Best Way To Treat Cats For Fleas

Treating your home. To successfully control fleas, you must treat all animals in the household and the environment they share with these products.An insect growth regulator (IGR) to prevent adult flea emergence,an insecticide effective against larvae and, finally, an adulticide or “knockdown” product for quick relief from biting adults.

IGRs are chemicals that prevent hatching of eggs by interfering with development of immature stages of insects, such as flea larvae which spend part of their life cycle in a cocoon prior to emerging as a pupae. IGRs will not kill adult insects but may inhibit larval development, thereby preventing them from maturing into fertile eggs-aying adults.

A good IGR will last for at least 10-12 weeks and is often used as a “perimeter control” product to prevent any insecticide treated pets from re-infesting the treated area. IGRs do not stay active in the environment.

Environmental Insecticides

It’s important to realize that even if you choose an adulticide, such as a fogger or spray, you must treat your home with an environmental insecticide containing an IGR to stop new adults from developing and laying eggs after the extermination process is completed.

The key here is that the larvae are killed prior to hatching into pupae which then become new adults capable of biting and infesting your cats again.

Flea Sprays – Foggers

A variety of products are available to control fleas in the home. A fogger or “bug bomb” is a convenient way of applying insecticides because the room does not have to be vacated during treatment, and you can reoccupy all rooms immediately after treatment.

Be aware that these products are generally ineffective against flea larvae which spend part of their life cycle in a cocoon prior to emerging as an adult pest.

Flea Sprays for cats

There are many sprays on the market that people use in their homes claiming to kill both adults and eggs. It is important to realize that even if you choose an adulticide, such as a fogger or spray, you must treat your home with an environmental insecticide containing an IGR to stop new adults from developing and laying eggs after the extermination process is completed.

The key here is that the larvae are killed prior to hatching into pupae which then become new adults capable of biting and infesting your cats again.

Gels

A variety of products are available in a semisolid form, such as a gel.These Products can be applied on top of surfaces where pets lounge or sleep. Gel products may contain an IGR, but they do not have any residual activity against larvae or adults. In addition, these gels generally leave an unsightly mess on furniture or carpeting if it’s not immediately removed after application.

Natural Flea Control Products for cats

There is also a growing market for natural flea control products for pets, such as flea collars and herbal-based powders and shampoo’s. These products usually contain one or more of the following:

• Cedar oil
• Eucalyptus oil
• Rosemary oil

They can be effective against adult parasites, but they generally do not kill larvae or stop development of existing pupae. Therefore, it is necessary to physically remove any adults and apply an IGR (liquid, powder or spray) along with a second insecticide that actually kills the insects (liquid or spray). This two-step process will ensure effective control of your infestation by breaking the cycle of re-infestation.

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Fleas on Pets – Best Way To Treat Cats For Fleas

Treating your pets regularly is still the best way to manage a flea infestation. A variety of adulticides and insect growth regulators are available on the market for both dogs and cats.