Fleas/Mosquitos are not
just bothersome but they are detrimental to your Cat, they can be dangerous to
there health even deadly. Lets start with some of the facts:
1. Fleas can transfer heart worm to your cat which can be
deadly. There is no drug approved for
treating heartworms in cats. One of the drugs for treating dogs has been used
in cats, but it causes significant side effects.
"There is no drug approved for treating heartworms in
cats the reaction to the dead and dying worms can cause sudden death."
2. Diagnostic Difficulty. Diagnosing heartworms is not as easy in cats as in
dogs.
3. Unknown Incidence. Heartworms
are not nearly as common in cats as they are in dogs. However, they are
probably more common than we realize. As we look more aggressively for
heartworms in cats with better and better tests, we expect to find that the
incidence is greater than previously thought. University studies have shown
that up to 15% of all cats in certain locations, regardless of whether they are
indoor and outdoor cats, have been exposed to feline heartworm disease.
4. There
Is No Treatment. There
is simply no good treatment for heartworm-infected cats. Effective drugs are not
available, and cats that seem to be doing well may die suddenly. Treating
heartworm infections in cats is risky at best, and not treating these cats is
just as risky. It will take about two years for the parasitic infection to be
eliminated in the cat, and serious clinical signs can suddenly appear at any
time during this period.
5. Prevention Is Safe and
Easy. Cats given heartworm prevention drugs have not shown
signs of toxicity. There is a wide margin of safety, even in kittens as young
as six weeks of age.
6. Indoor Cats Get
Heartworms, Too. Exposure to mosquitoes is required for transmission.
Cats do not have to be exposed to cats or dogs infected with heartworms.
Obviously, cats that go outdoors are more likely to be exposed. However, an
infected mosquito/fleas can easily get into the house and infect the cat.
client
information sheet is based on material written by: Ernest Ward, DVM
Methods to contain fleas in your home:
1.
Vacuum and clean your home to pick up any eggs. Vacuum
thoroughly.
2.
Bathe your Cat with a Flea Shampoo - if your cat refuses to take a bath (which is very common),
consider using a dry shampoo. If you buy one from a store, it can come as a
spray, powder, foam, or mousse. It is recommended that you use this dry shampoo
outside or in your bathtub to minimize cleanup.
3.
Run a fine-tooth flea comb through your cat's
hair every day. Concentrate on the cat's neck, stomach, and the base of the
tail--all warm places fleas love. The comb will catch both adult fleas and
their eggs.Dip your flea comb in a jar of warm water mixed with a drop or
two of dishwashing soap. This mixture will drown the fleas and prevent them
from jumping out and back onto the cat.
4.
Use a topical flea treatment protection
5.
Conduct regular flea checks
