, such as IGR’s, and chemistry jargon like pyriproxyfen that only a scientist can understand, how do you sort out what does what? Not to worry I have done the legwork for you and you will need to do is read. This article is broken into three brief, concise chapters. Chapter I will provide a brief overview of the flea life cycle and how to kill 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?