Fleas can become real torture when they attack your cat. Not only do they make you unbearably itchy, but they also cause disease and become difficult to eradicate.
On our site we are sure that you know the multiple methods that exist to eliminate fleas from your cat, and that you use the one that is most comfortable for you and that achieves the best results for your feline friend. However, several of these methods are much more effective if you accompany them with a good bath, so here are some tips for bathing a cat with fleas
The importance of the bathroom
Anyone who has a cat at home knows perfectly well that it is difficult to make them become friends with water. Instinctively, the cat will avoid getting wet at all costs, so you need some tricks to bathe it.
Although many veterinarians do not recommend giving your cat regular baths, since its exhaustive hygiene system is usually enough, there are some times when it is necessary to give them a hand, such as when fleas invade them. In this sense, a flea bath can help you to render your pet of these annoying parasites, or act as a reinforcement in the process. If you use a cat shampoo formulated for this purpose, we recommend consulting your veterinarian about the most suitable brands. Or, if you prefer, make your own flea shampoo for cats following our tips.
Important! Kittens under 3 months of age and without vaccinations cannot be bathed for any reason, consult a specialist about the best way to remove fleas. Likewise, be sure to consult our article on home remedies for fleas in baby cats.
Here are some recommendations to keep in mind if you need to give your cat a flea bath.
Recommendations before bathing to eliminate cat fleas
Before bathing your cat with fleas, it is essential equip yourself with everything you need: two towels, a small bathtub, two containers of smaller size, flea shampoo for cats, a fine tooth flea comb, treats for your feline or toys. You will use them as follows:
- Your cat will go in the bathtub, so you don't get nervous if you just put him in the sink or shower.
- Put one of the towels inside the bathtub so he can scratch it; the other will be used to dry it at the end of the flea bath.
- One of the small containers will be used to pour the water into the feline, the other should be reserved for the fleas.
- The shampoo and comb will remove most of the parasites.
Now that you have everything you need to bathe your cat with fleas, keep in mind the following recommendations:
- Cut your cat's nails to prevent them from hurting you during the process.
- Brush the fur to remove all dead hair and make your job easier.
- A while before the bath, get the cat used to being touched behind the ears and around the legs.
Tips to keep in mind while bathing
Now yes, bath time has come! To make it as effective as possible and you can easily remove fleas from your cat, follow our recommendations:
- Keep calm and speak lovingly to the cat, using a calm tone. It is normal for him to get nervous and try to run away, so you need to calm him down
- Keep the bathroom door closed to prevent escape attempts. If necessary, seek help from another person.
- Place two cotton balls in your cat's ears to prevent water from entering.
- Fill the small tub with a little warm water (it shouldn't feel hot when you touch it) and put the animal's feet in first.
- When he feels comfortable with wet paws, moisten other parts of his body with your hand, and little by little you can use one of the small containers to wet his fur more.
- When the coat is wet, it's time to apply the flea shampoo. Fleas will try to escape to the head, so you should draw a kind of collar around the neck with shampoo and water to prevent this from happening.
- Massage the cat's entire body with the shampoo, emphasizing the head (watch out for the eyes, nose and ears), the neck and the tail.
- As you see the fleas moving about trying to escape, catch them with your fingers or comb and drop them into the second small container, which you will have next to you with hot water to kill them.
- When you get enough foam, Use the comb to remove the fleas and drop them into the container with hot water.
- When you're done, wash your cat's fur very well so that no soap remains.
And after the cat bath?
Once the task of bathing your cat with fleas is finished, and all the parasites have been eliminated, it's time to completely dry all the hairof your feline, in such a way that it is neither damp nor wet. Then reward your pet with a cat treat or favorite toy. Remember that positive reinforcement is essential to prevent him from associating the bathroom with something negative and to behave well the next time you have to submit him to one.
Home clean
Giving your cat a bath is not enough to get rid of fleas, as they also live in certain areas of the home, so you should do a deep cleannot only from all the areas where the feline is usually, but also from his bed, toys, litter box and even from all the furniture and carpets in the house.
- To eliminate fleas and eggs, wash all your cat's items with hot water and steam clean the spaces in your home.
- Wash the floor with water and vinegar, and use the vacuum cleaner to clean your rugs. If necessary, place natural repellents in different areas of the home.
