Flea and Tick Protection for Cats
Humans aren’t the only ones who enjoy the sun and warmth of the spring and summer months. If your cats go outdoors, they probably love rolling in the grass in the backyard and climbing through the trees. Unfortunately, with all that fun comes risks.
Indoors or outdoors, your cat may be at risk for fleas and ticks.
Particularly the risk of attracting fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. Even if your cat lives indoors and never goes outdoors, they still may be at risk for these pesky parasites.
Fleas can be picked up by humans on your clothing and shoes outside or from a friend or neighbor’s house. Although fleas typically don’t live on people, they can travel on them. If you have a dog, your dog may carry fleas to your cat. And finally, nobody likes to think about it, but fleas are excellent jumpers, able to jump 200 times their body length. This means they can easily come inside through window screens, crawl under doors, or climb in through cracks in the walls. Yikes!
Why Care About Fleas?
Besides the obvious fact – they’re gross – they can carry and cause harmful diseases in your cat. The four most common flea-transmitted diseases are bartonellosis, flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), anemia, and tapeworms. When a cat with bartonellosis scratches a human, this can cause an infection called cat scratch disease. FAD causes extreme irritation and itchiness in cats, often leading to hair loss and skin infections. Anemia is caused by blood loss from a huge number of fleas constantly biting and sucking out the blood from your cat; he could potentially even die from anemia. Tapeworms are generally not a serious problem; however, they can sometimes cause gastrointestinal irritation and upset.
And we haven’t even talked about ticks!
What About Ticks?
Ticks are most prevalent in wooded areas, but are quickly attracted to the nearest warm body. Outdoor cats who spend time near a lot of trees are highly susceptible. These cats should be checked for ticks on a daily basis, or else they are at risk for serious illnesses such as Lyme disease or feline infectious anemia transmitted by tick bites. Common areas to find ticks (and fleas) on your cat are inside and behind the ears, under the legs, around the groin, around the neck and shoulders, and between the toes. Even if your cat doesn’t go outside, just like with fleas, humans and dogs may bring them in and they can easily move over to cats if they are in close proximity.
Flea and Tick Protection
Failing to protect your cat from fleas and ticks can result not only in uncomfortable and unhealthy conditions for the animal, but also potential infestations within your home. And once you have fleas, they can be very challenging to get rid of. One flea may live up to a whole year in an ideal situation – a comfy, cozy spot on the surface of your cat’s skin, nestled in some warm fur. Early prevention and protection are key. Using Hartz® UltraGuard Pro® Flea and Tick Drops for Cats is a great first step in safeguarding your cat against these pests. Hartz® UltraGuard Pro® kills fleas, deer ticks, flea eggs and larvae, and also kills and repels mosquitoes. It also prevents reinfestation for up to one month, providing ongoing protection for your cat. Just apply every 30 days or so, and you’ll be set!
Early prevention and protection are key to safeguarding against fleas, ticks, and other pests.
In warmer weather people and their cats go inside and outside more often. Because of this increased foot traffic, homes are more susceptible to pests during these months. The appearance of a single flea can quickly lead to an infestation in your home. Did you know that a single adult female flea can lay up to 40 eggs per day? Even if you get rid of the fleas on your cat, as your cat moves around your home, these eggs can fall off and end up on your furniture and carpet. Hartz® UltraGuard Plus® Flea and Tick Home Spray kills fleas, flea eggs, flea larvae, and ticks and can prevent future infestations for up to seven months. Be sure to read the package carefully for directions and warnings and always follow the directions.
Protecting your cat and home against fleas and ticks with Hartz® UltraGuard® products will enable you and your pet to enjoy the warm, sunny weather without the worry of troublesome pests.
