What one product can i spray around the house that would definitely kill all the fleas?

katocy · Dec 7, 2016

I got a fleas infestation going on. They are all over my home and cats. The cats are in a part of the house that has SO MANY stuff. It’s impossible to move everything to be cleaned. No carpets.

This is what i am looking for:

A product that i can use around the house that would, without a doubt, kill all fleas at all their stages while being %100 safe around cats.

I just want to be able to spray it and sleep peacefully knowing that the fleas are all dead and my cats are safe. Anything like that out there that you know of?

It would be a huge plus if that product could be applied on the cats as well. But if not, i am thinking of just applying advantage 2 on them. And yeah...if i had 3 products to choose from: 1) Frontline Plus 2) Advantage II 3) Revolution 4) "your choice"...which one would you recommend?

Thanks in advance!

basscat · Dec 7, 2016

The lazy way: Sprinkle diatomaceous earth all over everything, put Revolution on the cats. Leave the DE on everything for six months. Treat the cats every month. This won't hurt the cats.

The hard work way: Vacuum every day and spray PT Ultracide once a week. And treat cats with Revolution. PT Ultracide is safe for cats a about 4hrs after you spray it. This will take about 8 weeks.

If you are wanting something that you can spray today and be rid of them tomorrow? It doesn't exist.

katocy · Dec 7, 2016

BassCat said:
The lazy way: Sprinkle diatomaceous earth all over everything, put Revolution on the cats. Leave the DE on everything for six months. Treat the cats every month. This won't hurt the cats.

The hard work way: Vacuum every day and spray PT Ultracide once a week. And treat cats with Revolution. PT Ultracide is safe for cats a about 4hrs after you spray it. This will take about 8 weeks.

If you are wanting something that you can spray today and be rid of them tomorrow? It doesn't exist.

Thank you so much for the input. Wow...all this time i thought Pyrethrins was dangerous to cats. Read its toxic to cats and many horror stories. So 4 hours after spraying it, it would be %100 safe on them??

What about Boric acid instead of Diatomaceous earth. I see mixed reviews on how dangerous Boric acid is on cats.

Would Raid for ants and roaches work if i were to empty a few cans?

I see you suggest Revolution instead of the others (such as Advantage). Googling Advantage 2 and Revolotion i see Advantage's got almost perfect reviews compared to Revolution wihc is rated at an average of 2.8 stars out of 5. Any idea why? Thanks again!

Willowy · Dec 7, 2016

Nothing that kills bugs can be 100% safe for mammals. It's poison after all, or it wouldn't kill bugs! But the safest would be DE and a vet-quality spot-on. Personally I like Advantage if it's just fleas. Revolution is great for ear mites but I think Advantage is more effective in general. You can put boric acid in places the cats can't reach, that should be safe enough.

If you want the quickest way, hire an exterminator to spray a powerful pesticide. You and the cats will have to vacate the house until the pesticide has dried though. Most are fairly safe once dry but you don't want the cats getting the stuff on their paws and licking it off. Most exterminators have pet programs so they know where to spray to keep the cats off so it shouldn't be too dangerous.

basscat · Dec 7, 2016

Advantage is cheaper and easier to get. Revolution comes from the vet. IMO: Either are fine, but, NEITHER are an immediate cure all. Do not expect anything you buy for fleas to work as advertised.
They all kill most of the live fleas. But, they don't kill all the live fleas right then. Some now, some tomorrow, some the next day, some of the ones hatching as we speak. You kill 100 live ones, 100 live through it, 200 hatch the next day, 100 of those die. It will seem like flea spray is actually flea food. BUT, if you continue to spray once a week, you will finally start gaining ground and eventually all will be gone.

Boric acid might work. A cat would have to ingest quite a bit for it to hurt them and that's not likely to happen unless you put it on them. BUT, you'll hate the smell. It's nice as a whif, but, spreading it in your house makes it smell like you have your head inside a box of laundry detergent. It gets overwhelming FAST.
I'd say the odds of boric acid hurting a cat would be about the same as a pesticide spray if used according to the instructions. Not likely, but, there is a chance.

It really doesn't matter what you use. A month from now, you'll swear none if it works. You will THINK you still have just as many fleas as you had....but, you really don't. You still have them, but not as many. And in two months, you will think that LAST DIFFERENT STUFF you bought is what finally worked. But, it's the two months of spraying that worked. Not some miracle product you tried last.

Had you done nothing? You would have millions more.

basscat · Dec 7, 2016

Willowy said:
Nothing that kills bugs can be 100% safe for mammals. It's poison after all, or it wouldn't kill bugs! But the safest would be DE and a vet-quality spot-on. Personally I like Advantage if it's just fleas. Revolution is great for ear mites but I think Advantage is more effective in general. You can put boric acid in places the cats can't reach, that should be safe enough.

If you want the quickest way, hire an exterminator to spray a powerful pesticide. You and the cats will have to vacate the house until the pesticide has dried though. Most are fairly safe once dry but you don't want the cats getting the stuff on their paws and licking it off. Most exterminators have pet programs so they know where to spray to keep the cats off so it shouldn't be too dangerous.

This^.

But, if you watch the exterminator. They are going to move everything (furniture) that you don't want to, or can't.
They are going to vacuum and clean most everything that you don't want to, or can't.
They are also going to come back in two weeks, and probably again in two more weeks.

If you are unable to do the work, don't want to, and can afford the exterminator. THEN YES! Call Orkin!
I will probably call an exterminator for two of those reasons if I ever have another infestation. (and I am physically able to do that job. It sucks so bad that I'd much rather pay somebody else to do it).

katocy · Dec 7, 2016

katocy said:
Thank you so much for the input. Wow...all this time i thought Pyrethrins was dangerous to cats. Read its toxic to cats and many horror stories. So 4 hours after spraying it, it would be %100 safe on them??

I see you suggest Revolution instead of the others (such as Advantage). Googling Advantage 2 and Revolotion i see Advantage's got almost perfect reviews compared to Revolution wihc is rated at an average of 2.8 stars out of 5. Any idea why? THanks again!

BassCat said:
Advantage is cheaper and easier to get. Revolution comes from the vet. IMO: Either are fine, but, NEITHER are an immediate cure all. Do not expect anything you buy for fleas to work as advertised.
They all kill most of the live fleas. But, they don't kill all the live fleas right then. Some now, some tomorrow, some the next day, some of the ones hatching as we speak. You kill 100 live ones, 100 live through it, 200 hatch the next day, 100 of those die. It will seem like flea spray is actually flea food. BUT, if you continue to spray once a week, you will finally start gaining ground and eventually all will be gone.

Boric acid might work. A cat would have to ingest quite a bit for it to hurt them and that's not likely to happen unless you put it on them. BUT, you'll hate the smell. It's nice as a whif, but, spreading it in your house makes it smell like you have your head inside a box of laundry detergent. It gets overwhelming FAST.
I'd say the odds of boric acid hurting a cat would be about the same as a pesticide spray if used according to the instructions. Not likely, but, there is a chance.

It really doesn't matter what you use. A month from now, you'll swear none if it works. You will THINK you still have just as many fleas as you had....but, you really don't. You still have them, but not as many. And in two months, you will think that LAST DIFFERENT STUFF you bought is what finally worked. But, it's the two months of spraying that worked. Not some miracle product you tried last.

Had you done nothing? You would have millions more.

OK so spray frequently. Got it!

Does it have to be a specific spray? I have here Raid that says for flying insects but looking at the active ingredients it says Permethrin (which is synthetic Pyrethrins acording to a quick Google research). Would it work just as well as those specifically made for fleas (the ones that say fleas on the bottle) if their ingredient is similar? And most importantly, any idea how long it takes for the spray residues to completely disintegrate?

basscat · Dec 7, 2016

I would use something labeled for fleas (all life cycle stages). And make sure you are comfortable with the pet information on the product.
Nothing is harmless.
Following the instructions on the product as it relates to pets is the best approach.

Willowy · Dec 7, 2016

If you find the MSDS information (most are available online), you can find the half-life and toxicity of the product. Don't just go randomly spraying any old pesticide around. Find a flea-specific product, and follow the instructions for use around pets very carefully. Pyrethrin/Permethrin is toxic to cats so you want to minimize contact. Again, once the product is dry the risk should be low but it's still a risk.

misty8723 · Dec 7, 2016

My personal experience with fleas is nothing is 100% safe and nothing I would be comfortable spraying and leaving around with my cats. I have taken the vacuum frequently and comb them every single day. I used one dose of Revolution on them when we first discovered, and I won't be using it on them again because I'm not a fan of putting chemicals on my cats. If I start finding more fleas on them, I may have to rethink that, but so far so good.

katocy · Dec 9, 2016

Just got revolution. A few questions:

I got the 40.1-85 lb one for dogs. How should i dose it? Just how much to put in an insulin syringe would be perfect. According to my calculations, it’s slightly less than 0.38cc/ml per (5lb +) cat...is that correct?

When it comes to treating the house...i plan on taking the cats out and empty a can of Raid which contains Permethrin and another can, simultaneously, which contains Tetramethrin and Cypermethrin. Leave the place for 4-6, come back, open windows doors etc. Vacuum and clean/wash everything thoroughly. Then apply something in hidden places where the cats can’t reach. I have several options here...which option should i go with:

a) Borax

b) a spray product (Hartz) that contains methoprene at %0.07 and tetrachlovinphos at %1.08

c) a spray product (Hatz) that contains pyriproxyfen

d) a powder product that contains tetrachlovinphos

e) a powder product (Raid) that contains permethrin %0.5

Thanks a mill in advance!

katocy · Dec 10, 2016

I'm geussing im getting too deep

Willowy · Dec 10, 2016

Yes that's the right cat dosage for large dog Revolution. It's actually a different concentration than the small dog/cat formula, but it looks like you figured that out.

I don't have any experience with the products you listed but I wouldn't trust any Hartz product.

What one product can i spray around the house that would definitely kill all the fleas?

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