diatomaceous earth

proudmamiof4

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So I brought in some kittens that were living in the ditch down the road,they had fleas!!!!lots and lots of fleas
so I heard about using diatomaceous earth to treat the fleas.....I sent my husband to go get some and he came back with this kind http://www.gertens.com/shop/catalog/...rol-2-lb-.html is this the right kind?? can I use this on the cats?
 

momofmany

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I wouldn't use this directly on the cats. Anything that is put directly on your animals should be food grade DE. I can't find on the link that says it is food grade.

I've used pure DE in my carpets, where I've sprinkled it on and used a broom to push it into the carpets. Make absolutely sure that there isn't anything in it except DE, otherwise I wouldn't use it in the house at all. My sister uses a similar product on her patio to control ants.
 
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proudmamiof4

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Okay thanks!it isn't 100% diatomaceous earth it says 95% and 5 % something else???
 
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proudmamiof4

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Most certainly don't want to hurt the kitties!The lady that sold it to myu husband convinced HIM it was the right kind,and when I seen it said only 95% I said I would ask around to see if it was the same thing!Thanks again!!
 

purrfectfriend

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You are absolutely correct that it must be 100% food grade diatomaceous earth to use around your pets. Also be careful as you are sprinkling it onto your floors as it can be very dusty. Something else you should do if you have carpet is to vacuum over it once it is sprinkled around. This helps drive it down deep into the carpet to get the fleas. You will have to do this twice, about 1 week apart to get the eggs that have not yet hatched. Garden Harvest Supply is a good online source for DE. Here is there link, http://www.gardenharvestsupply.com/p...-de-food-grade
 
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proudmamiof4

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Originally Posted by PurrfectFriend

You are absolutely correct that it must be 100% food grade diatomaceous earth to use around your pets. Also be careful as you are sprinkling it onto your floors as it can be very dusty. Something else you should do if you have carpet is to vacuum over it once it is sprinkled around. This helps drive it down deep into the carpet to get the fleas. You will have to do this twice, about 1 week apart to get the eggs that have not yet hatched. Garden Harvest Supply is a good online source for DE. Here is there link, http://www.gardenharvestsupply.com/p...-de-food-grade
Thanks for the link.....the stuff my husband bought said KEEP AWAY FROM PETS AND SMALL CHILDREN!HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED!! so yeah not gonna use that any where near the kitties
 

yosemite

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Originally Posted by proudmamiof4

Thanks for the link.....the stuff my husband bought said KEEP AWAY FROM PETS AND SMALL CHILDREN!HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED!! so yeah not gonna use that any where near the kitties
I'd have hubby take it back and make sure he shows the idiot that sold it to him where it says it is harmful, especially after he specifically asked for the human grade. You folks were smart enough not to use this on your pets, but the next person this salesperson recommends that product to may not know and could poison their pet.
 

mewdrop

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I was told that DE was a great source of killing all sorts mites and fleas etc. So I researched and found that a local organic farm carried it. I went to purchase it and it was 25 bucks for a 50 pound bag. I hope it's the right one. I'm about to put everything that it says on the packaging to see if you guys can tell me if It's the correct one.

Perma Guard
Fossil Shell Flour (Anti-caking) Agent
A natural product composed of Ground DE (fresh water type)
AMORPHOUS SILICA

Suggested Mixing rate: The manufacturer of FOSSIL SHELL FLOUR ANTI-CAKING AGENT, suggests that it be mixed in animal food at the rate of 2% of the dry weight of the food. (I'm not going to be feeding my cat this any time soon even if it's safe, I want it more for a flea and pests killer, but I'm writing everything I see on the bag down on here.)

FOOD CHEMICAL CODEX GRADE

PERMAGUARD, INC, ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87125

So did I get the right one?
If so, I did more research on DE and found this website:

http://www.critterchat.net/diearth.htm

Is it really that dangerous if inhaled? Where in the world do I buy cat masks? And what are your procedures for handling this stuff? How do you all use it?

If it's the correct one, should I pour some over my carpet, wait a few hours and then vacuum? I have a lot of questions so sorry about that but I just want to make sure this stuff is safe. I wonder if we can pour it on our kitties if it's safe. Thank you everyone.
 

yosemite

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Originally Posted by mewdrop

I was told that DE was a great source of killing all sorts mites and fleas etc. So I researched and found that a local organic farm carried it. I went to purchase it and it was 25 bucks for a 50 pound bag. I hope it's the right one. I'm about to put everything that it says on the packaging to see if you guys can tell me if It's the correct one.

Perma Guard
Fossil Shell Flour (Anti-caking) Agent
A natural product composed of Ground DE (fresh water type)
AMORPHOUS SILICA

Suggested Mixing rate: The manufacturer of FOSSIL SHELL FLOUR ANTI-CAKING AGENT, suggests that it be mixed in animal food at the rate of 2% of the dry weight of the food. (I'm not going to be feeding my cat this any time soon even if it's safe, I want it more for a flea and pests killer, but I'm writing everything I see on the bag down on here.)

FOOD CHEMICAL CODEX GRADE

PERMAGUARD, INC, ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87125

So did I get the right one?
If so, I did more research on DE and found this website:

http://www.critterchat.net/diearth.htm

Is it really that dangerous if inhaled? Where in the world do I buy cat masks? And what are your procedures for handling this stuff? How do you all use it?

If it's the correct one, should I pour some over my carpet, wait a few hours and then vacuum? I have a lot of questions so sorry about that but I just want to make sure this stuff is safe. I wonder if we can pour it on our kitties if it's safe. Thank you everyone.
If inhaled it will irritate the lungs. I won't kill you. I would just keep the cats in another room while you are putting it down into the rugs. I put it across the threshhold of all our doors in the spring as well to keep ants and other insects out. It is simply crushed diatoms which are a miniscule crustacean. You could put it on your kitties but you don't need to. If you sprinkle it into carpeting you should be fine. I also put some around the baseboards.

If your cats ingest any (food grade) it won't harm them - it will actually kill any internal parasites they have. Some farmers do add some to their livestock feed. You definitely don't need 50 lbs. That would last you several lifetimes.
I would recommend buying a smaller amount on the internet if you have to. I got mine at a local gardening centre. It's called Chemfree.
 

abbycats

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Originally Posted by PurrfectFriend

You are absolutely correct that it must be 100% food grade diatomaceous earth to use around your pets. Also be careful as you are sprinkling it onto your floors as it can be very dusty. Something else you should do if you have carpet is to vacuum over it once it is sprinkled around. This helps drive it down deep into the carpet to get the fleas. You will have to do this twice, about 1 week apart to get the eggs that have not yet hatched. Garden Harvest Supply is a good online source for DE. Here is there link, http://www.gardenharvestsupply.com/p...-de-food-grade
I just received 5 pounds of DE from garden harvest supply today. We thought we had the fleas under control with the revolution and frontline. I just spent 200.00 this month because of more frontline plus I have a cat who is terribly allergic to flea bites, she had to get a steroid shot and antibiotics this time. I can tell when they are coming in a new cycle when she breaks out in scabs around her neck. I am so sick and tired of this! I never had to deal with this before and it's starting to cost a fortune!
 
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