Stronghold and still seeing live fleas

Jet

I have just got a new kitten. :j

Unforutunately, she has an infestation of fleas. She is currently shut away in a bathroom and the vet applied stronghold to her yesterday evening, but 24 hours later I am still seeing live fleas on her. Is this normal?

I had trouble once before with my old cat and frontline but the vet said that some cats were building a resistance to it, but I haven't heard such things about Stronghold.

It would be nice to let her out of the bathroom to explore her new home but I don't want my carpets and more importantly, my other cat to get infected.

suki1964

Hate to tell you this - but fleas dont half jump and can easily get through the cracks of skirtings and under the door so I doubt you have confined them to the bathroom

You need to treat the house as well - Indorex is pretty good - lasts for a year

peachyprice

We once got two kittens that were truly infested. The vet told OH to put them in the bath and shower them (wearing long sleeves and rubber gloves:D) starting at the tail and working the shower towards the head. The fleas will try to get away from the water and will all end up on the face and will drop off into the bath. This will get rid of the majority of the fleas to a more contolable level, after which you can put the stronhold on to kill the rest.

OH did it while I was out, he said it was unbelievable the sheer number of fleas on the poor little kitties.

snowman2_2

Second vote for treating the whole house. 90%+ of the fleas will be there and not on your cat

imaginarynumber

Frontline claim that some of their products will take upto 24 hours to work, it is absorbed and then secreted through the oil glands.

They seem to suggest that fleas seen after are eggs that existed before application.

http://frontline.us.merial.com/hlp_faq.asp

Steam cleaning the bathroom might help to kill the fleas.

HappyMJ

I gave an infested cat that was staying with me for a few weeks a tablet of Johnsons 4fleas once before. The fleas all tried to get away by going to the cat's feet and face. There were a lot of fleas. I counted about 50. They were all dead within the hour. The tablet only lasts a day or two but the Frontline applied later the same day kept them all away from then on.

vax2002

A good insecticide flea shampoo followed by a flea collar

Fire_Fox

Fleas or their eggs can be transported around by you - that is how indoor only cats can get fleas. They can also live in crevices in hard floors not just carpets and other soft furnishings. :eek:

Please do not combine any over-the-counter products with prescription treatments unless you have the agreement of your vet. If your other cat is currently covered by a recent Stronghold treatment or the equivalent there should not be a problem. From a quick Google the literature suggests selamectin (Stronghold) is not the fastest at killing fleas, they are talking in terms of being clear within 36-48 hours.

KxMx

I had Stronghold for my cat, and as well as clearing up all fleas on her within a few days, it got rid of them in a carpet, Vet said encourage her to roll around there and it worked! Must have had 6 giant tubs of powder on for hours and hours on that carpet which didn't work!

rita-rabbit

Powder

flea collars

Johnsons

Please do not try any of these `suggestions' - as a combination of things can apart from being useless may also prove dangerous/fatal to your new kitten.

one good thing that your cat can get used to new kitten being there slowly. Your cat & home should be treated regularly regardless of new addition. Now would be the best time.

Rummer

Just a quick question about whole house treatment. We have ongoing issues controlling fleas and the last two treatments of frontline don't appear to be working. Anyway we know have a tin of the house spray to try again when it is safe to retreat the cats with a vet recommended flea treatment. However I want to shampoo the carpets, which would I be better doing first? Shampooing or spraying?