Flea and Tick Control in Cats
Flea Control:
Fleas are most often seen during the warmer months but as we keep our homes nice and warm throughout winter, we can see fleas all year round. Only a small fraction of a flea population actually live on your animal.
The fleas’ eggs and larvae live in the environment and can survive there for up to a year. Therefore so it is important to treat both your animal directly for fleas as well as their environment eg wash your animal’s bedding using the hottest cycle and regularly vacuum / clean carpets. The flea products we recommend also reduce flea numbers in the pet’s environment.Fleas will tend to jump onto your animal only to feed and then jump off again. Cats can have a reaction to flea saliva resulting in FAD (Flea Allergy Dermatitis). Treatment of FAD can be complicated and veterinary consultation is recommended.
Some signs that your animal may have fleas include:
- Scratching, overgrooming, hair loss and multiple scabs along the back and rump.
- You may see fleas crawling over your cat’s body (especially over the rump and groin region)
- If your cat has a long or dark coat, it can be difficult to find the fleas. To check for flea droppings, moisten a cotton ball, part your animal’s coat and place the cotton ball on the skin over the rump. If the cotton ball takes on black specs surrounded by a reddish area, this may be flea dirt and can indicate that your animal has fleas.
At Hall Veterinary Surgery we recommend the use of ‘spot on’ rapid adulticides for the treatment and prevention of fleas in cats. Products available include:
- Frontline Plus - for fleas and ticks
- Advantage - for fleas only
- Advocate - for fleas and worms, heartworm, and some mites
ADVANTIX AND PERMOXIN ARE FLEA AND TICK PRODUCTS WHICH CAN ONLY TO BE USED IN DOGS. It is recommended that cats be kept SEPARATE from treated dogs overnight to allow time for product to distribute on the dogs coat. Cats should not groom or have physical contact with a recently treated dog.
Please refer to product inserts or speak to us for more information regarding any of these products. Tick Control:
The main tick of concern for pet owners is the Paralysis Tick (Ixodes holocyclus) as it can cause death within 2-4 days of attachment. Whilst Paralysis Ticks do not occur naturally in the A.C.T. they can attach to cats who visit the coast during the warmer months, particularly if they are allowed to run through scrub. Ticks may also hitch a ride back with you or a neighbour in cars, rugs, towels or plants.
Should you notice a tick on a cat that is not displaying signs of tick paralysis, remove the tick straight away. To do this, grasp the tick firmly where it attaches to your cat’s skin and give a quick sideways pull. It is better not to try and kill the tick first using insecticides etc, as the dying tick may inject more of its potent toxin into your cat. The cat should then be kept cool and quiet whilst being closely monitored for 24 hours. If they displays signs of tick paralysis eg vomiting, weakness, staggering or breathing difficulty, seek immediate veterinary attention. Do not offer food or water as these may be accidentally inhaled in tick affected cats.
Treatment of tick paralysis includes searching for and removing all ticks. This may necessitate clipping an animal completely and/or the application of a pesticide. Tick antiserum is administered and supportive care provided. This can be costly in comparison to what it would cost to use tick prevention initially. However, no tick prevention is 100% effective and should be used in combination with daily searches of your pet. Searching your pet shouldn’t cease once you return from the coast but should continue for at least 7 days after returning home. Feel over the entire body, especially under the collar and around the front of the cat. Don’t forget to check between toes, under the lips and in the ears.
The following tick preventatives for cats are sold at Hall Veterinary Surgery:
- Proban: This tablet can be given twice weekly to cats visiting the south coast during the tick season. Proban needs to start 1 week before tick exposure and continue for 2 weeks after returning from a tick area.
- Frontline spray can be used on cats, starting 2 days before visiting a tick area and reapplying every 14 days. Frontline ‘spot on’ also reduces the risk of tick attachment, but is less effective than the spray.
OTHER TICK PREVENTATIVES SUITABLE FOR DOGS MAY BE DANGEROUS TO CATS. Use only products registered as safe for use in cats.
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