Flea Infestation - Please Help!

Hi,

I bought a kitten (now 12 weeks old) on 4th October and we discovered she has fleas on 11th. When we collected her the lady said she had been flead and wormed. However just before we were about to leave she brushed her back suggesting she had soot on her, as she had been playing by the fireplace earlier that day. I believed this information and thought that the 'dirt' in her fur was soot. Upon closer inspection of her coat on 11th, we realised that this was fleas.

Yesterday we went and bought some cat shampoo and some flea treatment (Johnsons 4 Flea Cat Protector). The information we have found online about the product states that it does not kill fleas, merely stops the eggs from hatching, although the packaging was very misleading. Therefore is it possible to purchase another treatment (Frontline or Advantage) and apply the product even thought she was treated yesterday?

We washed her with the shampoo and when she dried off, we applied the flea treatment. I also vacuumed the entire house, under the beds etc. Put a load of clothes in the wash, washed her bedding, washed our bedding and vacuumed the sofa.

This evening she seems to have a noticeable amount of droppings in her fur, also droppings and eggs in her bed (a different bed than the one I washed).

Has the flea treatment taken any effect? At the moment I'm struggling to imagine how my house will ever be flea free! Sadly now we feel like we just want to keep her shut in one room and can't bring ourselves to cuddle her, as she 12 weeks old, it is heart breaking to do this!

Any advice would be much appreciated!!

Thanks

Chantelle

ChantelleC said:

Yesterday we went and bought some cat shampoo and some flea treatment (Johnsons 4 Flea Cat Protector). The information we have found online about the product states that it does not kill fleas, merely stops the eggs from hatching, although the packaging was very misleading. Therefore is it possible to purchase another treatment (Frontline or Advantage) and apply the product even thought she was treated yesterday?

Click to expand...

I am not familiar with Johnsons 4 Flea Cat Protector.  You should check with a vet to see whether you need to wait.  My cats are on Revolution.  I know that you have to wait at least a couple weeks before reapplying it (normal dosage is once a month).  So, definitely check with a vet to see when you can apply a different product.  Also find out what they recommend and ask about the pros and cons.  Also, research your options.   

Also, ask about 20 Mule Borax laundry detergent (not Borac acid).  I'm not sure if you can buy that in the UK.  I thought I potentially had fleas or mites.  I put that in my carpet and vacuumed daily.  I also washed all bedding daily.  It takes a lot of persistent work to get rid of fleas.  It depends on how bad your infestation is.  There are more aggressive options.  But, a lot of chemicals can be pretty serious.  Persistent vacuuming and laundering should pay off, but it depends on how bad things are.  

You can also buy a flea comb to comb out her fleas.  Frequent baths can help too.  Fleas from the environment can also jump back on her to feed.  She may have an allergic reaction to the fleas.  If so, you can look into options to treat her reaction.  Also, fleas can carry various things, such as tape worms.  They can cause anemia from blood loss.  

ChantelleC said:

 
Sadly now we feel like we just want to keep her shut in one room and can't bring ourselves to cuddle her, as she 12 weeks old, it is heart breaking to do this!

Click to expand...

I'm not sure what the best solution is, but I would think she is probably traumatized and needs love.

Good luck!  Sending lots of love and good thoughts your way.   

Have you seen these articles?
Cat Fleas
Anti-Flea Products
Homemade Flea Remedies

I had a terrible flea infestation after my cat had kittens. I was scared about giving her flea med when she was pregnant so once she gave birth and the kittens got bigger fleas were out of Control. Babies were given away and treated and now I had to treat my home. I took my cat to the vet for a flea bath and they gave her confortus flea meds. While she was there all day I flea bombed my home I used raid flea fogger, it's a purple box and I found it at target $16. Worked wonderfully, it's been about a month since I flea bombed and I haven't been bitten since!