Cat flea problem driving us mad: Help!

Rosierabbit

Hi all,

Wondering if anyone had any advice on the best way to deal with a recurrent flea problem as my boyfriend and I are tearing our hair out.

My boyfriend has a 15 year old long haired cat who is permanently affected by fleas. We regularly use Frontline as the vet recommended it but it doesn't seem to have helped. My boyfriend has spent a fortune on foggers and flea sprays. We regularly use one of those electronic flea combs. Recently he reached the end of his tether and had the pest control in as a neighbour suggested that the previous tenant had a mangy dog and we suspected that the house might be riddled. The pest control seemed to be quite effective and Puffy (the cat) stopped scratching and licking and being nearly so flea ridden. He regularly attends the vets for a thyroid condition and the last time he was there he also had an injection to treat his lumps and bumps as he is allergic to flea bites. After the pest control and the vets we gave him a bath and a thorough grooming. This was all about three weeks ago and he has been back to his old self.

However, in the last few days the licking and scratching has returned and the sleeping in strange places. We looked at him and found a couple of fleas on him! We just dont know what to do for the best as everytime this happens we feel the whole experience is making him ill and shortening his life, not to mention the amount of money that has already been spent. Is his older age making him more susceptible? He used to just get fleas in the very hot summer months and they were easily treated. He does go outside for about an hour most days but never goes far and we live in the country. Is he picking them up outside and bringing them in with him? We just dont know what to do for him for the best. Any advice would be gratefully received. Thank you

UKTigerlily

Do you use household flea spray & hoover regularly? Have you tried products other than Frontline (Advocate/Advantage etc)

Rosierabbit

Yes we do both all the time. No have never tried either of those as the vet always suggests Frontline. Are those products available from pharmacists of online?

Al1x

have you tried using Stronghold rather than Frontline?

my sisters dog had a fee problem for ages but as soon as she changed to using Stronghold the flees were gone.

Rosierabbit

Thanks will definitely look into that

BitterAndTwisted

The spray that the pest-control folks used will have killed all of the eggs, larvae and adult fleas but what no pesticide can do is kill the dormant ones in their cocoons. What you are seeing now are the newly-hatched fleas responding to either vibration from movement or carbon-dioxide in the air. If your cat is adequately protected with an effective spot-on treatment they should be killed by it very quickly. There is a lot of evidence that Frontline is now not as effective as it once was due to the fleas becoming immune to it, so your cat should be treated with something else now.

twink

i have a few cats and touch wood am not bothered with fleas but i do hoover every day and in the crevices of the suite etc if thats any help

Rosierabbit

Thanks for the info bitter and twisted. He had a frontline on about three weeks ago so we couldn't try anything else yet. I didn't know Frontline wasn't as effective as it used to be everyone I know seems to rave about the stuff!

Pixiechic

Hi,

How often do you treat with frontline? One frontline pipette 0.5ml will cover your cat for 15 weeks. Then they need another application especially if they go outside. Do you wash all the bedding etc too? Fleas can stay in the bedding therefore they would all need a good wash. Your cat will be able to pick up fleas from lots of things outside, like rabbits, hedgehogs, loads of wildlife. Would he mind staying in for a while? If you kept him in you could see if they are coming from in or out. Wash everything and see how you get on then.
I feel your frustration too, mine has had fleas and its not pleasant! A friend of mine has three cats and one is allergic to flea bites too. So when one has fleas all the others get them and the one that's allergice licks patches of fur off and has to have an injection too. It is much easier and cheaper to try and prevent

Rosierabbit

Thank you Pixiechic nice to know we are not the only ones struggling with this!

We are always very strict with giving him his next dose of Frontline as soon as it is due? We seem to be permanently washing bedding etc and hoovering everything. He never goes out for long as he is not as young as he used to be but he will drive us mad to go out even if its just for a little while. He doesn't have a cat flap so only goes out for a little while each day when we let him out and most of that time he sits in the garden where we can see him. Of course he may occasionally venture further encountering the sort of things you mention.

Do you know if your friend who has the cat with the flea bite allergy uses Frontline?

Pixiechic

Yes my friend uses frontline too so as the other poster mentioned, maybe a different make could be useful to try. I too have always been told that frontline is the best but it does make sense that the fleas could get used to it, rather like rats and rat poison.
I hope you find a solution