Fleas on cats can be an especially irritating problem, both for the cat and the owner. When a cat seems to be having trouble with his ears, there could be several reasons, a flea infestation being one of them.
In order to properly treat a cat's ears with flea control products, you must first be sure that fleas are the cause of the problem, and not mites or a bacterial infection, such as yeast. You'll also want to be careful of which product you administer to the ears and how you go about conducting the procedure.
Cat Ear Problems
Fleas on cats are just one of the problems that could be causing symptoms such as excessive scratching of the ears, shaking the head and hearing loss. Before you begin treatment for fleas on a cat's ears, be sure you are aware that this is the cause. Fleas tend to feed on the skin of the ear flap and can usually be seen there. If no fleas are present, you may notice dried blood in the area.
If the infection is more towards the ear canal, it may be mites, bacteria or a fungal infection. If both ears are infected, this is usually ear mites. Symptoms of ear mites and fungal or bacterial infections are similar. An excessive amount of wax will be present and it is often blackish in color. Mites can be seen moving, but are difficult to detect due to their tiny size.
Treating a Cat's Ears for Fleas
There are many products on the market for treating fleas on cats. You may find that one method works the best over others. If you are using a product such as Frontline, administer as directed on the package. Shampoos and flea collars are fairly self-explanatory and generally, flea products are aimed at treating the entire body, rather than just the ears. Be cautious not to get any product inside the ear canal, especially those which contain high amounts of toxic chemicals. There are flea products and home remedies available which treat fleas without the use of poisons and toxic insecticides.
Natural Flea Control
When treating fleas on cats, it's especially important to be aware of the ingredients contained in the products you are using. For sensitive areas, such as the nose, eyes, ears and skin, poisonous chemicals can lead to allergic reactions, infections and other, more lethal results. There are many products now available which take advantage of organic or plant-derived ingredients which act as natural insecticides to help control fleas on your cat and in and around your home.
Certain ingredients contained in some flea control products, such as pyrethrins, come from flowers or herbs and have a known history of repelling certain insects. Additionally, insect growth hormones are now available in some flea control products. These are synthetic, but non-toxic imitations of a natural growth hormone that inhibits the growth cycle of fleas, therefore eliminating infestation of your home. Couple this product with a natural flea killer and you will be able to maintain a cat that is virtually free of fleas.