Fleas!

Contains_Mild_Peril

I use Frontline on my cat when necessary. I've found powders, sprays and collars are much less effective, combing alone even more so, and heavy infestation seems to happen quite suddenly sometimes during warm weather, in which case Frontline is the only thing I've found that really works.
I don't have steam cleaner, so I just vacuum, paying special attention to carpet edges where things could hide, and if fleas have been around, empty the hoover and take the bag to the outside bin (from where they're unlikely to return because we're in a top flat) immediately. It's important to clean all places which could harbour eggs, e.g. furniture and curtains.
I know someone who returned to her house which had been unoccupied for several weeks and found it jumping with fleas: you'd think they would starve, but the eggs seem to lie dormant for as long as they need to till prey comes along.

Moon~Shadow

The only true way to rid your house of fleas is to treat the cat with a flea treatment like Frontline, Advantage or Program. Put a cat flea collar in your hoover bag as fleas will survive in there. Wash the cats bedding regularly on a 50+ degree wash or eggs will survive. Finally not chemical free, but a product called Vetkem Acclaim is a house spray which will protect carpets, curtains etc and leave your house flea free for 12 months.
It leaves no residue and does not stain or mark frabics (as I tested it well). It is the only one I use because the smell is not potent like Indorex or Staykill.
I got mine from here http://www.vetuk.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=16

Also from vets but normally more expensive.

beetrootjuicer

Moggles wrote:

I contacted our vet today. She couldn't call the tradename to mind either, but the active ingredient - the insect growth regulator - is lufenuron.

Toxic powders and sprays are a pretty blunt instrument that could harm honey bees and butterflies, not to mention people and pets. This targeted treatment - a sort of contraceptive for fleas - certainly looks like a giant leap in the right direction.

Thanks, Moggles. I'll check that out. You're so right about the harm toxic powders and sprays can do. We can't use anything like Frontline as we have someone chemically sensitive in the family (already been made ill by organophosphates) so have experienced it first hand and have to keep the toxic load to a minumum. I often wonder how many health problems, minor and major, are caused by exposure to chemicals, very often for those particular chemicals to be quietly withdrawn from the market years later once the damage is done.

purplemoon

pm'd you but your message box is full!

Jo138

Can you re-send please - I've emptied my inbox now