Flea panic :(

maninthestreet

So some of the flea treatments that are available are not up to scratch??

suki1964

The indorex is doing what it should be doing

I have never routinely treated my dogs as it does build a resistance

The two times ( in 25 years) we have had fleas in the house, I for the flea treatment from the vet and sprayed the house

I live in the country. The dog walks fields where sheep and cattle graze and of course we have badgers, mice, rats and who knows what else

The indorex works

RainbowLaura

Another weekend, another flea discovery! We went another full week without seeing any or catching any in the traps, and then just as I went to re-fill the cats' water bowl there was one having a swim!!! I understand that they might still be hatching, but with the crazy hoovering I've been doing over the last two weeks I just don't understand how there can be any dormant ones left. So so disheartening

usefulmale

GwylimT wrote: »

You can buy frontline from pet shops, it isn't effective in many areas now and you apply it every four weeks.

The fleas were hungry as they couldn't eat while you were away, you got home and you were a nice tasty meal.

The only thing that works for us is a combination of indorex and advantage spot on, we have found stronghold is just as good, but more expensive.

And why is frontline useless now? Because people keep putting on their cats every four weeks, whether they have fleas or not.

We dose our cats whenever they get fleas. It could be twice a year or, just once in five years.

RainbowLaura

usefulmale wrote: »

And why is frontline useless now? Because people keep putting on their cats every four weeks, whether they have fleas or not.

We dose our cats whenever they get fleas. It could be twice a year or, just once in five years.

An interesting theory, but don't you find yourself with a big problem on your hands when your cats have had fleas? How did you treat the house, and how long did it take for the problem to resolve?

I am considering calling the council to be honest, but I'm not sure if I'm just being impatient and overreacting at these occasional findings... It's causing me tremendous anxiety.

usefulmale

RainbowLaura wrote: »

An interesting theory, but don't you find yourself with a big problem on your hands when your cats have had fleas? How did you treat the house, and how long did it take for the problem to resolve?

I am considering calling the council to be honest, but I'm not sure if I'm just being impatient and overreacting at these occasional findings... It's causing me tremendous anxiety.

Let me ask you this. Do you take antibiotics all the time to prevent a bacterial infection or do you just take them when necessary? Blanket use of antibiotics is the reason why many bacteria are now becoming resistant to them. It's just the same with flea treatments.

What 'big problem' are you referring to? We have 4 or 5 cats at any given time. One of the newer arrivals seems to be a flea magnet and brings them home fairly regularly. It is a rare occurance though, to see a flea anywhere other than on a cat. If we do catch one, we just crush it between our fingernails.

We treat our cats with Advantage roughly 3 times a year. Any fleas that may be off-cat will jump back on one sooner or later and be killed off.

Unless you are talking of hundreds of visible off-cat fleas, the odd one or two that may jump on you are just part and parcel of having cats.

RainbowLaura

usefulmale wrote: »

Let me ask you this. Do you take antibiotics all the time to prevent a bacterial infection or do you just take them when necessary? Blanket use of antibiotics is the reason why many bacteria are now becoming resistant to them. It's just the same with flea treatments.

What 'big problem' are you referring to? We have 4 or 5 cats at any given time. One of the newer arrivals seems to be a flea magnet and brings them home fairly regularly. It is a rare occurance though, to see a flea anywhere other than on a cat. If we do catch one, we just crush it between our fingernails.

We treat our cats with Advantage roughly 3 times a year. Any fleas that may be off-cat will jump back on one sooner or later and be killed off.

Unless you are talking of hundreds of visible off-cat fleas, the odd one or two that may jump on you are just part and parcel of having cats.

It's distressing when you are highly allergic to the bites (to the extent that they form huge blisters) and are constantly scratching yourself.

In 8 years of having cats this is the first time I've seen fleas.

Feeling very upset, just got home from work to find another one in the water bowl. The cats haven't even been in the house today. It's only getting worse. I think it's time to get the council in

usefulmale

RainbowLaura wrote: »

It's distressing when you are highly allergic to the bites (to the extent that they form huge blisters) and are constantly scratching yourself.

In 8 years of having cats this is the first time I've seen fleas.

Feeling very upset, just got home from work to find another one in the water bowl. The cats haven't even been in the house today. It's only getting worse. I think it's time to get the council in

If you are allergic to the bites, then it might be time to reconsider keeping the cats. The council may kill off this crop of fleas, but what about the next one?

Have you just recently got a new cat? As I said earlier we never had a significant flea problem until we got a new flea magnet 2 years ago. He brings them home but its the others that are constantly scratting.

I did find an unusual solution to getting rid of fleas at the link below. Might just work for you.

http://www.netmums.com/coffeehouse/house-garden-194/garden-plants-animals-610/682942-anyone-used-council-pest-control-fleas-yuk-yuk-yuk-all.html

jay-1

I feel really sorry for you and know how you feel.

We were cat sitting and ended up with fleas and getting bitten like crazy.

My husband hoovered the whole house including mattresses ( washed bedding) then steam cleaned then applied the Indorex and it seems to have worked. I think the steamer really helped.

We also took anti histamine tablets for a few days to help with the itching.

We are catsitting again at Christmas so am dreading a recurrence.