Fleas

hissy

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Zoggy,

I hope you don't throw the attitude you show in some of your posts here to your parents. If you do they will not take you seriously.

If you want to keep these kittens then talk to your parents about how you will care for them and outline your ideas to them. But the bottom line is that they have the final say as to what happens in the house and like it or not, you will have to respect that.

I hope you do find a loving home for the kittens if it comes to that.
 

poohandwendy

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Originally Posted by Zoggy

They want to give it to an old lady or someone who has time to take care for it.
I feel like I cant even do anything about it. I feed them, I clean after them, and I play with them. My mom says they'll get too big and will do mischevious things and scratch furniture and hang off the drapes.
There really isn't anything you can do about it because ultimately, the responsibility falls on your parents. If you decided you were too busy to take care of them (it happens), your parents would be obligated to. And, you parents also have the financial burden that goes with having pets. You already have seen how expensive the basic vet care can be for 2 kittens. Your parents may not be in the position to care for 2 cats. That may be the bottom line in this.

I am just trying to point out that if your parents do not want to take on the responsibility, then the kitten would be better off with someone who is prepared to. The responsible thing is to put your feelings aside and let the animal go to someone who can care for it. If your parents feel that should be someone else, they are probably right.

I hope it ends up that you can keep both, but if that doesn't happen....I hope you can concentrate on the fact that the other kitten will be cared for and loved in the way you want it to be.
 
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zoggy

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Ok, apparently they can't make up their mind so there is no telling whats going to happen.

I think they are just winding me up though.

Anyway, there are still some fleas on the kittens.
Why is that? Shouldn't they be dead from the Frontline?
 

dazeemazeegraze

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Originally Posted by Zoggy

Ok, apparently they can't make up their mind so there is no telling whats going to happen.

I think they are just winding me up though.

Anyway, there are still some fleas on the kittens.
Why is that? Shouldn't they be dead from the Frontline?
The kittens may be picking them up from somewhere in the house via clothing, bedding, carpet etc that was not washed properly once you and your parents were informed they had fleas.
 
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zoggy

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So how do I get rid of the fleas if they are on the carpet or bed or where ever?
 

kumbulu

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Unfortunately, the only solution is to flea-bomb the house. Depending on what brand and the strength, you have to leave the house (including the kitties) for between 9 hours and a couple of days. I think there are extermination companies that will come and deal with them too.
 
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zoggy

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Hm. Thats not good.

its winter soon and they'll die of the cold... right?
 

nakoruru

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zoggy, do you have an email? there's a lot of stuff i wanted to send you... :p concerning costs and getting rid of fleas and all that fun stuff... xP but you can't get PM's.
 

mommalori

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Zoggy,

We used Raid flea bombs (in the purple box) because we wanted to be sure they were ALL gone before the new arrivals (1 day old today!
) ... It worked really well for us, and it only costs between 5-10 dollars (here) You only have to leave the house for about 2 hours then air it out really good (don't bring kit's in until it's aired out GOOD and you definately can't smell the spray anymore, take them to a friends for several hours after you open it up)... anyway, it's a fairly painless procedure...Check with a vet first to find out exactly how long to let it air before bringing them in (just call they won't charge you)
 
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zoggy

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Originally Posted by nakoruru

zoggy, do you have an email? there's a lot of stuff i wanted to send you... :p concerning costs and getting rid of fleas and all that fun stuff... xP but you can't get PM's.
Yes. Its [email protected]

Oh and im not sure about the flea bombing. My mom hates air fresheners, so this might be a problem.
 
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zoggy

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Ok the fleas have gotten worse, but since its not been a month yet I can't reapply the Frontline.
I applied DeFlea flea and tick shampoo on them both and made a foamy lather and left it on them for about 5 minutes. After that I rinsed them with water and blow dried them on low. The problem is there are STILL fleas present, and they are near the ear/head region since thats the place we were most reluctant to shampoo.
Many did die, however.
A few are still left. So what can I do to the room now? Is there something I can do to get rid of the fleas (if there are any) with household items?
 

nakoruru

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Originally Posted by Zoggy

Ok the fleas have gotten worse, but since its not been a month yet I can't reapply the Frontline.
I applied DeFlea flea and tick shampoo on them both and made a foamy lather and left it on them for about 5 minutes. After that I rinsed them with water and blow dried them on low. The problem is there are STILL fleas present, and they are near the ear/head region since thats the place we were most reluctant to shampoo.
Many did die, however.
A few are still left. So what can I do to the room now? Is there something I can do to get rid of the fleas (if there are any) with household items?
next time you wash them- start at the head. getting the back of their ears wet is not a big deal (pouncer's ears do get wet when i bathe her)- the important thing is not getting water IN their ears.
*grin* the reason fleas are left in the head/ear region is because once you start lathering the body, the fleas migrate up to the head for safety. if the head is already a danger zone for them, they're not going to have anywhere to run to.

the few that are left? get a flea comb and comb 'em out. and preferably, give the kittens another bath in about a week, and keep their bedding cleaned.
 

yosemite

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If you are using over-the-counter flea medications, they simply don't work. The very best way to get rid of fleas is have the cats treated with vet recommended products and vacuum every day emptying the bag outside your home, and if the fleas are really bad, use flea bomb (please follow directions) in your home.

I've been there, done that and ended up getting exterminators in to finally get rid of them because those little suckers can live in carpets and furniture for up to a year I believe.
 
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zoggy

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Ok, it doesnt work i think.
The fleas are back now.
I salted the carpets and whatnot, but the fleas arent that bad. I never saw them IN the carpets.
How do I get rid of them without applying Frontline (I can only do that once a month)?
What is a flea comb and can I get something from the vet that can help?
 

yosemite

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Originally Posted by Zoggy

Ok, it doesnt work i think.
The fleas are back now.
I salted the carpets and whatnot, but the fleas arent that bad. I never saw them IN the carpets.
How do I get rid of them without applying Frontline (I can only do that once a month)?
What is a flea comb and can I get something from the vet that can help?
Salting the carpets isn't going to do anything and you probably won't see them in the carpets - eggs are probably in the carpets.

Take the cat to the vet and get proper treatment for him. Where did you get the Frontline you already applied?

You should be able to get a flea comb from any pet store and maybe even from your vet (a comb with very very fine teeth that will catch the fleas)

When you have combed your kitty with the flea comb, drop the fleas into a container of water with Dawn diswashing soap to drown them.

You will need to treat your carpets if your infestation was bad. The fleas actually do not live on your cat - they just jump on to eat. They'll jump on you to eat too if they can't get to your cat.
 
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zoggy

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Ok. I think I am an idiot.

The packet says "reapply every month".
Its been like two or so weeks.
However, now I remember that the vet only applied half of the packet for both cats.
So that should mean half a month? Which would mean... now?
 

yosemite

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Originally Posted by Zoggy

Ok. I think I am an idiot.

The packet says "reapply every month".
Its been like two or so weeks.
However, now I remember that the vet only applied half of the packet for both cats.
So that should mean half a month? Which would mean... now?
Why are you not talking to your vet about this? He is the only one (other than maybe you) that would know how much he applied and when it should be applied again. Just pick up the phone and call him. Half a pack for both cats would only equal 1/4 pack per cat which would indicate one week's worth to me but as I've already said, call the vet where you got the treatment.
 
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zoggy

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I did call him before making that post.
She told me to reapply it.
I'll do it tomorrow.
She also told me to rent a steam cleaner and clean the carpets.
What can I do for hardwood floor?
 

yosemite

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You shouldn't have to do anything with the hardwood floor. I don't believe the fleas would be able to "nest" in them. Cleaning the carpeting and even doing the upholstery of your furniture should be good. Once the flea medication gets in the cat's system the fleas will start dying off when they jump on to feast. The medication gets into your kitty's bloodstream and when the fleas feed, they will die.

Also wash all your bed linens as well.

Do get the flea comb and try to regularly comb your baby and drop any fleas you get into the water with the Dawn dishwashing soap.

I would go one step further and get a flea collar (do not put one on your cat), cut it up into pieces and put some in your vacuum (and put the other pieces in a safe place away from your cat). After thoroughly vacuuming, empty the contents outside each and every time. Load more of the collar pieces in each time before you vacuum.

This should solve your problem in a fairly short time. Fleas are terrible pests and not easy to get rid of. I'd rather have my kid come home with lice - at least they are really easy to get rid of.

Good luck with your kitty and your house. Soon you will be flea-free!
 
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zoggy

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I hope.

My parents are tired of these fleas and I am too!
I dont have time to play or teach them anything now because all I worry about are these fleas. each time I see them scratching themselves every 5 seconds. And the frontline costs 35$. Two cats - thats 35$ every month. 420$ a year.
Argh.
 
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