You have tried everything to get rid of your cat’s fleas — from commercial products to home remedies. Nothing seems to be working. It can be very frustrating. Here are possible reasons why your cat still has fleas.
Reasons why your cat still has fleas
1. You are using ineffective flea treatments
There are so many proven cat flea treatments out there. Many of them, you apply directly on your cats, like flea powders, flea sprays, insecticidal collars, and spot-on treatments. Some of them, your cat can take orally, like flea tablets. Flea treatments are also available over the counter, but there are also prescriptions that have even stronger ingredients.
If you consult a veterinarian and get a prescription, you are not likely to have treatment problems. But if you try to treat the cat fleas yourself, you are prone to buying ineffective flea treatments. When looking for products, buy only from the most reputable brands as much as possible.
2. You are relying on unproven natural remedies
Another problem with trying to treat cat fleas yourself is that people often go online and look for natural remedies. But natural remedies don’t always work. And sometimes, they are also dangerous.
For instance, there may be articles out there suggesting that you use essential oils to get rid of cat fleas naturally. But essential oils are toxic. Considering that cats often lick and groom themselves, they are at risk of this toxicity.
Some natural remedies are relatively harmless, like lemon sprays. But they are really not that effective. You will not see significant results by fully relying on them.
3. You don’t use the treatment properly
You can use the most effective flea treatment in the world. But your cat will still have fleas if you don’t even use the treatment properly. This is why it’s so important to read the instructions that come with the product. Listen carefully to your veterinarian as well. Depending on your cat’s case, they may tweak the instructions a little bit.
Improper use of flea treatments can even be fatal. For instance, do you know that you can’t use dog flea treatment on cats? Cats can’t handle variants of permethrin and pyrethrin because they are sensitive to them, especially in higher concentrations. This just highlights the importance of consulting a veterinarian instead of going DIY.
4. Your cat still has fleas because you bathe it too frequently
Most flea treatments are applied directly to your cat’s fur and skin. Direct contact with these ingredients kills fleas. Basically, these ingredients need to stay on your cat’s fur and skin for them to be effective. You don’t want to immediately wash them away.
One problem with pet owners is that they think bathing their pets frequently will help with their flea problem because they are keeping their pets clean. But this can be counterproductive as you wash away the ingredients that make topical flea treatments effective.
5. The treatment is actually working — but slowly
While you are treating your cat, you may notice more fleas and droppings around your pet. These signs may make you think that the treatment is not effective. But this is not necessarily the case. Many flea treatments attack the nervous system of fleas. The parasites can become hyperactive, making them more visible. This can make your cat scratch more than usual as well.
Topical flea treatments don’t kill fleas instantly. The fleas need to make direct contact with the harmful ingredients in the treatment and absorb them. Killing these parasites may take up to 24 hours. However, take note that this doesn’t mean you will be able to get rid of cat fleas in just a day. There is a high chance you have more fleas at home, and not even the flea treatments will prevent them from jumping onto your cat.
6. You don’t isolate your cat from your other pets
Fleas can thrive throughout your home. They can be in your cat’s bedding. They can even be on yours. But some of the most common places where they can thrive are on your other pets. If you have multiple pets, you will likely need to treat all of them even if you think only one cat has fleas. Fleas can jump from host to host, especially during playtime when your pets get in direct contact with each other.
If you think only one cat has fleas, isolate this pet immediately. This will not just prevent flea infestations on your other pets. It will also keep them safe from flea treatment toxicity. During playtime, your other pets may lick your flea-infested cat and end up ingesting the toxic ingredients of the flea treatment.
7. You are not cleaning your cat’s environment
The fleas directly on your cat are just a small part of your problem. You can kill all the fleas on your cat, but nothing is stopping another batch of fleas from jumping onto your cat and starting another infestation. Flea reinfestation is very common, especially if you don’t treat your cat’s surroundings.
Clean up the areas where your cat frequently goes, such as their own bedding. In the meantime, don’t let them stay on your furniture and bed to prevent them from spreading even more fleas in your home. You may also see fleas on carpets and rugs.
Vacuum these flea hot spots regularly, especially if you see particles that look like coffee crumbs. Those may be flea eggs.
8. You are ignoring the outside of your home
Why does your cat have fleas in the first place? Well, they may have gotten the parasites outside of your home. After all, fleas can thrive in your garden, lawn, and yard. They can stay in high grass, waiting for your cat to play outside, so they can jump on them.
Keep your greeneries short, so small pests like fleas will not have a place to hide and rest. Keep stray animals away too because they can bring fleas with them as well. You can keep strays away by removing food and water sources, such as ripe fruits and vegetables in your garden and unattended pet bowls. You can also consider motion-activated sprinklers to scare off strays.
What to do if your cat still has fleas
It’s truly difficult to completely get rid of cat fleas. But sometimes, it’s also our fault why they are so persistent. We don’t use flea treatments properly and ignore our surroundings where these pests can thrive.
Get rid of cat fleas effectively by consulting a veterinarian, following instructions, and cleaning your entire property.