When you own cats, you are at risk of having fleas on your cats and in your house. The odds are increased if they are indoor/outdoor cats. Fleas are nearly microscopic in size and difficult to eliminate. If you want to know how to get rid of fleas in your house, then you need to understand your enemy (the flea).
Fleas are definitely a nuisance and their bite generally causes quite a bit of itching and irritation of the skin. Some people can have an allergic reaction called dermatitis caused by flea saliva during a flea bite.
It's A Flea... Where's The Danger?
Fleas are certainly a nuisance, but not a danger despite its infamous involvement in the past with the plague. Consequently, for the plague to occur, you need a rodent that carries the plague and a flea that bites the rodent and then bites a human. Personally, I believe mosquitoes to be more dangerous than fleas; a mosquito can spread diseases from far away, whereas a flea is only going to spread diseases that are present around your house. With that said, how many of us have the human plague around our homes?
Once you start seeing fleas in your house, most likely they've already gotten a jump on you (no pun intended) and it will take you 3-6 months to resolve the problem. An adult female flea can lay about 200 eggs per month. Flea eggs will fall off your pet in your house, on your carpets, rugs, sofa, bedding, etc.
There are 4 Stages in a Flea's Life Cycle:
1. Egg
2. Larva (maggoty-like-thing)
3. Pupa (in a cocoon)
4. Adult
Note, getting rid of fleas on your cats isn't enough - you'll have to also rid the entire household environment of fleas in order to protect your cats from them for good. Getting rid of fleas in your house can be a daunting task, so roll up your sleeves and get ready to do some work.
Tackle The Cat First!
First, you'll want to eliminate the fleas from your cats by bathing them in warm soapy water. Dunk your cats completely in the water up to their necks (never their head) for five minutes to drown the fleas and wash off the flea poop (which is flea larvae food). Have a flea comb ready and be prepared for fleas to start running up to your cat's head, eyes and ears. Use the flea comb to remove the surviving fleas and drown them in the soapy water.
Next, you'll want to gently towel dry your cat and then let them finish drying themselves off by licking. Wait several hours and make sure your cat is completely dry, preferable the next day. Then apply a "high quality" topical flea protection solution on your cat, this will most likely require a trip to the vet's office to purchase, and follow the directions exactly. The two most popular brands of topical flea control treatments that I recommend are advantage and Frontline, which I have personally used on my cats with a lot of success. Never use cheap over-the-counter cat flea protection products or apply dog flea protection products on your cat, it can be dangerous to your cat's health.
Continue to apply "high quality" topical flea protection products on your cat monthly and all year-round to maintain a proper defense against future flea infestation on your cats or in your home.
Treating The Cat Is Not Enough!
Even after you get rid of the fleas on your cat, 95% of the fleas still remain in the environment. Remember the life cycle of an adult flea, it will lay eggs, the eggs hatch into larvae (little worms) which then form into a cocoon called pupa. Flea eggs and larvae can be killed by spraying the house but it won't affect the pupa, flea pupa can survive pretty much anything. Lastly, flea pupa hatch to become adult fleas and this is where a topical flea protection solution on your cat can stop the cycle and kill the adults, preventing them from laying eggs.
Lastly, spray your house with a "high quality" and safe flea spray called Knockout Spray, following the instructions exactly. This spray has been recommended by a 20 year veterinarian and is more effective at direct application than the typical "flea bomb" products that get onto your counter tops and tables where fleas don't live.
In addition to using a flea spray, you'll want to clean all the fabrics in your home using a shampoo. This means bedding, carpeting, upholstery, curtains, and especially areas where your cats sleep and play. Ridding your home of fleas is the best way to ensure you get rid of fleas from your cats for good so they won't return.
