Have you ever heard that a small group of 10 fleas can multiply into a quarter of a million in just a month, on your cat and in your house??? Yes, you heard it right. This tiny blood-sucking parasite can infect cats and other animals. They can cause itching, bald spots, swelling, infection, wounds and even transmit diseases that are harmful to cats, and humans as well.
And by any chance, if your cat is long-haired, then those small vampire bugs will have a cozy castle to increase their family-tree, making your cat’s life a nightmare. So, to keep your pet healthy, you need to kick those freeloaders out from your cat’s coat.
You may be wondering how to get rid of these pesky little blood-sucking vampires from your loving pet, and your home for good!! Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We have some fantastic tips that will help you to get rid of these fleas easily and naturally. So, grab your kitty and let’s get rid of those parasites from your cat’s long, soft fur….
How to Detect Fleas on a Long Haired Cat
Once Jeffrey Fry said, “If you want to lift yourself up, first see who is bringing you down, then get rid of them.” So true for your felines if they have those enemies hiding under their coats. So, before you start to sweep away those fleas from your cat’s hair, you need to know how to detect those bugs. Due to long and thick fur, sometimes it can be difficult for you to find if there is any infestation in the cat’s coat. Therefore, you have to check for fleas in their long hair. How??? Here are some ways-
- Observe your cat’s grooming behavior: First of all, observe your cat’s grooming habits, and see if they change from day to day. If your feline has sensitive skin, it might cause them an allergic reaction to fleas. However, it won’t happen for all cats. Fleas can make cats to excessive licking and biting due to non-stop itchiness and irritation.
- Watch for subtle movements in their coat: After that, it’s time for you to examine your cat’s coat. Look closely and carefully, and look for subtle movements in their long fur. Once these parasites start to multiply, you will start to notice them easily.
- Comb your cat’s long fur: The best way to detect fleas on a long-haired cat is to comb their fur. Use a fine-toothed brush or flea comb to confirm if your feline has some uninvited guests in their body. Specially, around the armpits, tails, and the groin part. Fleas can sometimes cause matted fur on a cat’s back.
- Look for signs of flea infestation on your cat: Fleas bites can cause swelling, hair loss, redness, sore, inflammation, infection and other issues. If the infection gets worse, your kitty may suffer from anemia due to a lot of blood loss. Another sign can be reddish-brown specks, or light colored specks in their skin. So, check for their coat condition and overall health.
As we mentioned, fleas can infest your cat, and can cause bald spots on their face. But there are some other reasons behind it. And if you notice any bald patches on your cat’s skin, you need to find out what is causing them and how to prevent it. Read this article: Why do cats have bald spots above their eyes to learn everything you need to know about bald spots on cats.
5 Effective Steps to Get Rid of Fleas on a Long Haired Cat
Well, after you are done with your investigation of detecting fleas on cats, it’s time to go for an action. Yes, now you’re going to explore some amazing vet recommended tips to remove those pesky parasites from your long-haired cat.
Step 1: Treat Your Cat with Flea Medicine
The first step is to give your cat flea medicine with their daily food. But before you treat them with medicine, make sure to consider some factors. Such as its effectiveness, formulation, suitable for your pet age, and of course its side effects.
Here are some different type of flea medicine with benefits and drawbacks-
- Revolution plus: It’s a spot-on solution. It kills fleas and prevents other parasites like ticks, worms, and mites. This medicine is safe for 8 week old cats. However, it can cause allergic reactions, irritation.
- Bravecto: This medicine prevents fleas for up to 12 weeks. It kills adult fleas and tick within 12-48 hours. It’s suitable for a 6 months old kitty. But it can cause skin irritation, or even neurological reactions.
- Capstar: It’s an oral tablet, and can give a quick relief to your cat. It eliminates 90% of fleas of cats within 4 hours. This tablet is applicable for a 4 weeks old cat. Cons of this medicine can be fever, salivation, pupil dilation and others.
- Comfortis: It’s also a chewable flea tablet that lasts for a month. It can also be used for allergic dermatitis. Drawbacks of this medicine are vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite in cats.
- Advantage II: It has the least side effects among these medicines. It kills fleas, fleas eggs, and prevents reinfestation. Even it doesn’t require any veterinarian prescription.
All of these medicines except advantage II need prescription from the veterinarian. So before treating your cat with those, make sure to consult with your vet.
Step 2: Use Flea Comb on Your Cat’s Hair
Next step is using a flea comb on your feline hair. If you’re a new owner, it’s necessary for you to know how to use this comb on a long haired cat. Click the link, watch the video and learn the proper way to use this flea comb.
However, using this comb can be really beneficial. For example, it will help you to notice the effectiveness of medicine, or other treatment, to remove all the parasites, debris, and dirt from their fur.
Step 3: Wash Your Cat’s Bedding and Toys
Then it’s time to wash your cat bedding, toys and other things. Clean those with warm soapy water to kill these little pesky parasites. Make sure to wash them every week. Keeping their bedsheets, toys, litter box neat and clean can prevent flea reinfestation, and maintain their hygiene.
Step 4: Vacuum Your Home
These parasites not only breed in your cat’s long hair, but can also in your house. So vacuum your home to get rid of fleas, larvae, debris, fleas eggs. Like carpet, rugs, floor, furniture, each and every corner of your house. There are areas that are prone to flea infestation such as cat feeding areas, upholstery, in a word where they can stay warm. After vacuuming, throw out the bag and clean the machine with hot water.
Step 5: Use a Flea Spray or Fogger
And finally you can use a flea spray for foggers to get rid of fleas in your home. First choose a spray that is suitable for your pet and house. Then follow the instructions on the label, and don’t forget to wear protective gear before applying flea spray.
For foggers, place it in the center of the room, cover all the surface, and furniture to protect from the stain. Then activate the bomb and leave the house(don’t forget your kitty). After that, ventilate the house properly, and repeat this every two weeks in a month.
These tools help to get rid of fleas, as well as have some drawbacks. For example, spray or floggers can be toxic for plants and the environment, or even to your cat, and you as well. Moreover, they need to re-applied more frequently. So, it’ll be better to take advice from an expert before applying in the house.
How to Prevent Flea Infestation in Long Haired Cats
Nothing is worse than flea infestation in a long haired cat. It can make you and your feline go crazy!! But with our 5 effective steps, you can easily remove these bloodsucking bugs from your pet’s fur. So try to –
- Give your cat flea medicine after consulting with an experienced vet.
- Wash your cat’s bedding and other belongings once a week.
- Vacuum your house on a regular basis.
- Use flea prevention products around the house but with precaution.
- And give your cat regular grooming and maintain monthly check-ups for them.
Long-haired cats are prone to flea infestation and other flea related health issues, such as scratch disease, tapeworms, and lethargy. That’s why it’s important to regularly check their coats, and prevent these parasites from expanding their clan.
To wind up
It is our duty as cat owners to ensure that our pets are healthy, happy, and well-cared for. By preventing flea infestation in long haired cats, you are protecting them from various health problems and discomforts caused by these parasites.
If you’re having trouble with your cat’s flea infestation, I recommend following the steps suggested in this article. Don’t give up if you don’t see instant results. Remember what Aristotle said, “Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” So it may take some time to get rid of all the fleas and eggs from your long hairy pet.
Thank you for reading, and I hope this information was helpful in getting rid of fleas on long haired cats. Don’t forget to leave a comment and share our post.