~Flea Baths-An Important Part of Your Cat's Grooming Regime

 

There is very little worse for a family then living in a house with a cat that is suffering from a flea infestation. It's bad enough that your cat is always scratching and clawing at itself, even ripping large hunks of hair and flesh from its body in an attempt to rid itself of the biting insects. But unfortunately there is nothing to prevent the fleas from staying on the cat. If the problem is left untreated, you could quickly find that your entire house is full of fleas, and that you are being bitten nearly as often as your pet house cat.

It is important to stop the fleas before they start to take over your home.

Preventive medicine is the best way to make sure that your pet and house stay flea free. There are several topical medications available on today's market that are designed to prevent fleas from feasting on your cat. Most of the products are quite successful provided the cat owner follow the directions and use them properly.

Flea collars are a traditional favorite of pet owners in the war against fleas. Strapping a flea collar around you cat's neck will help prevent fleas from sipping your pet's blood provided your cat is not adept at slipping the collar from around its neck. If flea collars are your preferred method of flea control make sure that the collar is not so tight that your cat has difficulty breathing and eating but not so loose that your cat is in danger of getting caught on objects while it plays.

If your cat already has fleas, the fastest way to get rid of them is to give it a flea bath. Try to find a flea shampoo that is mild enough that it won't hurt your cat or kitten. If you are unable to find a mild flea shampoo that you are confident wont irritate your cat's skin or strip its hair of its natural oils, try using a shampoo that is designed for infants. Kitchen sinks are a wonderful place to give your cat a flea bath, because you can stand straight up while you are holding your cat in the water. Kitchen sinks are typically deeper then sinks located in other parts of the house.

When you are giving your pet cat a flea bath have plenty of towel at hand, both to dry your freshly washed pet, and to sop any excess water that gets inadvertently splashed on the counters and kitchen floor. If your cat is prone to bite and scratch when it's placed in a sink full of water, you may want to invest in a pair of thick, tall falcon gloves that will protect your hands and arms. If you do get bitten by your cat while giving it a flea bath you will want to get to your doctors office right away, even cats that are kept inside, have dirty mouths and cat bites can get infected very quickly.

After your cat is clean and free of fleas, send some time cuddling it and brushing its freshly washed hair. Let it know that you really didn't mean to torture it and that you still love it. Eventually your feline friend will forgive you.

Bathing your cat will be easier if it is something that you do to it on a regular basis. If you start bathing your kitten when you first get it, the cat will learn that baths are just a routine part of life and are nothing to stress over.