Cat Fleas - Am I overreacting?

GobbledyGook

My cats had fleas recently (just under 5 weeks), and it appears at least one of them still does.

I've been combing two of the three of them daily. Between them I've taken 8 fleas off. Neither of them have had any for over a week.

White cat is a different story. I can't comb him (I like having fingers too much!).

They were all treated with a spot on that I was advised wasn't very good so after speaking to the woman in the pet shop we have a spray also that I have used in the past few days (I was told only to use it if it appeared we still had a problem as we didn't want them to have too much treatments).

On Wednesday I pulled 1 flea from white cat and this evening I spotted, but couldn't catch another. When you spread his fur there's the odd speck of dirt near his tail, but it's been impossible to track down the flea.

However both times when I spotted them he had just come in from outside. He spends a lot of time with a stray cat (no idea why, but my cats seem to be trying to persuade us to adopt the stray, but the stray does not like people whatsoever!).

Am I overreacting and it's just coincidence that he's picking them up when he's out and because he's white it's obvious, but when they bite the medication will work?

We have no carpet. We only had one room with a carpet and that was removed 2 weeks ago (not because of this). All of their beds were chucked out (they won't touch cat beds, they sleep on cheap duvets and I chuck them as they don't fit in my washing machine and buying a new one costs the same as going to the launderette. Normally the used ones got to a rescue place who can wash them, but I binned those ones)

We're also moving house in 1 month and the cats will be kept indoors for at least 4 weeks so if it is stray he's picking them from that will stop. He's not scratching at all so I don't think he has many, but I know that can change quickly.

I've never dealt with fleas before so am I overreacting or would you also be thinking about another treatment?

mountainofdebt

When my mutt had fleas back in November I bought some capstar tablets which reckon kills fleas in 15 mins and also bought a can of indorex spray.

I only used 2 of the tablets - and I think in all honestly that was 1 too many.

I did a deep clean using the spray and didn't have a repeat performance but got a another can, just in case.

dandelionclock30

I would get either Advantage or Stronghold to treat the fleas on the cats and Indorex for the house. It will cost theres no way round it. Using cheap spot ons and household flea spray doesnt work.
I had a flea infestation in September despite using Frontline and I had to use foggers as well. Horrible. Good luck.
Fleas jump off and lay eggs in the house that then hatch etc. Its highly unlikley every time your cat goes out he gets fleas. If you buy the proper treatments the problem will stop.
You also have to wash all bedding on hot and hoover daily even if you just have floorboards. The fleas can live in the skirting board cracks.

Shoshannah

95% of the fleas will be in the house. You need to treat the house with a spray - use Indorex, Acclaim or RIP Fleas - and vacuum relentlessly. It will take weeks or months to get rid of them completely as they can remain in the pupae for up to five months.

GobbledyGook

Thanks.

That's basically what I've been doing. House spray used. Bedding washed every other day. Floors hoovered and mopped daily. Hoover emptied every day as well.

I was able to get a comb through him thoroughly as well (which REALLY surprised me) last night and got nothing off him.

So hopefully I'm on the way if I keep treating the house and them as well.

Thanks x

monty-doggy

I found johnsons4fleas tablets were fab on my white cat. Give him a tablet then put him outside and within 15 mins all fleas will have jumped off him. Then continue with the stronghold and indoorex.

Egypt191

As others have said, try Advantage, Indorex spray and Capstar.

I was using frontline and found it became ineffective, I took advice from this forum and changed his flea treatment. It took a good few weeks, but it worked. I now have a very happy cat, and we're happier too.

antw23uk

Your going abut it the wrong way. Make treating the house your priority, this is where you need to break the cycle. Fleas lay eggs, they wont stay on or hatch on the cats but in the carpets, floor boards, sofa ect and then jump onto the cats to feed. Treating the house breaks the cycle.
Don't bother with the pet shop, they will sell you inferior products. You should go to the vets and get a decent flea/ worm treatment. They will also sell a house spray product called R.I.P and it is AWESOME


And no your not over reacting at all, just going about it the wrong way. They all get fleas at some point, it might not always get out of hand but if you don't act then it can potentially become a nightmare so you are defo on the right track. Good luck

rita-rabbit

I use this for my two

so much cheaper & less hassle than spot on flea treatments - u do need to get from vets & whilst it's cheaper online when you add the price of a prescription from the vets then it might not be (£25 from vets & worth every penny - no smell/mess involved either):

“What is Seresto®?”
A: Seresto® is a new treatment that offers combined tick and flea protection for cats for up to 8 months, with a single application. This means that you don’t have to worry about reapplication every month, while your cat enjoys continuous protection.

Jobseeeker

Stronghold is really good but unfortunately its prescription only, definitely worth it though