There are many ways you can try to bring more happiness into your life but owning a cat is definitely one. They not only give you companionship but also help to make you laugh if you feel a bit down. The figures around cat ownership in the USA show how popular our feline friends are with recent figures showing that around 95 million households in the U.S own cats
Of course, that is not to say that owning a cat does not present challenges at times. Fleas on cats is one issue that can crop up for owners, and it needs sorting out as soon as possible. This will not only get your cat back into good health but also stop your home from being infected with these critters as well. But how do you spot when your cat has fleas?
Look out for fleas themselves
This might sound overly simplistic, but it is still the first thing to keep an eye out for! If you notice fleas on your cat when stroking it or playing with it, then you will be in no doubt that you have a problem to deal with. But this is not the only way you can detect the presence of fleas. If you notice the little creatures around your home, even if you have not seen them on your feline friend, it is probably a good indication that there is an issue to resolve. You may begin to get bothered by their presence and notice allergic reactions to them on your body in the form of itchy spots. If this happens, caring for your skin is important to manage your own health alongside taking steps to help your cat.
What other signs could be telling?
The real tricky part for many cat owners though is that you might not always see actual fleas in person as they are so tiny. This makes knowing about other common signs that your cat has a problem to sort out vital. But what are they?
Excessive grooming is a classic symptom of cat fleas for starters. This is because the fleas and their eggs will irritate your cat and they will be keen to remove them from their fur. As a result, they can spend lots more time grooming themselves than usual. Look out for skin irritation, small bumps around their neck or back and increased scratching around the face. This can also indicate that fleas are causing them problems.
Keep an eye on their behavior
Another classic sign of fleas for cats is a change in their usual behavior. They may, for example, avoid a room they usually spend lots of time in or appear more agitated than usual. As they cannot talk, cats will often try to show us there is a problem through excessive growling or head shaking. All these types of behavior can give you an early warning that something is not right. Cats can also get very lethargic if they have fleas due to the fleas biting and drawing blood.
What can you do to treat fleas?
It is one thing looking out for fleas and confirming that your cat has them but what can you do to get rid of them? Your best bet is to use proper medication to deal with the problem that is specially designed to kill fleas but will not harm your pet. Revolution for cats is one such effective treatment that not only kills adult fleas and their eggs but is safe to use on cats as young as six weeks. If you discover that your furry friend does indeed have fleas, then this is the best course of action to get them back to normal very quickly.
Once your cat has been treated, it is also wise to try to help prevent any future infestations. A good tip is to wash their bedding in very hot water regularly to kill off any fleas or their eggs. It is also wise to regularly hoover your floors and furnishings to get rid of any fleas or eggs which may be there to protect you both.
Be vigilant for fleas and deal with it immediately
If you own a cat, you will love it to pieces and be keen to look after it as well as you can. Keeping an eye out for fleas is definitely worthwhile in this regard ,and hopefully the above tips have shown you not only how to do this but also how to treat your cat if it is infected.
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