Good Flea Spray?

"Foster" has been hanging around my house for 2 - 3 years now. I can not take him "in" as I have 3 other cats....not to mention that I don't yet live in my house, which is in a nearby city. I have been feeding him and putting advantage on him. I already have the advantage for my other 3 cats, so I put it on him monthly as well. The problem is, it doesn't seem to be working on him. He is covered in fleas. What is a good flea spray out there that will work on contact? And, can you use advantage simultaneously with a spray?

No flea sprays. Try something a little different, like a different brand of flea meds (from the vet only). Try Frontline or Revolution. If your cat is really infested with them, can you get him in for a bath in Dawn Dish Soap? That is best and then when he dries treat him with one of the above mentioned flea meds. If you cannot bath him but he will let you brush him, get a bowl with warm soapy Dawn dish water and drip the flea comb in and brush out as many fleas as possible. Then treat with the flea meds from the vet.

Why no flea sprays?

Over the counter flea medications often contain archaic ingredients that are harmful to cats, baths have been known kill. It is a good rule of thumb to never use anything you wouldn't get from you vet on fleas.

And no, you should not use a spray and Advantage at the same time.

It probably is working, but since he is an outdoor cat he continues to be reinfested. For really good flea control you have to be able to treat the area as well, which you can't do with an outdoor cat. Does he have a couple or is he truly infested?

If so, then I agree with Jen to try a different brand or something. Maybe one that also kills other parasites?

Originally Posted by Zissou'sMom

Over the counter flea medications often contain archaic ingredients that are harmful to cats, baths have been known kill. It is a good rule of thumb to never use anything you wouldn't get from you vet on fleas.

And no, you should not use a spray and Advantage at the same time.

It probably is working, but since he is an outdoor cat he continues to be reinfested. For really good flea control you have to be able to treat the area as well, which you can't do with an outdoor cat. Does he have a couple or is he truly infested?

If so, then I agree with Jen to try a different brand or something. Maybe one that also kills other parasites?

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Well, you see Adams flea spray sold in a vets office. I was just trying to think of something to use on him short term to get all these immediate fleas off of him. Actually, I have treated my yard twice already this summer. It was infested. All I had to do was stand outside in the grass and the fleas started jumping on my legs. He doesn't just have a couple of fleas on him. When I run my hands through his fur, I see them all over the place. Sometimes I try to pick them off and put them in water, but they ususally get away from me.

I've got a call in to Lafayette Animal Aide (a no-kill shelter) that gives out discount coupons to have animals spayed/neutered. "Foster" has been hanging out at my house for a few years now. I know, he's technically my cat since I feed him and all. I've always wanted to have him neutered so that he's not doing his part to add to the overpopulation of cats in the neighborhood. My mom always said, "but what if he's someone's cat." I'm at the point where I say, "so?" If he is someone's cat, although I doubt he is, they don't care enough to do it, so I will. As I said before, I don't live in this house yet, but I usually go there every day after work to work on it and on Saturdays. Sometimes, I don't see him for a few days. He's out whoring I say. LOL He usually shows back up with new scratches and scars on him. Once he missed for about 3 weeks. I figured that he was either dead, or someone took him in (since he's very friendly). But he showed back up....skinny and all beat up.

I'll look into a different flea RX.

Yes, some vets will sell these products. That does not make them safe, also many things that you could use on a dog perfectly well are not safe for cats. Adams Flea Spray's active ingredient is pyrethins, which is not safe.
Here is a link from a vet who won't sell such stuff, and why:
http://www.lakegenevaanimalhospital..../heartworm.htm

They don't work as well and they could be fatal. I would not like seeing such a product in my vet's office.

Before trying all those possibly harmful sprays, I realy encourage you to try Dawn Dish Soap. It doesn't sound like much but it works and its cheap. So you aren't wasting money or anything. Please try that first. Then treat with a different flea med from the vet

You could also get some Diatomaceous Earth for treating the area. It does not act fast, but will over time reduce the flea population. Do a google search and there is much to read about DE. You can also find much to read about it in this forum.

One problem with treating with DE is, if it rains then you would need to spread the powder again, If nothing else, it may help to treat the immediate area around your house on a regular basis.

The good think is it is cheap and not harmful to pets or humans. I should say that you should avoid inhaling the powder when dusting, just as you wouldn't want to breath in a cloud of baby powder.

Good luck with Foster!

Just to add, DE will also help with a lot of other insects in your yard like ants, spiders, beetles, and anything else that gets into it.