How bad is my cat's flea problem?

Question

I recently noticed that when I pet my cat, black specks came off in my hands. From what I understand, these black specks are flea feces NOT flea eggs. I've only seen four fleas on the cat so I'm wondering how bad the cat's flea problem really is? Anyone else been through this before?

Answer 1

Dude, get Frontline. Your cat won't have fleas at all. My gf's cat had that same thing--she was so much happier after we put the Frontline on her. Hasn't got them again.

Answer 2

A lot of black specks indicates a pretty serious problem

Individual fleas are very hard to spot through the cat's coat, so the fact that you have "only" seen 4 is not a good indicator.

Skip the flea baths and collars and bombs and other useless products. Go buy some advantage or frontline, and apply it 24 hours after bathing the cat to get rid of the flea dust. Reapply every 30 days if the problem persists.

Answer 3

If your cat is indoors a lot you'll need some flea traps. Enforcer makes a
plug-in flea trap/nite lite these are great, you'll need several and use them
for a few months. The life cycle of a flea and its offings will last for about
90 days, so be prepared. We used Frontline for a 2 years, fleas built up an
immunity to this. Since we have mainly an outdoor cat, we got a breakaway
flea collar for cats and used this in conjunction with DeFlea flea spray for
cats purchased at Pet Valu. Get the traps they'll get other pests too. Hope
this all helps. We live in a heavily wooded area and we get everything.

Answer 4

I think the black specks can also be dry blood from bites on them. Use that stuff that kills fleas that you put on them. One just kills adult fleas and one kills the fleas and their eggs. Buy the one that says that kills the eggs and the fleas. Your cat could have just a few fleas but coud have a bunch of fleas that are yet to hatch. I can never remember which is which I just know which to grab when I buy it. It's either Advantage or Frontline. Now it's driving me nuts because I cant remember but the box will say what it kills. The stuff really works. I use the stuff regularly and my cats never have fleas.

Answer 5

If you can bathe your cat in a large kitchen sink you can tell by the color of the water that comes off. It is safe to use Dawn or any other liquid soap (not antibacterial) Use just a few drops, you don't want to be rinsing him forever. If it is bloody then the cat has way too many fleas.

Advantage, Frontline and such are such wonderful products and if you apply them your cat will not have a flea problem.

If you don't use them YOU will have a flea problem. Once they get going in an environment there is no stopping them!

Answer 6

No matter how small the problem is now flea breed at an amazing speed and rate, get this problem fixed quick! Also can be harm to you and your family allergic reactions and flea bites.I know fleas can't live on ppl but they can still bite them! The best thing I've used is advatage works great and lasts long , bit pricey though. Good luck!! Oh yea they can also get into your carpets and linen you might want to get a spray for that tooo!!!!

Answer 7

You should use a flea shampoo for cats on your cat, and flea shampoo for textiles on your carpets, cat beds, and fabric-covered furniture. Comb your cat with a flea comb every day. Check every day in the pits where his legs meet his body. Check around the base of his tail and at his eyes. Fleas will drink fluids out of the eyes. Try to get the infestation in check, because a bad infestation can cause "flea anemia". DON'T just wait for winter. . .that works outside, but NOT inside where we have the heat on!!!

Answer 8

Cat fleas problem is really bad imagine having some insects eating your skin all over your body it isnt nice so give small pieces of garlic with your cat´s food it may sound weird but theres nothing more natural and healthful to treat fleas

Answer 9

since most of a flea's time is spent off the animal and they are blood suckers and contribute to tape worm round worm and anaemia, i would say that for every flea you see, there are 100 more and you need to use a good flea bath and spray and you need to treat your house and your other animals if you have any. Don't wait and don't minimize the problem. Fleas are little bugs that can cause big trouble..

Answer 10

i had this problem. the only way to care for that is to get the best thing that kills fleas for cats! like a flea collar. my cats feel comfortable in them and it does not bug them at all.