When it comes to the health of your Bengal cats there’s a lot to consider. The amount of exercise they are given, vaccinations, good food, and of course protecting them against such things as fleas and ticks. All of these things are important and in this article we’ll be covering:
- Why it’s Important to Protect Your Bengal Against Fleas and Ticks
- Steps for Keeping Your Bengal Pest Free
- Top Choices for the Best Flea and Tick Protection
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Why It’s Important to Protect Your Bengal Against Fleas and Ticks?
As part of your Bengals overall health maintenance it is your responsibility as their pet parent to protect them from various health risks, especially those that are posed by pests. Both fleas and ticks can make your Bengal sick and can even make you sick as well as leas to an infestation in your home and no one wants that.
Ticks are especially dangerous for your Bengal especially if they spend any amount of time outdoors. As with humans, the black legged deer tick, is the most common one found mainly in the Northeastern part of the US, can spread Lyme disease in pets. Symptoms of the disease can include; fever, decrease in appetite, swollen and painful joints, limping, lethargy, and swollen lymph nodes. In very serious cases, some pets can develop kidney disease as a result of contracting Lyme disease.
Ticks can also cause what’s known as “tick paralysis” in your Bengal. This happens when a female tick attaches herself near your Bengal’s spinal cord. This can cause muscle weakness, loss of coordination and in some cases even death from respiratory failure because the chest muscles can become paralyzed.
Even if your Bengal doesn’t spend a lot of time outdoors in wooded areas or tall grasses, other animals can carry the ticks into your yard and then the ticks can hitch a ride into your home on your Bengal where they can then move onto humans and other pets in the home.
Fleas are another pest that’s common especially on cats and dogs. The most common species that attack our pets and homes is called the “cat flea.” Their bites will cause itchy, red bumps that can lead to excessive scratching. Fleas also can cause anemia and flea allergy dermatitis and they can also transfer tapeworms to your Bengal.
Fleas always lay their eggs on their host where they will hatch and then reproduce. The eggs can also fall off onto surfaces like carpets, pet bedding, and couches. Fleas are often hard to find since they are so small and they move extremely fast along the surface of the skin. In addition to being hard to find they also breed extremely fast. One adult can lay as many as 20 eggs a day and the eggs usually hatch in 2 to 14 days. This means that a flea infestation can grow rapidly. A big infestation of fleas in your home can be very difficult and time consuming to get rid of, this is why it should be done by licensed pest control professionals.
Steps for Keeping Your Bengal Pest Free
Of course, one of the best ways to protect your Bengal and your home from these common household pests is to prevent an infestation before it even happens. Here are a few steps you can take to protect your Bengal from pests like ticks and fleas:
- After you take your Bengal for a walk, or play with them outside make sure to inspect your Bengal thoroughly. Make sure to brush their coat to remove any insects or debris. Be especially vigilant in doing this if you have been in wooded or grassy areas where these pests tend to thrive.
- Give them a bath using a shampoo that is meant to kill pests.
- Keep a lookout for any skin irritations on your Bengal, such as bite marks or red, itchy skin. If you notice any excessive scratching that’s a pretty good indicator that they have some kind of skin irritation.
- Consult with your vet to determine if a preventative medicine should be recommended for your Bengal.
- If you notice a sudden change in your Bengal’s behavior, like lack of appetite or a decrease in energy, you should take them tot heir vet right way. This could be signs of Lyme disease or some other health issue being caused by pests.
- Make it a habit of washing their bedding, crate, toys, other sleeping areas, and their food bowls.
- Make sure to keep your home clean and clutter-free to help deter any pest infestations. Vacuum frequently and wash all linens on a regular basis.
- It’s important that you keep your lawn cut short and garden areas well maintained to help prevent breeding grounds for these pests. Fleas and ticks love to hide out in tall grass.
- If you discover a tick on your Bengal, remove it right away, just be careful to extract the head and mouth parts totally. If they have fleas, bathe them and then consult your vet.
- If you think that your home might be infested with fleas or ticks you need to get in touch with a licensed pest control specialist right away.
Top Choices for the Best Flea and Tick Protection for Bengal Cats
Here’s our list of the top flea and tick products that we believe could work well for your Bengal cat.
Frontline Plus for Cats & Kittens 8 Weeks and Older
ABOUT: This is a product that is meant for cats eight weeks and older and is fast acting when it comes to controlling ticks and fleas on your cat. It is meant to kill ticks, lice, flea eggs, and fleas.
OUR RATING:
PRICE:
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FEATURES: Easy to use capsule that you snap and apply. Is fast acting and is waterproof. Each dose will give 30 days of around the clock protection.
PROS: It's easy to use. Good for even kittens eight weeks and older. Is waterproof and fast acting. Lasts for 30 days and kills ticks, lice, fleas, and flea eggs.
CONS: Some have said doesn’t last for 30 days and it leaves a greasy spot on the area applied to.
Advantage II
ABOUT: This flea protection is made to kill on contact, which means the pests don't have to bite your cat first in order to be killed by it. It is a multi-stage flea control type of protection that is meant to work during all stages of their lives.
OUR RATING:
PRICE:
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FEATURES: Kills fleas on contact. Lasts for a month and works through all the stages of flea growth. Is good for cats eight weeks and older. Is waterproof and easy to apply.
PROS: Don’t need to wait for fleas or ticks to bite pet to kill them. Easy and convenient to use. Lasts for 30 days. Won’t wash away when giving cat a bath. Is okay to use on kittens
CONS: Some cats seem to be sensitive to the chemicals used in the product.
Wondercide Natural Flea & Tick Control for Pets Home - Cedar & Lemongrass - 4 oz
ABOUT: Recommended by holistic vets and uses no dangerous chemicals. They only use all-natural ingredients in their product.
OUR RATING:
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FEATURES: Made from all-natural ingredients. They use powerful pest repellents as an alternative to harsh chemicals. It’s safe for pets and children and the environment as well.
PROS: Pet and kid friendly. Made from all-natural items. Is simple and easy to use.
CONS: Can be messy and takes a while for it to actually work. Some say it doesn't work well on ticks.
SENTRY Capguard Oral Flea Tablets
ABOUT: Intended to be easy to use and mess free. No prescription needed and is proven to be safe for puppies, kittens, and adult cats and dogs.
OUR RATING:
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FEATURES: Comes in mess free tablet form. Is fast acting, starts working in about 30 minutes. Safe for kittens. Contains Nitenpyram which is highly recommended by vets.
PROS: No mess medication. Works quickly and easy to give. Controls adult fleas fast. Can’t wash or rub off since it’s oral. Can be given to kittens and puppies as young as four weeks old.
CONS: Doesn’t seem to kill the eggs as well as advertised.
Adams Plus Flea and Tick Spray for Cats and Dogs
ABOUT: Specially formulated for giving quick relief from biting fleas. Meant to kill fleas, flea larvae, flea eggs, and ticks. Can work up to two months.
OUR RATING:
PRICE:
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FEATURES: Easy to use spray bottle. Kills ticks, flea larvae, flea eggs, and fleas for up to two months. Also repels mosquitoes.
PROS: Gives fast relief from biting fleas. Kills all adult fleas and ticks as well as eggs and larvae. Can last up to two months. Repels mosquitoes.
CONS: Has a really strong smell that is noticeable for days. Doesn’t seem to continue to kill up to two months as claimed.
There are a lot of different flea and tick products out there and it can be quite confusing when you are trying to narrow down the list. This is why we reviewed products so that we could come up with these five. After reviewing all of these products, it really came down to the wire between Advantage II and Frontline Plus. It was a tough decision but in the end, we believe that out of these two top favorites that Frontline Plus comes out on top as our favorite flea and tick product.
Each one of these products had their good points and their bad points however, Frontline Plus seemed to meet more of the criteria that a lot of Bengal cat parents are looking for when it comes to protecting their cats against these pests.
