How to Get Rid of Fleas on Cats Fast

by Amelia Sophie Article Writer

There is no single solution to flea infestation. Neither can fleas be killed overnight. It takes a great deal of patience and several solutions (chemical or natural) to clear your home of fleas. The moment you notice signs of fleas in cats, schedule general cleaning and pet grooming at once. In severe cases, you may have to book pest control management and a visit to the vet.

First things first

Check your cat for signs of scabs, bald patches, and skin infection. Be wary of diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation. All these are signs of severe flea infestation resulting in skin allergies and possibly tapeworm infestation. Make no doubt and schedule an appointment with the vet as soon as possible.

Common in cats with fleas as well as dogs and humans are raised, inflamed, and itchy bites. Cortisone cream applied directly on the skin may relieve your cat of the itchiness. Your vet may also give your cat a lower dosage of Benadryl. Topical ointments and oral antihistamines help stop scratching and allergic reactions to flea saliva.

Removing the fleas

Once you have calmed your cat down, it’s time to remove those blood-sucking pests that can make your cat anemic. If you can succeed in giving your cat a bath, consider using flea shampoo to kill adult fleas on contact though not the eggs. If you want to use something gentle, opt for shampoo with natural flea repellents like eucalyptus, lavender, and citrus.

Unless you have a Turkish Van, chances are your cat cannot be bothered for a bath. Use a fine-toothed metal flea comb instead to remove the adult fleas, eggs, larvae, and droppings from your cat’s dry fur. After each stroke, dip the comb in a solution of water and lemon extract to kill the fleas. Comb from the cat’s head and neck to its armpits, groin, and base of the tail.

Killing the fleas

Your vet may give your cat oral medication that can poison the fleas that suck on its blood. Another option is to apply flea serum on the skin of your cat’s spine which should kill the fleas and prevent them from coming back for at least a month. Repeat monthly to prevent fleas from coming back.

A taste of their own medicine

Beneficial nematodes are effective for outdoor flea management. They treat fleas worse than fleas hurt cats. These microscopic roundworms don’t just suck on their host flea’s blood. They are like snakes that consume their prey at once and feed on them from the inside.

Specific varieties of nematodes — steinernema carpocapsae (Sc), Steinernema feltiae (Sf), and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Hb) are considered flea-eating parasites that will take on every flea they can find as hosts until they are all gone. Once all fleas are consumed, the nematodes will die and biodegrade.

Rid your home of fleas

It is advisable to call the flea exterminators while you attend to the infestation on your cat/s. If you have multiple cats or pets at home, be sure to check and treat all of them at once. In case the exterminators can’t come in a few days or weeks, you will need a team of friends and family to sanitize your home of fleas.

You may also sprinkle baking soda or salt on your carpets before vacuuming. All the tips we mentioned should be repeated as often as necessary to completely rid your home and pets of fleas and prevent future infestation. It can take two to four weeks and a combination of different methods before you can have peace of mind that your home and pets are free of fleas.

You will need to launder all the beddings, carpets, rugs, and upholstery in hot water. If possible, air-dry them under the sun. For carpets and upholstery that cannot be washed, use flea repellent bedding or a 50:50 mixture of food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) and borax. Sprinkle the mixture on cushions, under the furniture, on pet bedding, and in every nook and crevice.

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