How can I treat cat fleas?

Treating the Body of the Cat

There are many options for treating the body of a cat with fleas. Flea collars are worn on the neck and are treated with insecticides which the cat's skin absorbs. When the fleas bite the skin of the cat, the toxic insecticides will kill them. Some flea collars have insect growth regulators (IGRs) that will stop the growth of eggs and larvae.

Flea baths only kill adult fleas, and last about one day. Bathing a cat is difficult anyway, so avoid flea baths unless the cat is heavily infested. Flea powders also kill adult fleas, but can irritate the cat's respiratory system. Oral medications given to cats stop flea eggs from hatching, but do not kill adult fleas.

You will need to give oral medications in conjunction with an adult flea killer, like a flea bath. Spot-on treatments kill adult fleas, and some inhibit the growth of larvae. You apply these in between a cat's shoulder blades. You can also use a flea comb on your cat. It has very fine teeth that trap the fleas. Flea combs are not effective against eggs or larvae, however.

Indoors

Most of the fleas in your house do not live on the cat. Eggs live in carpet and furniture for one to 10 days until they hatch. The larvae feed on dust, dead skin and flea droppings. They are also found on curtains and in the pet's bedding.

When fleas become pupae, they are immune to insecticides. To treat the indoor environment, wash the cat's bedding and your curtains on the highest heat setting. Do not replace them until you treat the rest of the house. Call a professional pest controller to treat the house, or buy a flea bomb from the pet store. These bombs spread insecticide throughout the house and let it settle in the carpet for three hours. They kill eggs, adults, and larvae. Bombs are toxic to humans and all animals, so take all your pets with you when you vacate the premises (including fish).

After bombing, vacuum thoroughly to get rid of pupae and any other surviving fleas. Use attachments to get into crevices and to vacuum the furniture. You may have to repeat the bombing after a week to make sure the infestation is gone.

For very small rooms like closets that you don't want to bomb, set a tall candle in the middle of a dish of soapy water and put it on the floor with the lights out. Adult fleas will be drawn to the light and will drown in the soapy water. Make sure you vacuum to get up the eggs and pupae. Try putting a flea collar in the vacuum bag to kill any live adults you suck up. Throw the vacuum bag away immediately so no adults escape.

Outdoors

Fleas also thrive outside, so if you have an outdoor cat she may get infested. Contrary to popular belief, fleas can live outside in the winter, so year-round treatment may be necessary. You can use a flea bomb outside, but it may harm local wildlife. It is more environmentally responsible to call a professional to treat the outdoor area. If your cat has outdoor bedding, make sure to wash it. Do not let a recently treated cat outside until you treat his outdoor environment.

Source:

Cat World: Flea Control For Pets and Homes

The Pet Center: Fleas on Dogs and Cats