How to Prevent Your Cat from Licking Cat Flea Treatment off It’s Fur

If your cat has come down with a case of fleas, the problem can be treated by applying cat flea treatment to its fur and thoroughly cleaning all of its bedding and furniture.

However, when you treat your furry friend with cat flea treatment, it is very important that you prevent them from licking the treatment off of their fur. Not only will this reduce the effectiveness of the treatment, it can also be very harmful for your cat. The chemicals in cat flea treatment are not healthy for your cat to ingest and they can make it very sick.

Preventing your cat from licking its cat flea treatment can be difficult, because it is a natural instinct for cats to lick their fur as a way of grooming. Whenever anything is on their fur a car will automatically try to lick it off. Here are some ways that you can stop your cat from performing this habitual behaviour:

Apply it Where They Cannot Reach

Most cat flea treatments are meant to be applied to the back of the neck, which is one of the only areas on a cat’s body that they cannot reach with their tongue. To ensure that the cat flea treatment goes in the right place, hold your cat on your lap and place the vial of treatment on the back of its head just about the spine.

Keep Your Cats Separated

If you have more than one cat and are applying cat flea treatment to all of them, even if you place it on the back of their necks they will simply start grooming each other and lick the treatment off each other’s necks. It is best to keep your cats separated in different rooms until the treatment has dried.

Distract Your Cat

One strategy is to apply the cat flea treatment right before you feed your cat. Eating their meal should distract your cat from licking long enough for the medication to dry. You can also try distracting your cat with toys or treats.

Put on an Elizabethan Collar

One of the best ways to prevent your cat from licking off their medicine is to place a cone-shaped “Elizabethan Collar” around their necks. These plastic collars are designed to stop animals from licking off their medication, stitches or wounds. Your cat will hate you for putting them in this awkward and embarrassing type of collar, but it is very effective.

Preventing your car from licking off its cat flea treatment can be difficult, especially because this behaviour is so instinctual for a cat. However, if you keep the cat from ingesting these chemicals you will be protecting their health and helping them heal faster.