TheCatSite.com › Forums › Our Feline Companions › Care & Grooming › Question about flea control
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Question about flea control

post #1 of 6
9/30/11 at 7:33pm
Thread Starter 
I recently was given a stray kitten who had fleas. For a while, I wasn't able to buy any flea medications, so the fleas were running wild. I just recently got Frontline Plus, and have applied it to the kitten. I have a few questions that I need help with.

1. How long should I wait before I bomb my house? She's had the Frontline on for about 3 or so days now, but I'm still seeing fleas on her. My understanding is that the Frontline gets distributed through her oil glands, and may take a while for the medication to be evenly distributed throughout her skin. The fleas then die by biting the cat and getting exposed to the chemicals (I believe is how it works, I don't remember if that's what I read or not).

I'm worried that I'll bomb the house, then bring her back, and she'll just re-infest the place. If there are still fleas on her, then would they not just come back after we bring her back to the house?

2. If I bomb my house, how long will that last for flea control? Is it a one and done deal? Meaning, the bomb goes off, the house gets fumigated, then the house stays closed off for a period of time, and after that certain time period you can return, open windows and let the fumes out. Does this treat for a certain extended time period, or does it just attempt to kill off the fleas during the application time frame?


I'm basically trying to balance when to bring my kitten out of the house, and when to bomb, with regards to the Frontline.

Sorry for the long post, I'm just new to taking care of cats and have never had to deal with fleas before. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

-James
Reply
post #2 of 6
10/1/11 at 3:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesrn View Post
I just recently got Frontline Plus, and have applied it to the kitten. I have a few questions that I need help with.

1. How long should I wait before I bomb my house? She's had the Frontline on for about 3 or so days now, but I'm still seeing fleas on her. My understanding is that the Frontline gets distributed through her oil glands, and may take a while for the medication to be evenly distributed throughout her skin. The fleas then die by biting the cat and getting exposed to the chemicals (I believe is how it works, I don't remember if that's what I read or not).

I'm worried that I'll bomb the house, then bring her back, and she'll just re-infest the place. If there are still fleas on her, then would they not just come back after we bring her back to the house?
To the best of my knowledge, Frontline Plus still kills the fleas while the chemical works it way threw the body.

So I would not worry about the cat causing the house to have more fleas after the bombing of your home. I would say call the one eight hundred number on the back of the package to make sure however. Plus asking a veterinarian might not be a bad idea either.

Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesrn View Post
2. If I bomb my house, how long will that last for flea control? Is it a one and done deal? Meaning, the bomb goes off, the house gets fumigated, then the house stays closed off for a period of time, and after that certain time period you can return, open windows and let the fumes out. Does this treat for a certain extended time period, or does it just attempt to kill off the fleas during the application time frame?
I would have no idea. Ask the exterminator. Sorry about that .
Reply
post #3 of 6
10/1/11 at 7:40pm
Never used a bomb. I havent had luck with frontline.

My friend had fleas BAD when I met her she had planned to bomb house but after using the advantage, the initial dose worked VERY well in a day or two and she never had to bomb it.

Just FYI you can't use a different spot on for at least a few weeks(ask vet)-if you decide to go with another brand go with something like advantage or revolution-not hartz or the cheaper otc.
Reply
post #4 of 6
10/1/11 at 8:23pm
Definitely pick up some Capstar. That should really help. I've never had to flea bomb, using Capstar in conjunction with Advantage or Revolution has always worked for me.
Reply
post #5 of 6
10/2/11 at 3:20pm
We had a bad infestation this past summer. I bombed and then a few weeks later sprayed, then sprayed again another month later. None of that worked. I used diatomaceous earth on the carpets and then vacuumed and that worked okay, but the best thing was daily vacuuming. You need to vacuum every single day, every inch of your house as well as the couches, plus wash all bedding at least once a week. It is very tedious work, but it is the most effective, even moreso than any chemical treatments. As far as topicals for your cat, Frontline worked tons better than BioSpot (and had no adverse effects), but I did still see some around her face. Next month we are trying Advantage, so we'll see if that finishes them off. Once they get a hold in your house it typically takes 3-4 months to entirely get rid of them.
Reply
post #6 of 6
10/2/11 at 4:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leafwhisper View Post
We had a bad infestation this past summer. I bombed and then a few weeks later sprayed, then sprayed again another month later. None of that worked. I used diatomaceous earth on the carpets and then vacuumed and that worked okay, but the best thing was daily vacuuming. You need to vacuum every single day, every inch of your house as well as the couches, plus wash all bedding at least once a week. It is very tedious work, but it is the most effective, even moreso than any chemical treatments. As far as topicals for your cat, Frontline worked tons better than BioSpot (and had no adverse effects), but I did still see some around her face. Next month we are trying Advantage, so we'll see if that finishes them off. Once they get a hold in your house it typically takes 3-4 months to entirely get rid of them.
If you put the DE on the carpets, don't vacuum for a couple days or so to give it time to work down into the fibers and kill any fleas and hatching fleas.

I love DE and think it is safest, easiest flea ridding product around. The DE must be human/food grade though or it is toxic to your cat. DE plus a topical medication from your vet should do the trick. It won't happen overnight but will work.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Care & Grooming
TheCatSite.com › Forums › Our Feline Companions › Care & Grooming › Question about flea control