F L E A S update: it is NOT over yet

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

You surely all think I am a bad catmommy, and that I don't take care of my cats . I must tell you: that is NOT true! Zazou must have brought the critters home from her "city-trip", and blesses the complete house with them. Due to severe personal problems, I didn' notice them scratching a lot until we got bites too . I don't get it why I didn't see them scratching . Guess I was to confident that those nasty fleas would never come to our house
I have to take the consequences now...
I "bombed" the house this morning. Please fleas, DIE, DIE, DIE !!!!

[sasvermont]

Some people are lucky and fleas don't hang out on their pets. I have had one nasty process with fleas, and I learned my lesson. I had to bomb my house, twice, the second time after 30 days. I had to de-worm my cats, de-flea my cats and also spray around baseboards and under sofas etc. It was horrible. I have learned my lesson. I use Frontline 9 months out of the year.


Lut, someday you will look back and wonder how you got through this.

Outside = flea territory

Fleas may be less invasive in your country, but there are everywhere here in the USA. Since I live in an area where frost on the ground is early, we do get a little break in the cycle outside. But inside the house, is 365 days a year, since I use my heat when it gets cold.

I hope the bombing thing works for you. It may take awhile and it may require a little vigilance for awhile. Got to get in the habit of applying the Frontline or Advantage stuff.

I feel your pain.

[kittykatharine]

Good luck with the flea battle. I know that can be soooooo frustrating...

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Yippie, no more fleas. It took us nearly 3 months to get rid of them

[kokopup]

Flea infestation can be a vicious cycle that is hard to break.

Frontline,advantix and all flea medication that you put on or give orally to your dog or cat really only kills those fleas on your pet. Even if you get frontline plus that has the ingredient that keeps eggs from hatching it doesn't make it to the carpet. It does nothing for the flea eggs in your carpet and furniture, If you wont to break the flea cycle you need to spray your house with Precor. Sprink Sevan dust on the outside in areas that cats or dogs frequent. You can also sprink Sevan in bedding areas. The Precor keeps the eggs from hatching. I spray with Precor every spring and again during summer. Once a year I add Malithion to my spray mixture. You can buy Precor from an exterminator. Flea powder is nothing but Sevan dust. Sevan dust is a much cheaper alternative that can be sprinkeled in carpet when you have active fleas.

[Catlady711]

Flea infestation can be a vicious cycle that is hard to break.

Frontline,advantix and all flea medication that you put on or give orally to your dog or cat really only kills those fleas on your pet. Even if you get frontline plus that has the ingredient that keeps eggs from hatching it doesn't make it to the carpet. It does nothing for the flea eggs in your carpet and furniture, If you wont to break the flea cycle you need to spray your house with Precor. Sprink Sevan dust on the outside in areas that cats or dogs frequent. You can also sprink Sevan in bedding areas. The Precor keeps the eggs from hatching. I spray with Precor every spring and again during summer. Once a year I add Malithion to my spray mixture. You can buy Precor from an exterminator. Flea powder is nothing but Sevan dust. Sevan dust is a much cheaper alternative that can be sprinkeled in carpet when you have active fleas.

Might want to re-think Sevendust as a 'cheap' alternative to flea treatment. It's not a 'safe' product for pet or indoor use at all.

http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Con...id=oid%3A24846

http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:...lnk&cd=5&gl=us

[kokopup]

Thanks for your info on Sevandust risk. Sounds like it can be very dangerous if not careful. I have heard some of the same horror stories about Revolution and other Flea meds. I have always used Sevan sparingly on carpet only when there were actually fleas present. I usually put it on the carpet and then vacuumed. I'm sure that if this was used in a garden they used the sevan pump. This not only puts the dust on the plants but a lot would be put in the air to drift through fence and coat everything. Any insecticide, Frontline and house bombs included, can be dangerous if not used with caution. I had an Uncle that was an avid fox hunter and had 21 hound dogs. He used Sevan in his dog pens for years with no problems.

Precor however is not toxic and does work to break the flea cycle.

[Catlady711]

I think for ANY product out there, if it's strong enough to kill a bug, it's strong enough to potentially cause other problems. Doesn't matter if it's 'natural' or chemical, or whatever, if it kills bugs of any type then it's got potential for bad, especially if not used properly.

I've been working at the vet hospital for a long time, I don't know how many thousands of cats/dogs we've used flea products on, but in my experience Frontline Plus and Revolution are two of the safest that we've seen far less reactions or problems with than the others. I personally have used both products on my cats without hesitation and will continue to do so without fear.

[ksschultz]

When our cat got fleas when our son and his cat were here, both of them got Advantage at the vet, but it did nothing at all! We found out that, at least around here, they are saying that the fleas are now resistant or immune to whatever chemical is in it. We also found out that, even though it didn't work, we couldn't use any other product on them until the whole month was up. But we HAD to do something quick, so, in addition to bathing them to get rid of the adult fleas on them right then, we got a Flea Zapper Comb (made by Epilady, who makes the women's hair removers) and used it several times a day. I don't know why they aren't sold locally here. Someone told me that, since they only take 2 batteries which last a long time, there is no need to keep buying things to put on them every month! Our Angel absolutely loves being combed, and it was so gratifying to hear and see each flea we found on her "fry"! Gradually we found fewer and fewer fleas each day and no more black specks. It took about 2 months, a lot less time than I thought it would.

I read in one of the earlier postings that the larvae can live in carpets, etc. for up to a year, so I will continue to keep my eyes open for fleas and "flea dirt."

Also, it has been very good that we have now gotten into the habit of brushing her. She enjoys it so much, and now she is having a lot fewer hairballs from ingesting so much hair with her fastidious grooming. We should have started this years ago. We have just found out that she may have a life-threatening illness, so it will be even more important to enjoy every minute with her that we have from now on.