Fleas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Shadowcat]

Try one of the other topical treatments. Revolution or Advantage. Be sure to treat all of the kitties, not just the one that goes out. Remember that fleas can be in the grass, ride in on you and then live in the house. Good luck

[Catlady711]

Only 5% of the flea population shows up as adult fleas. So for every 5 fleas you see there are 95 immature stages laying around your house (where the reproduction takes place). Each female flea lays 2,000 eggs in her lifetime. Needless to say good flea control takes more than one application of Frontline Plus.

Frontline Plus takes about 6 hours to kill fleas and they are very active right before they die. Don't panic, they WILL die. You will need to keep treating all the cats every month to gain full control over the flea lifecycle. Vacuuming is a very good help also, but I agree with your vet, don't go the route of fogging/bombing the house. The main ingredient in Frontline Plus is Fipronil and has been used in fruit orchards in the US since the 1980's and only attacks the nervous system of insects NOT mammals. However the chemicals in foggers are much more dangerous, not to mention a real pain to deal with.

Keep vacuuming, keep putting the Frontline Plus on EVERY month on all the cats and eventually you will only see an occasional small flea that has not fed which would have just been brought inside by the outdoor kitty most likely.

[DianeSnizzy]

Thanks for the advice, everyone!

I think I'll try the Borax, as well as continue with the Frontline Plus. It really seems like the kitties are scratching less and I'm scratching more, so the fleas are probably nesting in the carpet.

I really don't like the idea of the foggers. I had considered it, but realized that whatever is in the fogger is going to be all over everything in the house, including the kitties beds, our beds, furniture, etc. I would hate for any of us or the kitties to wind up getting sick from it. Also, the vet said he doesn't like the idea of foggers for anything because of the potential for harm to both us and the cats.

I think we had such a bad flea season because we had a lot of rain before it started getting hot (I'm in NY). On top of that, our landlord REFUSED to cut the lawn until it was over 4 feet high (he lives here, you would think he would want the place to look decent! AND he keeps the lawnmower locked up, so no one else could mow! What a slumlord, huh? )

Thanks again, everyone!!!!!