How To Control and Prevent Fleas in Cats

If you've seen tiny, quick bugs scurrying through your cat's fur, you can be sure that you have a flea problem. Fleas will bite your cat, and can cause health issues including anemia, tapeworms, and more. While it's easier to prevent them than to get rid of them, it is possible to control fleas in cats once you have them. Here's how to control and prevent fleas in cats:

1. Wash your cat. First, bathe and comb your cat to get rid of as many fleas from your cat as you can. You can use mild cat or baby shampoo, or buy a specially formulated flea shampoo or flea dip. Even if you see just a few black fleas, many more are still eggs waiting to hatch in your cat's fur.
2. Wash everything. Wash all of your bedding thoroughly, especially if your cat frequently sleeps on it. Vacuum the mattress, where flea eggs might be hiding. Vacuum the carpet daily and dispose of used vacuum bags, as they can become hatching grounds for the flea eggs that were in your carpet. Steam cleaning may be necessary for serious cases of flea infestation. Pay special attention to any areas where your pets spend a lot of time, especially pet beds.
3. Use a topical treatment. Flea collars or topical flea control products, usually applied to the back of the neck, are very effective at stopping fleas. Topical products are usually applied once per month. Do not stop once you think the fleas are gone, or they will probably come right back. You can even use it as a preventive medication if you haven't yet seen any signs of fleas. Do not use products labeled for dogs on cats. Frontline and Advantage are two popular flea products.
4. Consider a flea bomb. This is a whole-house treatment usually used for serious infestations. First, you'll have to remove all food dishes and live animals. You can hire a professional to do the flea bombing for you. Flea bombs interrupt the flea's life cycle, preventing eggs from hatching and adult fleas from reproducing. Still, the chemicals involved can be harmful for people or animals to ingest.
5. Keep your cat indoors. Indoor-only cats are much less likely to pick up fleas than those that go outdoors frequently. Still, fleas and their eggs can be tracked indoors on shoes and pant legs, or brought in by other cats or dogs that do go outside.

Once you start this flea control regimen, do not stop, or the fleas may come back in full force. Fleas are annoying, but luckily they are pretty easy to get rid of with diligent cleaning of your home and your cat, as well as the use of flea products.