Diagnosing fleas

[Zoey007]

Does anyone know what the symptoms of fleas are and how to get rid of them.

[AnnieBrooke]

ps -- If you do find out that kitty has fleas, also get a stool sample checked for tapeworms.  Cats often are pretty fast at eating a flea that has bitten them, and then can get tapeworms from the flea.

[AnnieBrooke]

To find:  Buy a flea comb at the pet store.  These are very fine-toothed combs, and the flea gets trapped in the tines.  Pour a bowl of water and comb the cat with the water nearby.  If you see a flea in the comb, drown it in the water.  You *can* comb fleas out of a cat with repeated combings (to get all the newer hatchings as they come) but it is much easier to use Frontline or Revolution, both prescription products.  (Don't use Advantage, it goes throughout the cat's system and can be dangerous if overdosed.  Frontline and Revolution stay at the cat's skin level.)  If you do dose the cat with one of those, the fleas will bite the cat and die, and that way, the cat kills the fleas that are in its bedding and on the sofa and elsewhere, also.

[FurballsMom]

You can also check some of my older posts about diatomaceous earth.  I really did get rid of the fleas Akira and I had once when we first moved to this apartment as soon as the first heat wave hit here and the fleas came to life from that.  This is a natural thing that works, even though you do have to be careful not to breathe it or let the pets breathe it.  Still, if you use it right, it is safe and effective.

[opus88]

hi...I've included several sites for you. the first one shows some photos slide #9 shows a photo of what fleas look like, usually very tiny black specks on the skin or coat of a cat...the other sites deal with how to treat. symptoms include itching and in severe cases can lead to heart disease. if you need more help please post again.

www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=107386

www.simplesteps.org/greenpaws-products#/h/+/+/+

http://www.nrdc.org/living/pets/control-fleas-without-chemicals.asp