Re: Flea powder/collars for cats

divadee

frontline works very well, but is not the cheapest.

I have used the bob martin flea collers in the past and have had mixed results with them ??? sometimes she gets no fleas other times she gets fleas but only round her backside, not around where the coller is.

HTH

rushnowt

Hiya,

I've tried everything available through stores but unfortunaly nothing seems to work that well, i'm not sure if your aware but there was a clampdown on ingredients in a lot of these products including many other insetacides and also fly/wasp spray killer, and obvioulsy they ingredients they removed were the ones that seemed to kill these little beggars.

we never used to be bothered by fleas etc for years as we always had the vapona fly killers around the home, unfortunalty these have been banned now so no joy there.

As stated frontline is very very good but does cost quite a lot and i think it can only be got from your vet, you have to remember though that fleas do not live on the host they only jump on to feed, the majority of the fleas will be living in your home, in carpets, bedding, upholstery etc and laying hundreds of eggs at a time. (i'm sorry i know not a nice thought).

i recently purchased a product from Asda : Raid - ant & cockroach killer with natural pyrethrum, it states that it also kills FLEAS beetles centipedes earwigs and other household pests (might try it on the hubby then LOL) it cost around £2.97 and i used 2 cans to cover a 4 bed house.
it has a lovely fresh smell and did seem to cut down dramatically , i think with everything though its something you need to keep doing until no trace and then i quick burst now and again to keep on top of it.

good luck

ps. check out the post for avon sss, , saint _chris states that you can use it to kill fleas, i've ordered mine and will let you know how i get on ;D

squarecat

I tried 'unsucessfully' shop brought options, in the end the vet receomended a spray which was about £6 for a bottle it has eradicated out problem and worked out more cost effective than the combination of powder/collars from the shops.

Phone the vets, thay shouldn't charge you a consultataion and you can get 'stronger' chemicals from there.

Hope this helps
Kitty

Edinburghlass_2

Living on the edge of a field that is over-run with rabbits I have to use Frontline every six weeks or so for my cats. Apparently rabbit fleas are the ones that are round the ears?

I buy it in a six pack from the vet around £20, expensive but it works quickly! I am going to try the Avon SSS though as I use that for midgies. Interesting to hear about the raid working on fleas as I have used a spray from the vet before but it cost over £10. It does say though that it is supposed to last for 9 months.

Unbelievable_2

Don't forget to put a flea collar in your vacuum bag - will help stop the little blighters

System

I usually use a spray on my cat. I don't advocate using flea collars cos on the one occasion I did use it on our cat it burnt his neck and he now has a bald ring around his neck where no hair grows.

Zeldazog

I usually use a spray on my cat. I don't advocate using flea collars cos on the one occasion I did use it on our cat it burnt his neck and he now has a bald ring around his neck where no hair grows.

I had that problem with my first cat, then my second was allergic to flea collars (and also flea bites) - many people don't like collars at all, especially in active cats, because of the risk of strangulation.

I found that of the sprays, Nuvan Top or Staykil (can't remember which was pet and which was household) were the best, but if there's been changes in the ingredients, that might not be the case any more.

Although rushnowt has a point about fleas living in your home, if you treat the house to rid of these, and then can keep your cat flea free, then they shouldn't re-infest the carpets. The "spot-on" type do this best with regular treatment, and again, I've found Frontline to be the best. You might also be able to get this from a pharmacy (Manor, which is midland based group do a lot of animal treatments).

If you don't fancy spraying the whole house with insectiside, and can get your hands on a steamer (any type, although the larger, high pressure units are best as these produce a *drier* steam and go deeper into the upholstery or mattress), these are excellent for treating the carpets, beds and furniture (but please don't steam the cat!!) ???.

I live near a field and have a cat which likes to bring in lots of little pressies, and although admittedly haven't front-lined her for some time, I don't have any flea infestations in the house, which I can only put down to using the steamer.

s@sha

I have 3 cats & find Frontline the best.

I've tried flea collars in the past...not very effective & caused a rash one one cat's neck, so I'd never use them again. Like Zeldazog's cat mine also now has a bald ring round her neck...she looks like she's got a frankenstein-type join where her head's been attached to her body, poor thing ::)

I've tried flea sprays & powders, again no good since the cats are frightened by the noise of the spray, or the clouds of powder, and they always managed to squirm out of reach.

Using Frontline drops on the back of the neck is the easiest & most effective. I just sneak up on them when they are all drowsy & put it on before they know what's happening. They can't lick it off because it's in the one place they can't reach.

I would also recommend spraying the house with Nuvan Top or something similar that prevents reinfestation, Even if you can't see them, if the cats have fleas, then they will be in the carpets & soft furnishings as well.

I admit they seem pricey, but 1 can should do the "average" 3 bedroom house & they definitely do last for at least 6-7 months.

lukeca

best option are the drops brought from your vets the one we had were from Bayer, 4 drops at £13.50 so thats 4 months worth. They also do a really good house spray for £10, the supermarket purchased options dont work as well.

plotholder

chemicals if you must - nuvan top (for the animal) and nuvan staykill (for the carpets etc)

However, fill a plant sprayer bottle with water and add 6 drops pure lavender oil and spray cats and carpets. house smells good, cat doesn't run to hide the minute you shake an aerosol and refuse to come out for hours (even if it was only polish or something else not intended for them at all!!)

Apparently fleas don't like lavender - we have had no cat fleas now for years.

also much cheaper !! good for moneysavers ;D