FLEAS HITCHING A RIDE

jramseyrob

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jun 24, 2016
Messages
4
Purraise
1
So I gave my feral cat the drops between her shoulder blades for fleas.  It seems to have killed most of the fleas, but my concern is the cat spends 20% of the time in the house.  Can the fleas just hitch a ride so to speak on the cat and jump off when in the house?  If so will a flea collar even help that?  Thanks in advance
 

catpack

TCS Veteran
Kitten
Joined
Aug 13, 2013
Messages
3,271
Purraise
646
Location
Southeastern USA
Yes, fleas can hitch a ride inside, no only from other animals, but also from us!

What brand of flea medication did you use on the feral? Some only kill the adult flea, others kill the entire life cycle (egg, larva, adult.)

As for flea collars, these should not be used in conjunction with topical flea medication. The *only* flea collar I would recommend for use on animals is the Seresto flea and tick collar.

However, you CAN place a flea collar inside a vacuum bag so that when you vacuum the fleas up, they will die in the bag. Make sure to dispose of all contents in an outside garbage bin. (You don't want any dogs or cats coming into contact with the collar.)
 

allycalico

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Jun 6, 2016
Messages
13
Purraise
6
We had a flea problem a couple months back. Unfortunately, fleas are a pain to wipe out, and yeah - they end up in the house/on your stuff for awhile. Get some diatomaceous earth for your carpets/furniture. Leave it down for a day or so, then vacuum up. Make sure you get food-grade diatomaceous earth, so it won't harm your kitty if they eat it.  This got rid of most the buggers for us but it took a good two months or so before they were really gone.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #4

jramseyrob

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jun 24, 2016
Messages
4
Purraise
1
Yes, fleas can hitch a ride inside, no only from other animals, but also from us!

What brand of flea medication did you use on the feral? Some only kill the adult flea, others kill the entire life cycle (egg, larva, adult.)

As for flea collars, these should not be used in conjunction with topical flea medication. The *only* flea collar I would recommend for use on animals is the Seresto flea and tick collar.

However, you CAN place a flea collar inside a vacuum bag so that when you vacuum the fleas up, they will die in the bag. Make sure to dispose of all contents in an outside garbage bin. (You don't want any dogs or cats coming into contact with the collar.)
I used the Pet Armour Plus.  Not the best, not the worst I guess.  But essentially, its probably best just to leave him outside until the weather turns.  Amazingly he NEVER leaves the yard which is about 50X50.  I suppose he may snoop out at night but whenever I check on him he is at the back porch or sleeping in the grass right next to the porch.  The neighborhood strays come into my yard to pick on him but as I am home 90% of the time I hear him holler and I just chase them away.    He is 1 year old this week and was abandoned by his parents at three moths of age so I took him in.  He stayed inside during the winter and has never been a probem.  Took to the litter box right away and has never sprayed.  I have yet to get him fixed, but that is the next move.  
 

catpack

TCS Veteran
Kitten
Joined
Aug 13, 2013
Messages
3,271
Purraise
646
Location
Southeastern USA
Depending on what region of the country you live in, fleas seems to be immune from to Frontline (brand name for Pet Armour) or Advantage.

I'm in the south and Frontline does absolutely nothing against fleas. It's not harmful to dogs/cats, just doesn't protect them either.

I have had the best luck with Advantage II (this is also one of the medications that treats the entire flea life cycle.) But, again, it's kind of trial and error as to what works and what doesn't.
 
Top