Hi all,
So after my many years doing cat rescue and fostering, I've finally gotten hit with a major flea infestation. I've had almost everything under the sun here at one point or another, so I guess it's the fleas' turn now
So I'm wondering, what is your experience/recommendations regarding Diatomaceous earth? I have the food grade.
My concerns are that even though "the internet" says it's non-toxic, there are lots of reputable sources and vets that caution using it. I want to apply it to my carpeting but as my house is really, literally full of cats, I'm concerned when they'll inevitably get exposed to it.
From what I've read so far:
1. Use food grade (check)
2. Wear gloves, mask when applying (check)
3. Put in a sock to use as a duster
4. Remove pets during application
5. Leave in for up to a couple weeks, then vacuum.
This is where I'm concerned. Yes, pets won't be present during application, but this is dust. It's not like a different pesticide that says pets can return after pesticide dries. It would be applied as dust and remain as dust meaning the cats will inevitably walk on it, lie in it, get it on their fur and consume it while pruning, and will probably breathe it in (because it's dust).The precautions I've read is to avoid breathing it in or consuming it. If I leave it in the carpet and let the cats back into the area, how is this not going to cause the bad exposure from happening?
6. Don't put directly onto pets
Conflicting info here. Some sources say it's okay, reputable sources and some vets say no way). This, again, brings up the exposure (and DE inevitably in the cat's fur). If it's not okay to apply directly to cat, how is it then okay to let the cat go lie in it, or rough-house in it and get the DE on their fur and get the dust particles back up into the air to be possibly inhaled?
I really do want to use this solution over using a chemical pesticide but the information out there is totally conficting. Sources say keep off of pets, but then says it's okay for pets to roam around on it.
Thoughts? Anecdotes? Professional, scientific definitive answers?
TIA,
-Art
cat rescue/tnr/fostering 10+ yrs but surprisingly, this is my first flea infestation
btw: I do have a good vacuum and a rug cleaning machine so got that part covered
So after my many years doing cat rescue and fostering, I've finally gotten hit with a major flea infestation. I've had almost everything under the sun here at one point or another, so I guess it's the fleas' turn now
So I'm wondering, what is your experience/recommendations regarding Diatomaceous earth? I have the food grade.
My concerns are that even though "the internet" says it's non-toxic, there are lots of reputable sources and vets that caution using it. I want to apply it to my carpeting but as my house is really, literally full of cats, I'm concerned when they'll inevitably get exposed to it.
From what I've read so far:
1. Use food grade (check)
2. Wear gloves, mask when applying (check)
3. Put in a sock to use as a duster
4. Remove pets during application
5. Leave in for up to a couple weeks, then vacuum.
This is where I'm concerned. Yes, pets won't be present during application, but this is dust. It's not like a different pesticide that says pets can return after pesticide dries. It would be applied as dust and remain as dust meaning the cats will inevitably walk on it, lie in it, get it on their fur and consume it while pruning, and will probably breathe it in (because it's dust).The precautions I've read is to avoid breathing it in or consuming it. If I leave it in the carpet and let the cats back into the area, how is this not going to cause the bad exposure from happening?
6. Don't put directly onto pets
Conflicting info here. Some sources say it's okay, reputable sources and some vets say no way). This, again, brings up the exposure (and DE inevitably in the cat's fur). If it's not okay to apply directly to cat, how is it then okay to let the cat go lie in it, or rough-house in it and get the DE on their fur and get the dust particles back up into the air to be possibly inhaled?
I really do want to use this solution over using a chemical pesticide but the information out there is totally conficting. Sources say keep off of pets, but then says it's okay for pets to roam around on it.
Thoughts? Anecdotes? Professional, scientific definitive answers?
TIA,
-Art
cat rescue/tnr/fostering 10+ yrs but surprisingly, this is my first flea infestation
btw: I do have a good vacuum and a rug cleaning machine so got that part covered
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