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HELP!!! Fleas are making me go crazy!

post #1 of 10
2/11/11 at 8:59pm
Thread Starter 
So I got three cats and for the past 3 months they started having issues with fleas.

I have used frontline plus, it helps for two weeks and then it starts all over again. I will put the third consecutive (monthly) treatment tomorrow. There are fleas in the carpet, sofas...

My mom is so upset that she wants to use some foggers for fleas. So what i was thinking to do is: put the cats in a bedroom, close the door, the ventilations from the AC and out a towel on the outside of the door and leave them in there for 12 hrs...

What do you guys think?

Once that happens, I will then fogg that room where I had left the cats and same thing, close it..

I need your advice...

Thanks
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post #2 of 10
2/12/11 at 12:02am
I find that Advantage is more effective against fleas and lasts longer than Frontline. Or you can ask your vet for some Revolution. I also like to give Capstar at the same time that I apply the topical flea med, to knock back the fleas and give the spot-on time to work.

I prefer to save foggers for really bad cases. If that is the route you need to go at some point, your plan sounds pretty good, although it is better to have them stay at a friend's house. For now, try sprinkling salt or borax on the carpet (both will dehydrate the fleas), and let it sit for an hour or so before vacuuming. And try to vacuum the major pet areas twice daily (and everywhere else at least once a day). You can put a cut-up flea collar (but don't use a flea collar on the cats!) in the vacuum bag for extra insurance, but just getting beater-barred and sucked up will kill most of the fleas.
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post #3 of 10
2/12/11 at 6:04pm
We boarded Lynxx at a place, he came home with tons of fleas. The vet gave us Revolution. Took care of all the fleas, and we didn't have to flea bomb the house or anything like that. It worked right away.

When we brought Luna home after rescuing her, she was covered in millions upon millions of fleas. We gave her a bath using Dawn. It didn't kill all the fleas, quite a few of them. The next day we brought her to the vet. She was given a pill that would kill fleas for 2 days. Then we put Frontline on her. Our original vet said after 2 weeks to put Revolution Kitten on her. Worked right away. Again we didn't have to flea bomb the house or anything.
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post #4 of 10
2/13/11 at 12:12am
If the Frontline hasn't gotten rid of your problem by now I would say that it's not working and try something else. It happens that flea treatments don't work like they should. I would treat them with either advantage or revolution and capstar. Instead of giving them their frontline treatment tomorrow get some advantage and revolution instead and then treat them with that and give a capstar pill at the same time (it will kill fleas on them in 30 minutes). You can give capstar several times if needed. In the meantime you also have to clean the house well, vaccuum thoroughly including the couch if you can, wash what can be washed. You can use ammonia to clean with as it kills fleas and is fairly safe.

I think that once you've gotten a flea treatment that works your problem will be solved as the fleas will die out without a host to feed from. That has worked in my home.

If you do use a fogger I would recommend finding somewhere else to put the cats. Ask if you can keep them in their carriers at a neighbors house or something. Or even in your car. If you don't have three carriers you may be able to borrow some from your local shelter. It's not a good idea to keep the cats in the house while using a fogger, even if they are in the bathroom. I'd give it a few weeks to see if another type of treatment will work though.
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post #5 of 10
2/13/11 at 12:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Willowy View Post
I find that Advantage is more effective against fleas and lasts longer than Frontline. Or you can ask your vet for some Revolution. I also like to give Capstar at the same time that I apply the topical flea med, to knock back the fleas and give the spot-on time to work.

I prefer to save foggers for really bad cases. If that is the route you need to go at some point, your plan sounds pretty good, although it is better to have them stay at a friend's house. For now, try sprinkling salt or borax on the carpet (both will dehydrate the fleas), and let it sit for an hour or so before vacuuming. And try to vacuum the major pet areas twice daily (and everywhere else at least once a day). You can put a cut-up flea collar (but don't use a flea collar on the cats!) in the vacuum bag for extra insurance, but just getting beater-barred and sucked up will kill most of the fleas.
Where can I buy borax ? It was supposed to be in the laundry detergent aisle or hardware store ?? but I have checked the supermarket shelves and so far nothing.

We don't have a huge infestation - in fact I haven't seen a live flea since October (or because it was swarming - a gnat ??? ). But all 3 of the little ones have come down with six between them mild cases of tapeworm at various times since August. So the pesky blood-suckers are obviously still hopping on us as meals and still breeding and hiding in carpeting, upholstery, cracks along walls, etc. The vet treats with Frontline + Cestex dewormer all the while going on and on about the amazing feats of movement and charming (alarming!) characteristics only fleas are known to possess. Definitely a critter only the professionals could love !!!
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post #6 of 10
2/13/11 at 12:20pm
I find borax in the laundry section at Wal-Mart . It's in the bleach section, next to the Clorox 2, at least at the store I shop at. I know some people have said that it's hard to find but I've never had any trouble.
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post #7 of 10
2/13/11 at 2:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Willowy View Post
I find borax in the laundry section at Wal-Mart . It's in the bleach section, next to the Clorox 2, at least at the store I shop at. I know some people have said that it's hard to find but I've never had any trouble.
For some reason it is not easily available in stores. Not even at our Super Walmart.

But is GRIFFITH BORAX the commercial flea treatment ? The powder form, which wouldn't be a laundry pre-treatment in the wash soap section anyway ?
I'm confused.

http://www.amazon.com/GRIFFITH-BORAX...7633866&sr=8-1
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post #8 of 10
2/13/11 at 7:52pm
I would not give frontline tomorrow if it hasnt worked for you. Get revolution. And then you can give it to them again in three weeks and then monthly after that. Borax is a good idea and it should be easy to find at target or walmart. I would put the cats in crates in the garage while you bomb your house and keep them out for a couple of hours. The revolution should break the cycle. Do you let your cats outside? They might be bringing in fleas that way too.
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post #9 of 10
2/13/11 at 9:01pm
Also make sure you don't have an infestation of another critter too. If you have mice or squirrels or basically any other warm-blooded furry critter living in your place they can be the source and unless you take care of them they will be reinfesting your cats and your stuff!
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post #10 of 10
2/15/11 at 7:18am
You need this product...I have a friend with cats (and asthma) who swears by it for safely getting of fleas:

http://www.dirtworks.net/Diatomaceous-Earth.html
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