title: Flea control in cats: new concepts and the current armoury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Flea allergic dermatitis is one of the most common skin diseases of cats presented for veterinary attention. It is therefore important for the practitioner to be able to design an appropriate flea management plan for their patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  There is no 'one size fits all' flea control programme for cats. Successful flea management requires an understanding of flea biology and knowledge of the mode of action of commercial flea products, of which there is a wide range available. Management of owner expectations can often present a challenge. Cat owners generally attribute a persistence of fleas after the administration of routine flea control to be a reflection of product failure. Owners may also be sceptical that fleas are responsible for the clinical signs of overgrooming in their cat and perceive a lack of response to flea adulticide treatment to be evidence of this fact.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article reviews an extensive body of published literature to update some concepts in flea control and discuss how judicious use of traditional and newer flea products can contribute to an integrated flea control strategy for cats.
authors.affiliation: Exclusively Dermatology, Skin, Ear and Allergy Clinic, Murdoch Veterinary Hospital, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia. m.siak@murdoch.edu.au
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siak
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burrows
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002415:Cats; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D058267:Flea Infestations / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D007300:Insect Control / Q000379:methods*; D007305:Insecticide Resistance; D005423:Siphonaptera
chemical_list: D000977:Antiparasitic Agents