How to Use a Flea Comb on a Cat

Flea care is important for our beloved kitties. While using a flea preventative is extremely helpful, cat parents can add an extra layer of protection by using a flea comb to check for fleas on their furry felines.

What Is a Flea Comb?

Flea combs are special grooming devices that have short, thin, close-set teeth that can pick up small objects clinging to the fur of cats—namely skin parasites like fleas.

The fine hairs of a cat’s coat pass through the comb’s teeth, and fleas are trapped on the comb for easy removal without pet parents needing to shave their cat’s fur or otherwise risk damaging their coat.

Flea combs come in a variety of sizes for different coat thicknesses and for small and large cats. They also have a variety of handles, and pet parents might find some easier to use than others.

How To Use a Flea Comb on Cats

To use a flea a comb on your cat:

• Prepare your cat’s fur by brushing or combing it with a regular grooming tool to remove mats and make sliding the flea comb through the coat easier for you and more comfortable for your cat.
• You might need to have a reputable groomer or veterinary professional assist in shaving or clipping larger mats if they are an issue.
• Next, have your cat sit in your lap or have someone help hold your cat while you pull the comb with the grain of the fur, using slow and steady pressure. Make sure to get into tighter spaces, such as the underarm areas.
• You might need to switch to a smaller comb or one with shorter, more closely spaced teeth for these spaces.

If your cat shows signs of stress, such as hissing, growling, flattening their ears, or trying to squirm away, it’s best to give them a break and then continue when they’re calm again. This should help prevent injury and allow you to complete the combing process successfully.

• After each pass, it might be helpful to dip the comb into lukewarm soapy water to drown the fleas. A gentle dish soap, such as regular Dawn, should be suitable, but it’s best to check with your veterinarian for any special considerations related to the type of soap that’s best for your cat.
• Make sure to rinse and dry the comb well before passing it through your cat’s fur again. It’s usually best to do two passes through your cat’s entire coat per session and to use the flea comb on your cat at least once monthly.

How To Pick the Best Flea Comb

For adult cats, the ideal flea comb has metal teeth—which are more durable than other materials, such as plastic—and should be easy to handle.

More specific features of the flea comb will depend on your individual cat’s needs, such as shorter teeth for shorter fur and longer teeth for longer fur, so that the comb can reach closer to the skin.

You might find it helpful to have two flea combs or a two-sided flea comb: one side for larger areas of the body with longer, wider-set teeth and the other side with shorter, closer-spaced teeth for tighter spaces, such as the underarms.

The Frisco Flea Comb for Cats & Dogs is versatile with its two sides—one with thicker, wider-spaced teeth and one with thinner, closer-spaced teeth. It’s a good choice for long-haired and short-haired cats, as well as for both large, easy-to-access areas of the body and tighter, smaller areas.

The Master Grooming Tools Contoured Grip Flea Dog & Cat Comb features a stylish ergonomic handle to make flea combing more comfortable for pet parents. The thin, tightly spaced teeth are ideal for shorter hair and smaller, tighter spaces, such as the underarms.

The Frisco Single-Row Flea Comb for Cats & Dogs features a longer handle than some other models, allowing for comfortable use. Its teeth are longer and spaced farther apart, making it ideal for adult cats and for cats with longer fur

Best Flea Combs for Kittens

A major difference between kittens and adult cats when it comes to flea combs is that kittens have smaller, more fragile bodies than adult cats.

As such, ideal flea combs for kittens allow comfortable, gentle use over small areas and tight spaces on a kitten’s body. In general, smaller, thinner, closer-spaced teeth are good features of kitten flea combs.

The smaller side of the Frisco Flea Comb for Cats & Dogs, with its thinner, closer-spaced teeth, is an appropriate choice for kittens. Pet parents can flip to the other side as their kitten grows into an adult cat, making this comb an economical option.

The Master Grooming Tools Contoured Grip Flea Dog & Cat Comb is also a good choice for kittens because the handle allows pet parents to easily control the pressure of the comb as it goes through a kitten’s thinner coat, while also protecting a kitten’s fragile skin. The thin, tightly spaced teeth mimic the smaller side of the Frisco Flea Comb for Cats & Dogs.

The Safari Flea Comb for Cats is a long-handled option with thin, tightly spaced teeth that is appropriate for use on kittens.

When To Use a Flea Comb on Your Cat

You can use a flea comb on your cat daily if needed.

Use the comb if you see any evidence of fleas, such as dark-brown or black specks in your cat’s fur. Even indoor cats on flea prevention should be checked for fleas at least weekly, since not all prevention is 100% effective.

If you still see evidence of fleas on your cat after they’ve been on a flea and tick preventative consistently for a few months, it’s important to work with your veterinarian to determine why that preventative is not working.

Having your cat on effective preventative year-round is important to guard against flea allergy dermatitis, secondary bacterial or yeast infections, and tapeworm infection, which can be spread by fleas.

How To Prevent Fleas

If you want to prevent fleas (so you never have to use a flea comb) getting your cat on a regular flea and tick preventative is a must. Talk with your vet about popular flea and tick medications for cats, like Revolution Plus, Credelio, or Advantage Multi.