Fleas. We’ve all been there. And so have our cats. These parasites are invasive, pervasive, and downright unwelcome. If your cat has fleas, beneath its fur they are busy biting and sucking. This causes severe irritation, itchiness, sores, and transmit diseases.
If your cat has fleas, you might not notice at first. Fleas are about the size of a pin head and like to hide under fur and embedded in fabric. That’s right, fleas don’t only live on your cat. In fact, if you have a flea problem only about 5% live on your pet. The rest are living throughout your home.
While humans are not usually victims to any diseases fleas may spread, your cats can be. That’s why it’s important to get your cat treated with preventatively for these pests. Catonsville cat Clinic is your best choice in the greater Baltimore area when to come to preventative care for your cat. We’ve been doing this for a while, and here are some myths we still hear people saying about fleas.
Myth #1: My cat has no fleas because he stays inside.
Fleas can enter the home in many different ways. Even people can carry fleas into your home. Tall grass and shaded areas are common places for these little insects. Once a flea hitches a ride into your home, it can reproduce quickly enough for you to have an infestation in a matter of days. If you suspect your cat may have fleas, pull back its fur and inspect its skin for bites or tiny insects. Frequent and abnormal scratching could also indicate the presence of fleas.
Myth #2: Pet meds are too expensive and not worth the cost.
Getting rid of fleas entirely from your home requires some serious treatment. This treatment can often get very steep in price. While flea medicine is expensive, a $200 annual supply is nothing compared to the cost it takes to remove the fleas. Also, keep in mind that not all flea medications are alike. Call your Catonsville Cat Clinic for recommendations because – some over the counter flea products are not only ineffective but can also be potentially dangerous to your cat. Your cat is an investment and preventing fleas is just one cost of owning a cat.
Myth #3: Treating my cat will get rid of the fleas.
It’s easy to think your cat is housing all the fleas in your home. You may see a few on your cat and think the rest of your home is not in danger. In actuality, in most flea infestation cases, only about 5% of adult fleas are residing under your cat’s fur. The rest are in your carpets and around the rest of your home. Even after the first treatment, eggs that were laid before treatment can still hatch 3-4 weeks afterwards. It’s vital that you continue flea treatment until you’re absolutely sure all fleas are eradicated from your cat, and your home.
Catonsville Cat Clinic can help if your cat has fleas!
For 20 years, the Catonsville Cat Clinic has been providing quality veterinary care to the cats of Catonsville and beyond! Dr. Pam Nesbitt, who purchased the practice in July of 2011, runs the Catonsville Cat Clinic with compassion in mind. A team of professionals with an advanced level of veterinary medicine is at your service to make sure your cat is healthy and happy. So stop on by; we’d love to get to know you and your cat!