FLEAS........

[magicma]

Poor Dotty (the one I bought the Catnip for) suffers badly from fleas.

Her 'dad' has taken her to the vet and was given tablets and (I think) powder on two different occassions. (Quite expensive for a pensioner)

The tablets seem to work for a while but then the fleas come back quite badly. He just doesn't know what to do.

She goes out in the grassy grounds around our flats - doesn't wander too far away. There are pigeons and other birds around. Also foxes some nights.
She has a shed, where 'dad' has made a bed for her if he goes out and she doesn't want to go indoors. Has nice, clean fleece in there.

I am just wondering if any of you have favourite remedies, suggestions etc.

She is white all over except for a dark blaze between her ears. (It was just a 'dot' (hence the name) when he first had her!!)

She is just over a year old now - I think I said she was younger than that on my Catnip post.

Cheers MMa

[Perpetua]

Garlic capsules can be effective for fleas MM . . . but it has to the ones with odour as that's what puts the blighters off nibbling.


But only for dogs, not cats.

(((( Dotty ))))

[magicma]

Thanks Perpy - but how would he give her those?? wrapped in a piece of chicken (treat)?? That's what he does with the vets tabs. MMa

[Jemima]

If she keeps getting infested with them it may be that the home has a problem too, maybe get intouch with the council enviromental health department and if he is a pensioner they will come round for free.

Sometimes it can just get out of hand (and thats no slight on anyones character) and out of control before it's realised theres a problem.

For treating the cat we always use the frontline drops to the back of the neck, can be a little expensive though but its the only stuff I've found that works. As soon as a flea is spotted all 3 get a dose, but it seems to keep ontop of it nicely, and often I only have to do them once a year if that.

[PeeKay]

We swear by Bob Martin Plastic flea collars (which now appears to have been a poor decision)

That link is for reference - they come in several different colours - and they work a treat for our two cats. They do need replacing every three months - and it is useful to use a flea spray around the house in areas where they frequent - especially just before spring when flea eggs hatch.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001MIVFGC/ref=asc_df_B001MIVFGC6347329?smid=A3ISHPKX3KIM0F&tag=googlecouk06-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22218&creativeASIN=B001MIVFGC

Both of these are extremely good value for money, and as long as you follow the instructions for the spray exactly, should keep you and kitty free from fleas.

Hope this helps.

Edited to remove the link that doesn't help...

[bel]

I do mine every four weeks with frontline, i get it of the internet as the vets charges a fortune. I also check mine with a flea comb every so often which they love

[PeeKay]

Jan 30, 2012 18:07:03 GMT bel said:

I also check mine with a flea comb every so often which they love

We've lost the use of fingers for lesser things!

[bel]

Lol Peekay

[Gordy]

fleas and their eggs can live dormant for months so a good regular treatment is important. frontline is great and highly recommended. buy it online as its way cheaper than from the vet or pet store ....dont be tempted by the cheaper Bob Martin as it is no where near as good and has quite a few horror stories about its use

[PeeKay]

Horror stories? Explain please...

[magicma]

Thanks all - anyone got a link for the frontline stuff on internet please - what is it & how do you use it??

I will have a look at your links too PeeKay ta.

Jemima, I have spoken to him about his flat. It's not dirty but cluttered. Also he has rugs over the carpet which I suggested fleas might like to breed there. He has given them a good hoovering but I do think that may be a problem.

Anyway, I am pleased, in a way, that you have problems too!! Never heard fleas mentioned on here before!! Cheers MMa

[bel]

I get mine from here Comes in little pipettes that you put on the back of their necks.

www.viovet.co.uk/-Non-Prescription_Medicines-Cats-Fleas,_Ticks,_Lice_and_Mites/c0_119_12_139/category.html

They also do a household spray for fleas!

[hissie]

The most successful solution for this kind of flea problem is to get the council round to spray the property. Not only does this kill the fleas/eggs on the floor ect, but it also wipes out any on the cat aswell. When the cat lies on the floor, the fleas/eggs die due to contact with the solution. Regualr household sprays are really ineffective when it comes to this kind of infestation.

It's enviromentally friendly spray which the council spray round the edges of the property. They tell you not to vacuum for a few days after the treatment. This is very important.

He needs to get rid of the hoover bag, or if he has a bagless hoover, it needs completely emptying & cleaned out.

I wouldn't recommend a flea collar as they can irritate the cat's skin. Frontline Spot On is ideal to avoid any future flea problem.

I totally advocate getting the council round. A long time ago, I lived in a flat with Eppie. The neighbour in the next flat let his property & cat get infested with fleas & they migrated into other flats. The only thing that really worked was getting the council to spray all the flats.

Good luck with this.

[Gordy]

fleas and their eggs stick to the carpet and are difficult to hoover up
they can only breed if they can feed on cat blood (dog fleas need dog blood, human blood wont work for them either). thats why frontline is good as it will poison them and prevent them breeding... the eggs you already have will still hatch but without cat blood they wont be able to breed again and will die. this process will take months so its worth buying enough frontline to keep the treatment up for this time. i buy from MedicAnimal.com but amazon do it too

[Gordy]

Jan 30, 2012 18:31:38 GMT PeeKay said:

Horror stories? Explain please...

i dont want to expose anyone to the terrible stories but a quick google will find some... try bob martin fatality etc.

i will add just in case anyone is using bob martin DO NOT use dog flea treatment around cats as its known to be fatal to them... which is just crazy as alot of people have both... not to mention bob martin spot treatment didnt touch the fleas i had with my two. frontline sorted it out instantly