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Help with fleas!

post #1 of 9
9/6/10 at 1:44am
Thread Starter 
I've been going round and round with trying to get rid of fleas in my house from my siamese cat. I can get rid of them for a while, then they come back again and again. I have something which will kill their lifecycle, but my problem now is finding something that will kill the active fleas - the ones that jump on me when I enter the afflicted room.

I've tried Ortho Max (a pump bottle), Virback "Knockout" (a spray can), and Spectracide "Bug-Stop" (a spray bottle). None of these seems to actually kill the living fleas in a room, even after I've moved furniture and soaked the carpet with them. I can come back a few hours later and still pick fleas off me when I leave.

Has someone found a good flea-killing agent which will kill the "hopping" fleas quickly? I do vacuum often, but I need chemical assistance, also. I'm desperate.
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post #2 of 9
9/6/10 at 3:27am
Last year when I had a flea epidemic I had to use a flea bomb in each room and then afterwards spray the soft furnishings every three days for a few weeks. I also treated the cats with Frontline every month.

Get a flea bomb from your vet or pet store. You have to close the room, set it off and leave it for at least three hours. but it kills all active fleas. They do claim it kills eggs as well but I found htat I had treat the cushions, mattresses etc separately, even though I pulled everything off the sofas and beds before setting the bombs off.

This year we have had no fleas at all in the house, but I keep up the preventive treatment of spraying once a week, plus the Frontline of course.
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post #3 of 9
9/6/10 at 3:40am
Look at different flea treatments. I've had fleas become resistant to Frontline pretty quickly.

Basics, though: Revolution - kills all fleas on the cat within 48 hours. Not sure how long it takes to kill new fleas on a cat. I suspect at least 2 hours.

Frontline - 24 hours to get across the cat then another 4-18 hours to kill fleas. Any new fleas within 4-18 hours.

Advantage - 12 hours to kill nearly all the fleas on a cat, 2 hours for any new fleas.

Here is a chart comparing them.

If you've just been using one, you may consider rotating in case your fleas are getting resistant.

I second the flea bomb at this point. Everyone has to get out of the house for several hours-to over a day. But right now it would be less toxic than spraying pesticides everywhere.
After that you'll need to do a thorough clean up to get rid of residue. And I suggest you get some human food grade diatomaceous earth and use that. You may need to treat outside if they're really bad.

I hope you can get a handle on them.
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post #4 of 9
9/6/10 at 4:11am
Thread Starter 
The flea bomb is a great idea - however, I have a toddler who roams the house, putting everything in his mouth. I don't want to poison him.

I can easily get rid of the fleas on my kitty. The problem is the fleas on me and my family.
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post #5 of 9
9/6/10 at 4:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crunchyhippo View Post
I've tried Ortho Max (a pump bottle), Virback "Knockout" (a spray can), and Spectracide "Bug-Stop" (a spray bottle). None of these seems to actually kill the living fleas in a room, even after I've moved furniture and soaked the carpet with them.
I'm confused. These are all toxic chemicals, more toxic than the residue from some foggers. How exactly are they safer for your toddler?

At this point, since you seem resistant, all I can suggest is that you call a professional exterminator.
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post #6 of 9
9/6/10 at 4:41am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post
I'm confused. These are all toxic chemicals, more toxic than the residue from some foggers. How exactly are they safer for your toddler?

At this point, since you seem resistant, all I can suggest is that you call a professional exterminator.
I'm not resistant at all - just looking for a solution. Have you had children?

The fog from a fogger settles on everything - toys, books, things a toddler can pick up and put in his mouth, etc. Spray is applied directly onto the carpet. I haven't seen him lick the carpet yet - he just walks on it.

I'm just looking for a spray that others have found particularly effective at killing live fleas.
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post #7 of 9
9/6/10 at 4:44am
And most of the members here won't go near flea sprays due to toxicity and risk of it killing their cats. One does not need to lick pesticides, btw, they can be absorbed through skin. Simply being on the carpet is enough.
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post #8 of 9
9/6/10 at 5:30am
Fleas can easily be living in your child's toy box and on his stuffed animals. Before using any spray/ flea bomb I would recommend washing everything that is washable and then removing them from the room during treatment.
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post #9 of 9
9/6/10 at 9:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jennyranson View Post
Fleas can easily be living in your child's toy box and on his stuffed animals. Before using any spray/ flea bomb I would recommend washing everything that is washable and then removing them from the room during treatment.
Definitely. And anything old/delicate would be best moved out for that, too.

Foggers do have risks, and you need to carefully research different ones and ask your vet. I'd even recommend talking to your child's pediatrician, too, about both the chemicals you have been using and the risks of flea bites. You'll have some major clean up after but that in part will help you get up eggs. After that, like I said, get DE and use it to keep them at bay.


I had less luck looking up the other sprays but the Spectracide is tralomethrin, correct? If so that is a type of pyrethroid, they usually have varying toxicity to cats but are best avoided altogether.
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