Treatment FAQ

why does my cat still scratch after flea treatment

by Cloyd Kreiger Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Provided a thorough approach to flea treatment using appropriate products has been undertaken then if your pet continues to scratch there are likely to be other factors contributing. These may include allergies or intolerances to food substances, cleaning products and or an underlying medical condition.

Why is my pet still scratching after applying flea treatment? It's fairly typical after you've applied Itch Flea for there to be a period of hyperactivity amongst the fleas as the product takes effect, and this can cause an increase in itching. It should settle down though after 24 hours.Apr 23, 2021

Full Answer

Why is my cat so afraid of flea treatment?

Why Does My Cat Still Have Fleas After Treatment? By killing fleas with FRONTLINE (fipronil), the active ingredient in the drug, the nervous system is hyperactive, causing them to die before they reach their final stage. It is common for these dying fleas to appear on the top of your pet’s haircoat after treatment, so it is a sign that the product is effective.

How to stop a cat from scratching itself?

Nov 11, 2003 · She never scratched herself, but I noticed flea "dirt" on her white bed, so started flea-combing with mild Dawn solution ASAP. Got about 6 fleas over a couple days, so applied Hartz spot flea treatment. Now, no more fleas in comb after 4 consecutive days of looking, no more flea dirt in bed, but kitten is scratching like crazy (suddenly biting ...

What you should do for a cat bite or scratch?

Jun 30, 2020 · If a flea bites a cat, it can cause itching. The cat will frantically scratch at the bite area to get rid of the itch. This scratching alone can lead to numerous problems, which include loss of fur, swelling, painful sores, and an infection of the bitten area. But the fleas are also carriers of various other parasites.

What is the best remedy for Itchy cat?

Apr 23, 2021 · It’s fairly typical after you’ve applied Itch Flea for there to be a period of hyperactivity amongst the fleas as the product takes effect, and this can cause an increase in itching. It should settle down though after 24 hours. If after 24 hours your pet still continues to scratch, there could be other things going on.

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Do cats still itchy after fleas are gone?

Eventually the flea population will decline. Then the skin will settle down and the itching will stop. This all takes time. It is important to re-apply the Frontline as directed, and to make sure that it is applied carefully each time.Jan 20, 2013

Do cats scratch more after flea treatment?

Treated fleas may become more active before they die So you may see fleas come to the surface of your pet's coat and your pet might feel a bit more itchy than usual until those fleas are killed.

Why does my cat still have fleas after treatment?

A. The active ingredient in FRONTLINE (fipronil) kills fleas by affecting their nervous system, making them hyperactive before dying. These dying fleas often rise to the top of your pet's haircoat, so the presence of visible fleas after treating your pet, is a sign that the product is working.

How can I soothe my cats itchy skin?

Shampoos that are made especially for cats generally moisturize the skin, which reduces itchiness. Cat shampoos that contain colloidal oatmeal or phytosphingosine are generally the most useful in reducing your cat's itchiness.Feb 2, 2021

What do you do if flea medicine doesn't work?

Why Has My Pet's Flea Medicine Stopped Working?Make sure to apply topical medications correctly (do not split medications to use on more than one pet)Make sure your pet's skin is healthy so topical flea medications work well.Treat your yard and house where 95-99% of the flea population lives.More items...

How do you know when your cats fleas are gone?

One way to differentiate between regular dirt and flea "dirt" is to wet any black specks that fall off the cat onto the white paper towel (using regular water sprinkled on the specks). If they turn a dark reddish-brown color, you are seeing the digested blood that the flea has passed through its body and excreted.Jun 13, 2011

How long will I see fleas after treatment?

Often owners will see fleas reappear about 3-4 weeks after the application as this is when the largest number of flea pupae (from eggs laid by the fleas killed 3-4 weeks earlier) are ready to hatch. Allowing your pet free access to all parts of the home will help to get the fleas to hatch out of their pupae.Dec 3, 2012

What is the fastest way to get rid of fleas on a cat?

Do a Flea Check Comb your cat with a fine-toothed metal flea comb from head to tail several times a day. This will skim off adult fleas and their eggs and ease their itching. Then, dip the comb in a mixture of warm to hot water and liquid dish detergent to kill the fleas.Feb 6, 2021

How to treat a cat with fleas?

How to Perform the Treatment. Deworming and anti-flea treatments are crucial for your cat’s safety. Administering them is a bit uncomfortable for the cat, however. You have to take a pipette and apply the anti-flea serum onto the nape of your cat’s neck. The process is rather simple:

What diseases do fleas cause?

Like many other carriers, fleas are responsible for some of the most serious diseases that affect mammals, including cats. A sample of those diseases includes: 1 Calicivirus 2 Feline leukemia virus or FLV 3 Rickettsial diseases 4 Bartonellosis 5 Flea allergy dermatitis 6 Plague 7 Tapeworm infection

What is a flea?

Fleas are external parasites. They attach themselves onto the body of a host, usually a mammal, and bite their flesh. Most often, a flea will simply jump up from its natural habitat and attach itself to the host. However, animals (as well as humans) can also pick up larvae while walking through tall grass or wooded areas. The larvae will then develop on the host’s body until they mature into adult fleas.

What do fleas eat?

For instance, flea larvae tend to feed on tapeworm proglottids. Each proglottid stays inside of the larva during the pupal stage. Once a cat ingests the pupa, the tapeworm can manifest inside the cat and continue its life cycle.

Can cats have fleas?

Having fleas is not pleasant at all. Cats who are infested with them tend to act erratically even before you administer the serum. That’s why it’s not uncommon for them to continue to act that way after the anti-flea treatment. All you have to do is give them time, and they’ll switch back to their default settings soon enough.

Why does my cat change his behavior?

A change in your cat’s behavior always causes concern. Your cat’s changing behavior may result from illness, injury, pain, stress, or fear, but before you can bring your cat comfort, you must get...

How are cats similar to humans?

In other words, one cat will have no problem with one type of processed meat, while another one might have severe health issues after a taste.

What are some other causes of itchy skin in pets?

After flea allergies, most itchy skin disease is usually due to an underlying allergy of some sort, be it your pet’s food or something in their environment.

What is atopic dermatitis?

After ruling out a food allergy, if your pet is still itching, and it’s in the typical locations of the ears, between their toes and their belly, then a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis may be reached.

How Itch can help your pet

Fleas are a nuisance, and they do make our pets itchy. But in addition to this, the worst-case scenario is that your pet may be flea-allergic.

Why do dogs and cats get fleas?

The reasons can be as follows: During the year, dogs or cats pick up the occasional flea from outside. These fleas then breed in the house. Usually they are never seen, but gradually the flea population builds up during the summer and autumn.

How long does it take for Frontline to kill fleas?

Household insecticidal sprays are reasonably effective at killing fleas in the carpets. However, the frontline can take 24 hours to kill any fleas, and during this time, some of them will have bitten the animal, irritating the skin.

Does flea spray kill fleas?

This means that the spray will at best kill off a proportion of the fleas in the environment, but not all. Some fleas will escape the treatment and jump onto your pet. When they get there they will bite the skin, then after about a day, they will die and drop off. The trouble is that other, “new” fleas will replace them.

Can you spray carpet with flea spray?

It can help to spray the carpets etc again. Ideally this should include under the furniture and on all soft furnishings too. The higher the concentration of spray, the better it works. The fewer areas left untreated, the better. I often say that it is best to bear in mind that fleas are very good at being fleas!

Can I get rid of fleas in my house?

It is possible to get a pest control firm in to fumigate the house, which will get rid of fleas more effectively, but this costs a lot more than a can or two of spray. Failing that it is just a matter of patience, and remember that flea treatments are much better if they are considered as preventatives, not treatments.

Do fleas lay eggs?

For all this time, adult female fleas living on the animals are steadily laying eggs. These drop off onto the carpets, bedding and anywhere else the cats or dogs go. These eggs gradually develop into larvae, then pupae and eventually into adult fleas. Often large numbers of previously dormant flea pupae are stimulated into becoming hungry adult ...

Why does my cat scratch so much?

Sometimes, a cat may experience severe itchiness and scratch violently because of flea allergy dermatitis. As the name suggests, it’s a form of dermatitis resulting from flea bites, and it can cause skin infections, scabbing, and hair loss.

What happens if my cat gets fleas?

Some of the things that you may notice include hiding, loss of appetite, lethargy and failure to use the litter box properly. For most cats, a trip to the vet can be an overwhelming experience.

How many cats have fleas?

As a matter of fact, up to 18% to 19% of cat s have fleas. The good news is that a flea infestation is highly treatable. However, once upon a time, you may have noticed a cat acting weird after flea treatment. There are five most common reasons why the cat may act weird after flea treatment. An unfavorable reaction leads ...

Why does my cat have anemia?

Many things can cause a cat to suffer from anemia. One of them is a severe flea infestation. Fleas can drink lots of blood, which can deprive a cat’s vital organs of much-needed oxygen — the blood, the red blood cells (RBCs), in particular, are the carriers of oxygen.

How to treat fleas in cats?

Dealing with a flea infestation in cats can be done in many ways. Two of the most popular include applying a spot-on flea treatment and using an anti-flea collar. Some cat owners prefer taking a trip to the vet. Regardless of which flea treatment you prefer, it’s possible for your cat to act weird afterward.

Can fleas live on cats?

Fleas that can infest cats and dogs are different species. Despite this, each of them can infest the other — cat fleas can live on dogs and drink their blood, and dog fleas can live on cats and drink their blood. Anti-flea collars are available for both cats and dogs.

How long does it take for fleas to die?

When quick-acting anti-flea treatments are used, such as those that are applied between the shoulder blades or injected into the fatty layer under the skin, fleas can die in as short as 24 hours only.

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