The appearance of fleas in cats is a fairly common phenomenon. Not only street and homeless animals, but also sterile pets are subject to attack by these small bloodsuckers.
The fact is that fleas can easily get into the room from a not very clean entrance, "come" from the street on clothes or shoes of residents, "jump over" from neighbors.
The proximity to flea parasites is quite dangerous not only for furry pets, but also for humans, as fleas are carriers of serious diseases: hepatitis A, salmonellosis, typhus.
On the body of the cat is usually only 5 percent of flea specimens, the rest in the form of laid eggs, pupae, larvae quickly inhabit the entire house. That is why in the fight against the flea army is particularly effective set of measures, which includes pest control not only your pet, but also the entire dwelling.
Symptoms of flea in domestic cats
The following signs will help to determine that the animal is worried about the fleas, and not any disease:
- pruritus. The poor animal begins to comb the back and sides. Ticks usually affect the ear and groin areas;
- the presence of flea waste products. To see the excrement and eggs of fleas that look like a mixture of white and dark grains, you can, apart the cat's hair;
- adult fleas. The parasites are actively beginning to flee from the body of the animal during washing or combing, and then they can be seen firsthand;
- wounds, ulcers, skin redness. Flea bites themselves irritate cat's skin, and subsequent combing leads to the formation of various lesions.
Treatment should begin with at least one of the above symptoms. After all, ugly-looking fleas can cause serious health problems for your pet:
- infections;
- baldness;
- nervous system disorders.
Traditional methods of dealing with fleas in cats
It is unlikely that our ancestors knew such things as flea collars or drops. Their methods of saving unfortunate animals from fleas were simple but effective.
Unlike insecticides, which can not only destroy the parasites, but also cause considerable harm to the animal and all the inhabitants of the apartment (due to its chemical nature), grandmothers' flea bloodsucker remedies are more loyal and act mostly deterrent.
And yet they able to seriously ruin the life of a flea brother.
The most effective ways to fight fleas:
- odorous herbs. Tansy, wormwood have a sharp peculiar smell, completely unbearable for fleas. Small bouquets of dry grass laid out in different corners of the apartment will scare away the bloodsuckers for a long time. You can rinse the animal's hair after bathing with a decoction of wormwood; there is no need to be afraid: wormwood is harmless to pets;
- combing. For this procedure, you will need a comb with frequent teeth. This method is used mainly in small kittens, but it does not guarantee one hundred percent ejection of parasites;
- pine sawdust. Fleas hardly tolerate coniferous smell and tend to get away from its source. In order to prevent the appearance of insects and prevent the reproduction of existing ones, the litter of the animal is filled with small pine sawdust. You can also expand small bags with this deterrent throughout the apartment;
- cold. Fleas are thermophilic, so any decrease in temperature is destructive for them. To clear your dwelling from troubled lodgers, it is enough to leave all the windows in the room open for a few hours, after having removed all residents from it. A cat at this time can be taken out into the street and “bathed” in a deep snowdrift;
- a mixture of salt and baking soda. It acts detrimental on adult flea specimens. Powder need to pour carpets in the house, as well as cat litter. After a few hours, vacuum. Getting rid of fleas will help and brine (from the proportion of a glass of salt on a bucket of liquid). Carefully, holding the animal tightly by the paws, place it in the bucket, leaving only the head on the surface. In this position, it is necessary to hold the pet for 2-3 minutes (if you can), then rinse it in clean warm water;
- tar soap. It is known since ancient times for its beneficial properties. It treats skin lesions well, eczema, dermatitis, disinfects, anesthetizes, kills various infectious bacteria, and has a detrimental effect not only on adult parasite insects, but also on their offspring (eggs, larvae). In addition, the composition of the soap is natural and will not cause any harm to your furry friend. How to process an animal? Soap beaten into a strong foam and rub it with a pet, after 5 minutes, wash off. The procedure is preferably carried out every 3-4 days until the complete disposal of flea bloodsuckers;
- feverfew (dalmatian chamomile). The flowers of this beautiful garden plant contain natural insecticides detrimental to fleas. To rid the animal of parasites, it is necessary to bathe it in a decoction of dry inflorescences of pyrethrum (one cup of crushed grass per 5 liters of boiling water);
- ammonia, 3% vinegar and flower cologne. This is a rather barbaric method of expelling fleas from the coat of a pet, but is quite effective. All ingredients need to be taken in equal parts, mix, pour into a spray bottle and spray the cat's hair. After that, wrap the animal in a plastic bag, leaving only the head outside. By all means try to keep the pet for 5-10 minutes, then wash it in warm water. Flush dead insects with water into the toilet;
All manipulations on the destruction of fleas from pets should be carried out in conjunction with the processing of the apartment, otherwise in a few days your pet will again tear itself apart with its paws, trying to snatch the hated insects out of its fur.
