kitty fleas

[unknown]

My guys haven't had fleas in 10 years but I must have brought some in. The last stuff I used was advantage 100 for dogs on 'em, still have 3 tubes leftover in the frige from '05 with no expiration date on it that I can see.

What's the best stuff to use? I don't bring in ticks.

[jellybeanscloset412]

I use Frontline on my dog. It works well but it doesn't repel it kills. It works quick.

[kritter]

None of them repel. They work by killing the flea once it is on the animal.

I use Revolution that I buy from Australia where it is non prescription. I like it because it covers more issues like ear mites too.

I buy the big dog size and break it down.

[Deleted]

I used to use Revolution but found it didn't last the full month. Two of my cats are allergic to fleas so they have to be protected 24/7 to avoid serious issues. So now I use Advantage for cats.

I WISH Revolution lasted longer because I also liked the ear mite stuff.

I had NO fleas until the stray showed up.

[kritter]

I haven't had that problem at all with Revolution.

I know it works for the whole month because Sabrina and Dorie both get those scabs under their neck if the fleas get on them.

They have both made it so far this summer without having that allergic reaction to the fleas that Sabrina and Savannah brought with them when they came.

[Deleted]

My best cat (Bubby) grew an allergy lump in her throat the size of a walnut kernel. When they had her anaesthetised to cut it out apparently the fleas just fell off - they said she was "infested". I'd only put it on two weeks before, so they said to try Advantage instead. Maybe I just got a bad batch of Revolution? Anyway, Advantage is cheaper. Kewpie Doll doesn't get an internal reaction, only scabs all over her and the rims of her eyes get itchy and need ointment. She gets so miserable that only a cortisone shot will perk her up. So to avoid all that crap I have to stay on top of the fleas. Spent yesterday chasing the cats around, trying to catch them and put the stuff on. Then we wrestle and they yowl until it's on and five seconds later they've forgiven me. Dopes.

[kritter]

I hear ya on the chasing around part.

Some of my drama queens act like I am pouring hot oil on the back of their neck while others don't even wake up.

None of mine have ever had that severe a reaction to fleas and only Dori and Sabrina have that scabby thing going on under their necks.

[unknown]

Both my guys got the scabby stuff on the backs of their necks and on their upper backs. I tried the leftover advantage I have and they've stopped scratching - and stopped talking to me, neither likes me, just cat evil eyes.

[Deleted]

I have to laugh when they scrunch down so it's hard to grab them by the scruff. I always wonder if they did that to their cat-mums.

[treasuresencore]

I use the advantage dog stuff that I break down into smaller doses for the cats. It still works on my cats but not so much on the dog. I have found that as animals get older the flea stuff does not last as long. Before my older dog passed away I could have dosed him every week and he still would have had fleas. His skin was so dry that the meds would not spread like the are suppose to. These meds spread through the oil in the dogs skin. I have switch my other older dog to the oral meds from the vet. I hate paying for it but it works better.

[kritter]

I did go to every 3 weeks for dosage this summer when the fleas were so bad here.

When I was at the shelter, the vet would put the animals on an every two week dosage for mange so I knew it wouldn't hurt them over the short term at every three weeks.

[Deleted]

Sept 4, 2015 16:02:58 GMT treasuresencore said:

I use the advantage dog stuff that I break down into smaller doses for the cats. It still works on my cats but not so much on the dog. I have found that as animals get older the flea stuff does not last as long. Before my older dog passed away I could have dosed him every week and he still would have had fleas. His skin was so dry that the meds would not spread like the are suppose to. These meds spread through the oil in the dogs skin. I have switch my other older dog to the oral meds from the vet. I hate paying for it but it works better.

Huh, that's funny.  What you say makes a lot of sense.

[val2525]

If your cats are 100% indoor, you can treat the fleas naturally. Wash the cats if they'll let you. Groom with a flea comb, daily. Treat the carpet with borax - sprinkle on the carpet, allow to sit overnight. Vaccuum the house, remove the bag, tie shut, put in another bag (I use the plastic grocery bags) and immediately dispose in outside garbage. Repeat the vaccuuming daily, using new bag EVERY time, for a few weeks. You can do the borax treatment weekly. The lifecycle of the flea is about 3 weeks I think.

TBH, you'll probably need to do at least one cycle of the borax/vaccuum anyway, even if you put flea treatments on the cats. The fleas are in the house now.

I had a horrible flea infestation in a place I rented, from the previous owner. Took me about 4 weeks of the above but no more fleas after that.

I'm not overly fond of putting toxic chemicals on my pets if there is a natural way that works. But my cat doesn't have flea allergies, either.

[Deleted]

Okay, now I'm all itchy.

[Shirley U Geste]

LOL, me too Petti.

Just the word flea makes me itch.

[unknown]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Wash your cats! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I remembered the name of the stuff I used to use on the carpets for sand fleas when I lived on the beach in seal beach - rug patrol. So that got me hunting around and I found similar stuff which uses crysanthemums for the fleas. Gonna get some of that when I can find the inclination to want to go out but I'm in a particularly lazy mood this weekend.

[val2525]

If you can't find it, unknown, just pick up a box of 20 Mule Team Borax in the grocery store, cleaning aisle. Cheap, effective, and safe for pets.