Once you have established your cat has fleas, it is time to seek treatment. There are a number of methods available to treat fleas in cats, of varying efficacy and cost.
High street pet stores often sell a range of cat collars designed to treat for fleas. Collars carry an anti-flea agent and can be bought and fitted quickly. However, they are not always effective and can cause an allergic reaction around the neck and discomfort in some cats.
High street stores usually also carry a range of powders and sprays. Although these might be cheaper, they are often less effective than the range of products on offer from your vet. For a fast and effective treatment of fleas, see your vet.
For every flea you see on your cat, there could be many hundreds roaming elsewhere in your cat’s bedding or further afield in your house (in areas such as carpetting). As a result, when treating for fleas you should also consider treating these others areas. A range of products is available for treating these areas, so be sure to ask your vet at the time of purchasing the cat treatment.
In addition to the range of traditional treatments, many pet stores will carry a range of alternative treatments. It is important to understand that alternative treatments do not treat flea infestations, but rather repel fleas.
Some cat owners have also reported some success by making subtle changes or introductions in to their cat’s diet in order to make the cat’s blood less appetising to fleas. For example, introducing garlic or adding a small amount of vinegar to your cat’s food can be enough to deter fleas.
These preventive measures are perhaps best undertaken after successful treatment. Other preventive measure that can be taken include regular grooming with a flea comb, administering a regular monthly flea treatment (particularly in the months of warmer weather) and properly treating carpets and other areas where fleas may accumulate.
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