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Fleas! Since January.

40 replies

MerryMarigold · 07/03/2014 12:34

How do I get rid of the horrid things?

I first realised we had them when I started getting bites and noticed cat scratching. Pretty sharpish got her the pills that kill them, the flea preventer spot-on stuff (which I hadn't kept up with, I admit), flea spray, flea bombs. I sprayed specific areas. I did 2 bombs, one up and downstairs (where you have to remove all plants/ food/ anything that will be used to eat on etc. and wash all the worktops/ table down etc.). Everytime cat scratched, I gave her another killer pill. Brushed her fur, used to get a few when I did that and have to drown them, but she hates being brushed so it is really difficult.

They came back. More pills, bombs - phase 2. We are now on Phase 3 killer pills (a different brand) and re-applied the spot-on as it is 5 weeks plus need to do more bombs as actually saw a flea yesterday though not been getting bites, thank goodness.

I don't know what to do? Is she getting them from the ones that are in the house? Or is is somewhere outside she keeps picking them back up?

Has anyone successfully got rid of fleas and how did you do it?

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thecatneuterer · 07/03/2014 12:42

I have never heard of pills to kill fleas. And of course the only way they can work, I should imagine, is to somehow make the blood of the cat poisonous to fleas - in the same way as Program liquid which is added to food. So obviously that isn't going to work as quickly as a spot on.

It really sounds as though you might be using the wrong stuff generally. Off the shelf products DON'T WORK. You need to use products from either a vet or a chemist. And Frontline is loosing its effectiveness too.

So you need as a spot on for the cat either Advantage, Advocate or Stonghold.

And as a spray for the house either Acclaim or Indorex.

However now that you've already used a lot of stuff you need to be careful that you don't overdose your cat. Some off the shelf products can be really toxic to cats. So I think you're probably going to have to wait a couple of weeks before treating them with the proper stuff. Or go and buy it from your vet, tell them what you've used already and when, and ask their advice.

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MerryMarigold · 07/03/2014 13:05

OK. Thanks. The flea killer one is Bob Martin (previous was 4 Fleas) and the spot-on is also Bob Martin. I have not gone to vets because I resent the ridiculous charges unless it's absolutely necessary! We don't have a lot of spare cash. If people can give me the names of products which I could buy on the internet, that would be great.

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MerryMarigold · 07/03/2014 13:06

I think the difference between the spot on and the pill is that the spot on is supposed to be a preventer whilst the other one claims to kill all fleas in 24 hours.

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EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 07/03/2014 13:12

Hi Merry - if you're constantly buying proprietary brands like Bob Martin, then you really are wasting your money. I use Advocate (from the Vet). Yes, it is more expensive than your supermarket purchase initially, but works in one dose, and lasts for a couple of months.

One dose of a Advocate (or Advantage, or similar from the Vet) is far more effective than several administrations of the Bob Martin-type. IMO

You also should treat your furnishings, carpets, etc, with a good spray, as fleas are able to live away from their host for a very long time, and will simply re-infest when they think their time is right. (I can't think of the name of the spray we use, as I've just disposed of the can, but we get it from the Vet as well).

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EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 07/03/2014 13:14

Just re-read the whole thread- Acclaim is the household spray we use (thx CatNeuterer) Smile

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Lonecatwithkitten · 07/03/2014 13:21

Merry the tablet you have used is a knock down has no residual effect so kills live fleas on cat at that moment, but doesn't work after that. The Bob Martin household flea drops are very ineffective.
I am afraid flea products are very much something you buy cheap you buy twice.
The most cost effective prescription flea treatment on the market currently is Activyl which kills live fleas and prevents them breeding in your house.

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MerryMarigold · 07/03/2014 13:23

It's weird though as my parents only ever used proprietary brands (and still do) and likewise us. We've never had issues before. (And my parents have had cats for the past 30 years!).

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MerryMarigold · 07/03/2014 13:24

Thanks for all the names. I will have a search.

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cozietoesie · 07/03/2014 13:28

It could simply be luck of the draw, Merry. Maybe your parents and you (and all the cats) have just been lucky enough to avoid exposure.

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Mycatistoosexy · 07/03/2014 13:30

Bob Martin is useless. I noticed fleas on my cat so I got bob Martin drops and duly put them on. I think it actually encouraged them tbh. Poor cat was so miserable.

Went to vets, paid a lot of money for Stronghold drops and the a Program injection. Got some acclaim spray plus lavender oil for the bedding. Hot washed everything I could and it seems to be getting under control now. My cat definitely has no fleas on her anymore

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MerryMarigold · 07/03/2014 13:36

Hi. I needed a prescription to buy Activyl. I got the spray online though.

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MerryMarigold · 07/03/2014 13:37

Well done! We have carpets. 4 beds, not to mention she sleeps anywhere and everywhere, sofas etc. I think I'm going to be needing a whole lot of spray. I just never imagined it would go on this long.

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Mycatistoosexy · 07/03/2014 13:42

Hoover your mattresses once a week. Hoover the sofas daily and throughout the house daily. Hoovering kills a lot of fleas really. Empty your Hoover daily and spray flea spray on there.

Sympathies though. It's like a never ending war, little blighters.

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cozietoesie · 07/03/2014 13:42

Are you hoovering like a mad thing? That would help - especially in cracks, under things, edges etc.

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Lonecatwithkitten · 07/03/2014 13:43

You will need a prescription product to get on top of this I am afraid.

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MerryMarigold · 07/03/2014 13:46

Lonecat, how does it work? How does prescription make a difference (stronger?). They jump on the cat and then get killed?

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MerryMarigold · 07/03/2014 13:48

I'm not a much of a hoover-er. Oh well. Time to change!

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MerryMarigold · 07/03/2014 13:49

We have floorboards. Heck of a lot of cracks. Hence the flea 'bombs'.

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Lonecatwithkitten · 07/03/2014 13:50

Prescription products are much newer more sophisticated technologies than the over the counter stuff which kills fleas faster. The quickest over the counter product that has a residual action is frontline kills fleas in 24 to 48 hours, the newest prescription products kill fleas in 20 minutes and keep working for 30 days. As I say you get what you pay for

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Mycatistoosexy · 07/03/2014 13:50

Stronghold makes it so that any flea who jumps on her fur dies. The Program injection sterilises any flea who makes it through to bite her so breaks the life cycle. I just got the injection as a back up really.

OP if money is tight I have some spare Advantage drops knocking around, bought them then plumped for Stronghold in the end. It's not prescription but the vet does sell it and I think it's better than Bob Martin/Frontline

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Lonecatwithkitten · 07/03/2014 13:52

Advantage only kills live fleas it doesn't treat the environment in this situation with a chronic flea problem you are going to need a spot on with live flea kill and environmental control to solve the problem.

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MerryMarigold · 07/03/2014 14:20

Thanks all. I think I need a trip to the vet then...or we will just continue to fork out £15 here, £20 there ad finitum. Thanks for the offer Mycat. Maybe you could use the Advantage when the Stronghold runs out and the problem is gone. I am so surprised that no-one has been bitten except me (and the cat).

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MerryMarigold · 07/03/2014 14:21

should be INFINITUM!

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Fluffycloudland77 · 07/03/2014 14:38

I got a private prescription off my vet for £8, six months supply of Advocate off an online pharmacy worked out at £4 per month with a bit of cashback off topcashback.

Bob martin spot on nearly killed my freinds kitten, if she hadn't have gone home at lunch to pick some papers up it would have been fatal.

I'd like to see it banned.

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thecatneuterer · 07/03/2014 15:09

Fluffy - Bob Martin's has killed a lot of cats. They have now changed the formulation so it's basically the same as Frontline, so not so dangerous anymore, but still not very effective. And I would never buy anything from then anyway as for so many years they sold their products knowing that they killed dozens if not hundreds of cats every year.

Some other off the shelf products still use the old dangerous, cat-killing ingredients. I always try to tell people to never use off the shelf products. At best they don't really work, and at worst they kill your cat!

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