Anyone who has ever been bitten by a flea knows they are a nuisance, but did you know that:
• Ten female fleas can produce 250,000 offspring in 30-45 days.
• You will not see fleas in your house until the population is
• Flea larvae hide in darkened areas such as under furniture,
in baseboards and dark corners.
• The flea population may remain dormant for months at a
time, waiting for the proper humidity and temperature to
• Fleas are a year-round problem.
• Your cat's favorite sunning spot in your living room will
maintain conditions for flea reproduction even in winter.
• All those fleas require a steady blood supply to survive and
they make your cat completely miserable! In some cases they even cause
severe skin allergies, with hair loss and scabbing.
Flea problems often go unnoticed. Although you may not have seen a flea on your cat, you could still have them. Infestations start off slowly but increase extremely rapidly. At any given moment, adult fleas comprise only 5% of the total flea population. Mature female fleas lay their eggs, up to 50 each day, during a period of 6 to 8 weeks. The flea lays her eggs in your cat's hair and as your cat walks throughout your home, he distributes the eggs into the small crevices in your floors and rugs.
During your cat's annual examination, we comb his fur in search of adult fleas and flea dirt, which is digested blood. We also check for signs of skin irritation around the base of your cat's tail and his neck.
A flea infestation can be treated with a variety of new products that interrupt the life cycle of the flea, killing adults, eggs or both. With severe infestations, treating your home will accelerate control. We carry a number of products to kill fleas on your cat. Although several of these products are available over-the-counter, there are a number of products available in stores that are NOT nearly as safe and effective. Advantage and Frontline cost more, but they are worth the money, so please do not be tempted by cheaper alternatives. If you have any questions about the safety of a flea product, please call the office and we will investigate the ingredients for you.
Products for Your Cat:
Revolution is a once-a-month topical medication that protects your cat from various parasites. It treats hookworm, roundworm
and earmites. It not only kills adult fleas but also prevents flea eggs from hatching. Revolution prevents heartworm disease.
Once each month, you apply a spot of Revolution on the back of your cat's neck. It is quick-drying and non-greasy with no unpleasant
odor. It is safe for kittens as young as 6 weeks, pregnant or nursing females, and breeding pairs. We have found it to be very effective
for most cats. Cats who roam in heavily tick-infested areas may need an occasional supplement of Frontline Top Spot to control
This product is the original once-a-month topical flea control. It is a liquid that you apply monthly to the back of your cat's neck. It is
odorless and does not stain. It is a new type of insecticide that interferes with the nervous system of the flea and is species
specific to fleas. This affords a wide margin of safety. It kills 98% of adult fleas within 24 hours and continues to kill fleas
on cats for up to 4 weeks. Adult fleas die on contact, before they have a chance to feed or lay eggs, thus breaking the life cycle.
We have found this to be a very effective product.
This is currently the only once-a-month topical product that kills both fleas and ticks. You apply Frontline Plus to
the skin on the back of your cat's neck. From there it deposited into the sebaceous (oil) glands of the skin. It is then gradually
released to the skin surface where it will kill the adult flea or tick. It is very effective against deer ticks that carry the Lyme
disease organism. This product does not wash off, so it is especially effective for outdoor cats who may often get wet. It will kill ticks for
up to one month and fleas for 1-3 months. It also contains an insect growth regulator which helps to prevent immature fleas from
developing into adults.
Treating Your House:
The most important way to break a flea infestation is by thoroughly and repeatedly cleaning your house to remove as many flea eggs and larvae as possible. Vacuuming has been shown to be highly effective at killing fleas because of the trauma of going through the beater and the drying action of moving area. Vacuum floors and upholstered furniture daily if possible. Regularly launder any fabrics, such as towels, bedding, or cushions, that your cat sleeps on and don't forget to wash the towel in his carrier. Cleaning requires intensive effort, but can be worthwhile if it allows you to avoid chemically treating your home.
We recommend sprays that contain IGR's and effective adult flea killing insecticides. Sprays are safer than foggers,
but they require more labor to be truly effective. Using a spray, you can treat individual rooms. The re-entry period, the time
which you and your pet must stay out of the room, is usually just an hour. Foggers have a re-entry period of 6 to 8 hours.
Follow the steps below when using a flea spray:
• Vacuum the entire room to be sprayed, including moving furniture to the center of the room and vacuuming the area
where furniture was. The vibration of the vacuum stimulates pre-adult fleas to come out of their cocoon.
• Spray darker areas of the room thoroughly; flea larvae crawl under furniture and baseboards.
• Replace furniture to original locations and spray the middle of the room.
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully for re-entering the room and for followup treatments.
• Repeat the spray treatment in one month.
In some cases, an infestation may be severe enough to require the services of a professional exterminator. If so, don't be afraid to ask questions about the safety of the products they use. You will probably need to remove your cat from the house for at least a few hours.