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Original poster

<whispers> <we have fleas in our house> [shock]

56 replies

PavlovtheCat · 28/08/2008 22:26

WHY?

Two cats, Frontlined every 6 weeks. Done 3 weeks ago and three days ago I found several fleas on one of my poor cats.

So, frontlined them again.

I have, since then, seen about 4 or 5 in the house.

And, just now, there was one on me. ERGH, I hate them.

We use that spray from the vets, allegedly it lasts for 1 year, but we had to use it twice a year. This time last year we had the same problem, vets said it was to do with the weather.

Is there anything^ else we can do? The house has been 'spring-cleaned' recently, could this have done something? Unturned eggs or something? They are very small, so not long hatched.

Please help me, they gross me out. Oh and getting rid of cats is not an option I will consider!

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Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 28/08/2008 23:11

undercovercat - says every 4-6 weeks and I am a tight arse! But will have to do it 4 weekly, or try a new product as has been suggested...

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Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 28/08/2008 23:13

Bowdee - well to start with, I am going to do one of those bombs just for the fun of it! And I will try other spray, different to what I usually use.

And, it cant do any harm to try an alternative flea product. Where can you buy advance from? Shops/vets?

And how about that bomb? From pet shop?

AND, lots and lots of hoovering. Its just a pain as I work and so does DH. But if it has to be done every day for a while, so be it.

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BBBee · 29/08/2008 00:01

bombs from pet shop - pets at home I think. About £5 each so think where you want to bomb.

DS loved that we 'bombed' his bedroom.

MeAndMyMonkey · 29/08/2008 00:15

Me too - house and 2 cats infested despite frontline, worst ever, ewww, it's just so gross!
I have been recommended Indorex spray, apparently you can get it from vets...

feetheart · 29/08/2008 00:30

No helpful things to add just glad to join the flea-infested clique.
Off to buy bombs in morning (though may need to squish N Ireland accent

OhYouBadBadKitten · 29/08/2008 08:03

feetheart.

are any of these bombing products safe with tropical fish?

hazeyjane · 29/08/2008 09:00

Has anyone suggested calling the council in to spray, we have had to do this before, they charge, i don't think it is much, and by the time you've bought all the sprays, it's pretty expensive anyway. The good thing is you can just go out and leave them to it!

BTW, we have a flea problem at the moment too, first time for ages, i'm sure it's the weather.

LackaDAISYcal · 29/08/2008 09:42

kitten, the bombs aren't safe for fishtanks, but I think as long as you cover them so that the chemicals can't land on the water then they will be OK. It tells you what to do on the back of the pack.

We used them years ago at my mums and they seemedd to do the trick.....and Dad's fish were fine.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 29/08/2008 10:46

Thanks Daisy
don't need to do it at the moment but its good to know if we can.

Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 29/08/2008 19:29

I spoke to a pet shop man today, and he told me lots of stuff, sounded quite convincing until in response to me saying that I saw several fleas on cat1's nose, he said, 'oh the front line does not affect the nose area, so its safe for the fleas to bite there, thats why you will see them. He also told me I needed to think like a flea, and think about what I would do, where I would go if I was doused in chemicals...I think he was flirting, and when I made appropriate yes mmm noises to things he was saying, he went off on one to sound impressive!!!

His boss came over too though and said that in the last two weeks, they have sold their flea stock twice over and only just had it replenished and is has dwindled again, people are coming in droves, as the damp/humid weather is a perfect breeding ground for the fleas. He suggested sticking with frontline combo, as it is the strongest on the market, and suggested I save the money, as it wont do any good using anything else, just use the front line 4 weekly, spray with the chemical spray and hoover lots.

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NutterlyUts · 29/08/2008 19:51

Please don't use flea treatment from the petshops, especially on cats, as it contains an ingredient toxic to cats. I work in a vets and we see far too many poisioned cats through petshop flea treatments.

I would recommended asking your vet for capstar (a tablet that kills all adult fleas on contact), enough for one tablet once a day for 3-4 days (one day, miss a day, one day, repeat in a week) and to get stronghold (since frontline isn't working) and then to flea spray and vaccum your house, and repeat in a week. Guarenteed to shift the little buggers!!!!!

Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 30/08/2008 09:06

NutterlyUts - oh excellent! That sounds great! I shall call the vets this morning, I need to get more as used last of the frontline this week so hope they will have it.

So, Capstar - for cats.
Stronghold - is that for cats or house spray? or is that for cats after using capstar?

The man in the vet shop pretty much told us to not buy from them too!

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beautifulgirls · 30/08/2008 10:11

Stronghold for the cats - drop on neck like frontline, pretty effective stuff with different mode of action to Frontline so IF there is resistance to frontline this should do the job. Frontline now have a second product out Frontline combo, which helps control the environmental population as well as killing on them - but sounds like you need a change of product for now at least. Try Staykill or Indorex for the house. Frontline really needs to go on every 4 weeks - likewise stronghold if you use it.

I think it might be worth contactin the manufacturers of Frontline for advice too - in my experience they are usually pretty helpful.

Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 30/08/2008 10:35

beautifulgirls - I use the Frontline Combo, which is why I am surprised it is not working. I think I used Staykill for the house before. I did not use Frontline 4 weekly, did it 6 weekly so that might be a problem.

Can I get Stronghold at all vets? Ours does Frontline, so would they do another one too?

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NutterlyUts · 30/08/2008 11:07

Stronghold and Capstar can be got from the vets. Some vets will insist on seeing the animal before giving it, some are happy to give it if the pet's been seen in the last few months.

Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 30/08/2008 11:08

Nutterly - dont mind taken them, they needed to see them when we got the last lot of Frontline, to check the weight of them. Wont hurt for them to be given the once over.

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beautifulgirls · 30/08/2008 15:01

I would be surprised if they did not stock it, but if they don't then they should be able to order it in for you without any problem anyway.

Sadly this time of year the flea populations have had weeks of good breeding conditions and the numbers are high so the risk of your pet coming into contact with them is high. Shocking statistics when you look at what one flea can acheive really - approx 1500 eggs at a time, hatching out within hours in ideal conditions...that's a lot of baby fleas (well larvae to start with anyway!). It only takes a few days for a huge population to build up when you pet brings home such little visitors in these ideal breeding conditions. If there is even a few days of Frontline not working effectively then this is what can happen sadly.

Don't worry though - you are not alone! It does not make you a bad person or a bad pet owner either - just a now well informed one

Good luck with the mission!

Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 30/08/2008 17:49

beautifulgirls - Monday morning, appt at the vets with the cats, they need a check up anyway, I shall be armed with everything, and by the end of the week there will be no fleas in this house!!!

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SqueakyPop · 30/08/2008 17:54

When we moved into our house, we had fleas. We made sure the cats were frontlined so that they wouldn't pick them up. But then we became the victims!

We didn't find carpet sprays and hoovering long-term effective.

The thing that really worked was a special light contraption. Basically, it was a little unit that contained a lightbulb, and a sheet of glue paper. The fleas were attracted to the light, so would jump into the contraption, and they would then get stuck on the paper.

We were amazed at how quickly we were on top of the fleas. We found that they were very localised, so we could just set the unit in key places and it would do its work.

Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 30/08/2008 17:59

squeaky ew that meant you saw ALL of them? Oh how horrid!!!

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SqueakyPop · 30/08/2008 18:03

I don't get that squeamish

Cocodrillo · 30/08/2008 18:28

Where to buy light contraption?

I am covered in flea bites, I feel like Amy Winehouse or something.

We're using Frontline on Mog and Skoosh around the house (am pg, plus DD2 is only 20 months so worried about chemical sprays).

SqueakyPop · 30/08/2008 18:56

We got our at a pet superstore. I think it is called Pets at Home now.

Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 31/08/2008 15:36

I read this, quite interesting, in particular about, once the cats are treated/household sprayed - wack up the heating and humidity so draw out the fleas, so the eggs hatch, fleas bite and then die.

Says that eggs can live for up to 9 months! .

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Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 31/08/2008 15:36

would help if I posted the link eh?

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