Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Treat your home
• Method 2 of 2: Treat your cat
• Tips
• Warnings

Your cuddly cutie has brought some friends home. Fleas and ticks. If you want to know how best to deal with them, read on. Below are simple steps to get rid of these uninvited guests.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Treat your home

1. Treat your home. Fleas are probably not only on your cat, but also in your house and garden.
2. Put your cat in a separate room. Before you start, your cat must be quarantined.
   • By doing this you hope that the damage will be limited, you can clean the whole house without further spreading.
3. Vacuum the entire house to get rid of fleas and ticks. Don't forget that fleas and ticks like to hide in cracks and along the baseboards.
4. Wash all your clothes, fleas and ticks could have gotten into them.
5. Shake out rugs and vacuum them too.
6. Use environmental spray to spray your home against fleas and ticks. Spray especially where fleas like to hide, along the plants and in cracks.
7. Clean every room in the house, including the bedroom. Carefully check and clean cupboards and wardrobes.

Method 2 of 2: Treat your cat

1. Start by bathing your cat with anti-flea shampoo. You can do this at home in the bath or sink.
2. Be careful. Do not get water or soap in the eyes. Cats don't like a bath at all, so if you don't have experience with that, it can get tricky.
3. Once your cat has dried, you can start combing out the ticks. Hold your cat between your legs. Start with one side and slowly work your way to the other to get rid of fleas and ticks. Brush slowly and gently, trying not to pull hairs out. If ticks remain, remove them with tweezers.
4. When removing ticks, make sure that the head does not stick. This can cause (deadly) infections. Ask someone to help you with this. It is more convenient if your pet is being held by someone.
5. Never use lighters, kerosene, petroleum jelly, nail polish, or anything else to remove a tick. These are ineffective and these harsh chemicals can additionally infect the skin.
   • The only correct method to remove a tick is with tweezers. Use one with flat ends, with pointed ends you can damage the tick and allow tick fluid to enter the wound. This can cause your pet to contract a disease.
   • Clean the tweezers with alcohol before use. Place the tweezers close to the tick's head.
   • Do not suddenly pull out to remove the tick, but keep the pressure on it constantly until the tick yields. This method may take a little longer, but it is the safest for your pet.
   • Once the tick has been removed, clean the area with a cotton ball dipped in alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.
   • DO NOT THROW THE TICK AWAY. Place the tick in a plastic bag. Write the date on it and keep it for 4 to 6 weeks. If your cat gets sick, you can take the tick to the vet and find out if your pet has developed a tick-borne illness such as Lyme disease.
6. Buy anti-flea stuff for your pet. Make sure the ticks and fleas don't come back after your hard work!
7. Check your cat's coat regularly after treatment. If you still spot fleas or ticks, start the whole process again, until you have eradicated them. And don't forget, even though fleas and ticks can be persistent, persistence wins!

Tips

• NEVER use lighters, petroleum, petroleum jelly or other chemicals on your pet.
• The tick can be touched with alcohol to disinfect.

Warnings

• Be careful bathing your cat. Do not use too much water and make sure the water is lukewarm and the room at the right temperature. Cats need their coat for warmth. One of the reasons cats don't like a bath is because of the cold.