Cat fleas, help we're being eaten alive!

sally06

helend wrote: »

We are infested with fleas also, hubby bought some Bob Martin spot-on, as we didn't have chance to get to vet.

I've now got some Advantage from the vet and wondering how soon can I put it on cat bearing in mind she's had a dose two weeks ago? (MIL picked it up for us so not able to ask vet myself). If it was just me and hubby I'd be happy to wait another 2 weeks but the kids are getting bitten too.

Bob martin spot-on doesn't work. Neither does the spray and powder. I've tried loads of different shop bought treatments on my cats. I went to the vets in the end as I was desperate. They told me I had to wait a week before applying anymore treatments. It should be ok for you to use the advantage now. Why don't you call the vets just to be on the safe side? good luck!

chris_n_tj

You need to treat the whole house as well as the cats/dogs. I reccomend you use zodiac spray for the house and Forontline for the pet. Zodiac is easy to use, spray each room then leave door closed for 30 mins. After the whole house has been sprayed zodiac will keep the house flea clear for 6 months. many of the other brands on the market only kill the fleas not the eggs, zodiac kills both. You must remeber to treat your pet every 2 months.If you want a quick fix try frontline spray, this will kill fleas PRONTO lol. But then give it a few days and use the spot on. Zodiac and the frontline are expensive, but in the long run well worth it for peace of mind and above all no fleas. This year due to the damp humid weather we have had, has been a bad year for us where fleas are concerned. But if you follow the few simple rules you should be flea free in no time. Above all dont worry, fleas can be got rid of as fast as they came. And remember our beloved pets hate the things as much as we do.
Chris n TJ

sally06

chris n tj, I haven't heard of zodiac. Where did you get it from? TIA

Tonight, I tried the candle on a saucer with oil and water. But so far nothing! I know the fleas are still with us though because I've been bitten again and I've seen them on my washing on the line:eek:I need to cut the lawn tomorrow, because I am sure they are hiding in the long grass and jumping onto my washing as soon as I put it out:rolleyes:

It's possible the fleas have got into my wardrobes too (the cats were always playing in there) How the hell can I get them out without having to wash everything? TIA

On a positive note, my 3 cats seem much happier since I put advocate on them. They still scratch occasionally, but I have checked them all with a flea comb and they don't have any live fleas on them, phew! everyone is talking about frontline. Is it better than advocate? I might try that next time. I don't intend to use the same treatment every month, incase they build up a resistance to it. I can't bear to go through this infestation nightmare again. Good luck to everyone else who is trying to evict these nasty things from their home.

emlou2009

right i can confirm that a combination of indorex and skoosh has sorted my nans house! the skoosh is a smaller can so i just sprayed that in the main areas where the fleas were and then with what was left roughly sprayed around everywhere, and thouroughly sprayed the indorex absolutely everywhere, this was saturday morning and she hasnt seen any since, and the cats been going indoors again at last!!

only problem is, now i've seen a flea on my ruddy kitten :wall: i frontlined him as soon as i saw it!
but he wasnt due for another 6 days :whistle::shhh:

jacqhale

Quick update, hope you are all feeling better and winning the war.......!!

Went away for the BH weekend and had a lovely time, the fleas did not come with us in the caravan:T and it was so nice not to wake up itching! DS is looking better, bites have gone right down and he only itches a little bit but more because he knows they are there than anything (slightly worried that he has itched when we are not around and some have bled - can they scar??)
Anyway the cat had some more frontline today and we have a steamer to do all the carpets and furnishings. Don't think I was bitten last night and nothing floating in bowls of water .......... don't want to speak to soon but I'm hoping against hope we might nearly have cracked it;)

BitterAndTwisted

These things do take time. If you've got the cat's flea-treatment sorted and you've used the spray on the carpets and furniture to kill the adult fleas, eggs and larvae all you've got left to do is to keep hoovering every day and changing the bag every time you use it. What you're seeing jumping about now are the newly hatched fleas which the hoovering is making emerge, and once they do the environmental spray will get them.

Get that hoover bag outside in the dustbin after you use it every single time. Better yet, burn it!

You WILL see a definite improvement if you keep at it. Honest. I did

Maisymoo

Am glad it is not just me who is suffering! I went to the vets today to buy some R.I.P (bought Frontline from the pharmacy as it is cheaper) and the receptionist said that they have nearly sold out today!

Am going to try the candle/oil/water thing tonight -just hope don't burn the house down in the process, although as others have mentioned that should solve the problem!

I have 2 cats - only one of them ever seems to have fleas though it is as if she is more appealing to them. Just as it is only my youngest son who ever gets bitten (he gets bitten LOTS).

When the cat was at the vets to be speyed they sprayed her with flea treatment for free as they knew I had religously bought frontline and yet she still had fleas - which suggests that the pet flea sprays are stronger?

Also - I was told to cut up a flea collar and scatter the bits under sofa/bed etc and also to put another one into the hoover - worth a shot!

stavrosh

Advice from a vet (me)

All flea collars/powders/shampoos/'repellents' are a complete waste of time and money in face of active infestation. It would be lovely if stuff like garlic and tea tree oil worked but there isn't a shred of scientific evidence to say they kill fleas - they might repel a wheezy old frail flea but even that I doubt

These will work but you MUST combine someting that kills the adults on the pet and the immature stages in the house.

adulticides
spot-ons:
frontline (spray seems to work better than spot-on - this may account for some reported 'resistance')
advantage/advocate
prac-tic
stronghold (seems especially effective in cats)
frontline combo also has extra ingredient (methoprene) that breaks life cycle by stopping any eggs the flea lays from hatching

Capstar - pill which kills any resident fleas instantly but has no residual effect

All the above spot on treatment will kill fleas for about 1 month. The flea won't die the instant it jumps on. Advantage probably kills the quickest but there's not much in it. The fleas have to mooch around for a few hours to pick up enough drug to kill them. With stronghold, they have to bite.

treat all cats/dogs/rabbits without fail

Environmental sprays

remember, you're looking to kill the eggs/larvae - adult fleas do not 'live' in the house/carpets - they need a meal quickly once hatched or they die - hence they jump straight on to a animal (or you as a poor second option, unless you're really hairy..). Most pet shop flea products (and council sprays) focus on killing the adult flea - pointless.
Accliam/indorex/RIP all have 2 ingredients - flea 'killer' to get any just hatched plus IGR (insect growth regulator - stops eggs/larvae developing) usually methoprene. Any products not covering these 2 bases will be ineffective.
Hoover before spraying (larvae are activated by heat/vibration - like an animal circling before settling to sleep), treat everywhere including cupboards/sheds/cars if animals go in there. wash all bedding you can on a HOT wash. Eggs and larvae can survive a standard 40deg cycle.

Program

injection for cats, tablets for dog
does not kill adult fleas but prevents any eggs they lay from hatching, thus breaking the life cycle. not much use for an instant effect as doesn't kill the adult but very good as long term treatment/preventative. all animals in house must be on it though


So basically, you need integrated flea control if you have a bad infestation, plus a little patience to let the stuff work.

A good website is 'fleafree' done by novartis who make some of the above products.

Your local vet practice normally has a nurse trained to give the above advice and is free!! You don't have to pay to see the vet unless your pet has some skin issue associated with the infestation.

Most vets and nurses are more than happy to advise on this type of preventatitve healthcare for free, and usually the advice will be far better than you'll get at the supermarket/pet shop/neighbour.

And yes, you can then go and buy the stuff on the internet cheaper if you want... FWIW most vets mark up their flea products by about 50% (compared to some other sectors of retail, this isn't really the fleecing some would have you believe, if you look at the free advice and other overheads that go with it) most internet pharmacies use frontline and drontal as almost a loss leader, and make a few pence, if anything on each sale, then hope you'll also buy some of the higher margin stuff.

Anyway, hope the above helps

sally06

The hoovering and spraying is finally paying off. I'm seeing less fleas around the house and I haven't been bitten for a few days (touch wood). Especially since I started adding a few drops of tea tree oil to my body lotion. Not sure if this is just a coincidence though or whether it actually works!

However, earlier I was checking all the cats with a flea comb. Two of them have no fleas...but I found 6 on one of the kittens:eek::eek:they were almost dead, so I finished them off, but how can he have fleas on him when I put advocate on him last thursday?????he also has a bit of flea dirt on him, or maybe it was dirt from the garden? I forgot to test it:rolleyes:

I'm sure the fleas are still alive and hopping on my patio. Maybe the fleas I found on the kitten had just jumped on him when he went outside? help!!

sally06

sally06 wrote: »

The hoovering and spraying is finally paying off. I'm seeing less fleas around the house and I haven't been bitten for a few days (touch wood). Especially since I started adding a few drops of tea tree oil to my body lotion. Not sure if this is just a coincidence though or whether it actually works!

However, earlier I was checking all the cats with a flea comb. Two of them have no fleas...but I found 6 on one of the kittens:eek::eek:they were almost dead, so I finished them off, but how can he have fleas on him when I put advocate on him last thursday?????he also has a bit of flea dirt on him, or maybe it was dirt from the garden? I forgot to test it:rolleyes:

I'm sure the fleas are still alive and hopping on my patio. Maybe the fleas I found on the kitten had just jumped on him when he went outside? help!!

just a quick update; I have now found 2 fleas on my other kitten:mad: Not checked my other cat tonight as she is still out. It looks like the avocate has stopped working and I only put it on them last thursdayI called the vet and the lady on the reception said she would speak to the vet for me and get back to me tomorrow. I am really peed off now. I've spent endless hours cleaning and hoovering, not to mention the cost of the sprays - and all for nothing:mad:I don't think we will ever be flea free:(