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Fleas are teeny tiny bugs that can cause your cat a whole lot of itching.
Tiny but mighty, the flea is a freeloader (aka parasite), jumping from home to home, creature to creature, spreading the scritches. With a life cycle of anywhere from 13 days to a year, fleas can produce millions of offspring laying up to 50 eggs at a time, and unfortunately for us they may be choosing to make a home out of our cute little kittens, right under our noses – the audacity!
And it’s not even just the outdoor adventurers that put themselves at risk of fleas, even our indoor loungers aren’t immune.
There’s many ways your cat can contract fleas and be itching 24/7:
Hunting can increase the risk of your cat getting fleas:
A game of cat and mouse can also be problematic. Rodents and birds are often carriers of fleas, and these cute little critters are top of our cat’s hitlist. Bringing home the wrong present to leave at the back door means plenty of time for those little bugs to jump ship onto your cat and get comfortable.
Cats can spread fleas to one another:
Furry siblings – if your cat isn’t the only furchild living under your roof, then it could be that other pets returning home to your humble abode have brought back the tiny hidden insects. Your cat becomes the next perfect target and before you know it you’re dealing with a flea infestation.
Fleas can live in your home and furnishings:
Moving house – new beginnings and moving home doesn’t always necessarily mean everybody moved out before your arrival. Fleas (and their eggs) can live in carpets and soft furnishings for quite some time, so it is always a good idea to get any new homes deep cleaned before yours and your cat’s arrival just to be safe.
Having an outdoor cat may mean higher risk of fleas:
The great outdoors – Once your cat leaves the comfort of their home, there’s a possibility for fleas to land in their fur. Places your cherub might visit that are often frequented by other moggies could mean those pesky parasites are about, waiting for their next furry host.
Although it might sound like fleas are almost unavoidable, all it takes is a simple monthly treatment to help keep your cat guarded against the sneaky bugs. Keeping on top of this so your cat is always protected, especially in peak flea season, is essential to keep your home and your pet flea free.
You can even sign up for flea & wormer treatments to get delivered to your door direct from the Republic.
