8 Ways to Keep Ticks Away From Your Cat
Ticks pose a great threat to any cat that spends time outdoors. Due to global warming, the tick population is gradually increasing.
Female ticks can lay up to 3,000 eggs on their host. They drink a volume of blood more than 100 times their body weight. Preventing ticks on cats is a vital part of caring for these pets and keeping them healthy.
1. Spray Treatments
There are sprays available that prevent ticks on cats. A spray treatment is applied all over your cat until fully covered. The treatment must be repeated every three weeks and should be done from just two days of age. Sprays are most effective for cats that spend a lot of time outdoors.
2. Oral Medication
There is medication available in the form of a pill that can be used as a tick preventative. Although this method has not been fully tested for cats, check with your veterinarian about the possibility of using one that was designed for a small dog. Oral medication has the benefit of only being needed once a month.
3. Tick Collars
Tick collars work to prevent ticks because of a chemical embedded in the collar. For this preventative method to work, the collar must be in direct contact with the cat's skin. It is most effective for keeping ticks away from the head and neck. When putting the collar on your animal, ensure that you are still able to fit two fingers between fur and the collar as you don't want the collar to be too tight around your cat's neck.
4. Maintaining Your Home and Garden
Vacuuming your home regularly will remove any possible tick population that may have found its way inside the home. By maintaining and trimming any outside area that your cat has contact with, you will also reduce the risk of tick infestation.
5. Keeping Your Cat Indoors
Preventing your cat from venturing outdoors is the most effective tick prevention method. If your cat has no contact with any outside objects or animals, it will not be able to get ticks. If keeping your cat inside is not an option, consider just limiting the amount of time it spends outside.
6. Shampoos
There are shampoos available that contain a mixture of medicated ingredients that kill ticks instantly. This method does need to be repeated often, generally every two weeks, so a shampoo will not prevent ticks for as long as other methods.
7. Checking Your Pet Daily
By checking your cat regularly, you can remove ticks before they've had the chance to harm your pet. The most common areas to check are the neck, ears and paws. If your cat regularly spends time outdoors, these checks should be made daily.
8. Powders
Tick powdersare another medication used for the prevention of ticks. Tick powders are applied directly to your cat. You should avoid the head area, as the powder can be harmful to inhale. For maximum tick prevention, it should be applied once a week.
Ticks are nasty little creatures that can cause many adverse health effects. By using one or more of these methods, you are offering your cat the best chance of staying free of ticks.
Does your cat have a flea problem? Comfortis chewable tablets kill fleas and are indicated for the prevention and treatment of flea infestations (Ctenocephalides felis) on dogs and cats for one month.
Article provided my Allivet.com
Listed below are some helpful resources referenced in the article that can provide some guidance for those looking for helpful information on pet supplies & medication:
http://www.allivet.com/p-2573-comfortis-chewable-tablets-for-dogs-and-cats.aspx