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Original poster

Can a cat still get fleas even if we've used Frontline ??

32 replies

nutcracker · 20/07/2005 19:45

Dp thinks he found a flea on his training shoe, so is now saying the cat has fleas.

We used Frontline on here about 2 weeks ago though.

OP posts:
okapi · 20/07/2005 19:59

fleas don't just live on the cat - -they hide in the carpets and jump on the cat for a quick feed. There are sprays you can get from the vet to spray in the house - Vetchem or something I think

okapi · 20/07/2005 20:02

info here

chicagomum · 20/07/2005 20:23

our cats were on frontline and we still ended up with fleas in the house - one thing i would say is deal with it asap - we thought it couldn't be flea bites we got and by the time we realised it was we had a real prob ended up ripping out the living room carpet as all the bug bombs sprays etc didn't seem to work

WigWamBam · 20/07/2005 20:26

Get a flea comb, run it through the cat's fur, then wipe the fur off onto some damp kitchen roll. If the paper gets stained pink or red then the cat has fleas and you need to treat again - Frontline doesn't always work first time.

Treat the rest of the house with a household flea spray as well.

BarefootMama · 20/07/2005 20:30

Nutty ( asked my dp he is vet surgeon) he says yes - it is possible to see a live flea on a cat that has been treated but after it has hopped on to cat (yeauch) it will die! Hope that sets mind at rest!

BarefootMama · 20/07/2005 20:36

He says it works first time - fleas will be in environment so you could use vetchem to kill them although fronline will kill fleas eventually - an injection of Program will also sterilise fleas.

DP recommends program injection and six capstar tablets - one a week

He waits until our mog is thoroughly riddled before noticing - i never use vetchem though just treat the cat!

Original poster
nutcracker · 20/07/2005 20:43

Ok thanks, dp is gonna be sooooooo peed off now. I said that if we got frontline she wouldn't get them.

OP posts:
WigWamBam · 20/07/2005 21:09

The packaging of Frontline tells you that it may not work first time, and tells you when you can apply it again. It certainly didn't work first time for us, despite the fact that we sprayed everywhere at the same time as we zapped the cat.

robinia · 20/07/2005 21:39

If the house is riddled with fleas then you may need to get pest removal company to get rid of them. (This happened to us when we moved house last time - cats were fine using FrontLine but the house was infested). Pest removal company charged I think £40 ish and did the trick - no need to rip out carpets!

okapi · 20/07/2005 22:02

hey nutty isn't dp a pest controller -- shouldn't he know this stuff?

Original poster
nutcracker · 20/07/2005 22:06

Yeah he used to be a pest controller.

The cat doesn't go upstairs at all, and downstairs we have laminate flooring through out and a leather sofa so is that good ??? The house won't be riddled then will it ?

Will re read the front line again tommorow, but tbh I am mightly peed of that the vet didn't point that out to us. I really can't afford to be buying flea stuff that doesn't work.

No one has any bites so thats a good sign i spose.

Will get some spray, but where exactly do i spray it ??

OP posts:
WigWamBam · 20/07/2005 22:08

Spray all the carpets, particularly around the edges of the rooms and under the radiators, you should probably spray the curtains as well. If the cat has a blanket that she lies on, do that as well. Any soft furnishings need doing too.

WigWamBam · 20/07/2005 22:09

Do upstairs even if the cat doesn't go there, if you have fleas they can get upstairs on you.

Original poster
nutcracker · 20/07/2005 22:09

Well we have no soft furnishings except for the curtains. No carpets or fabric sofas and no cat blanket either.

OP posts:
Original poster
nutcracker · 20/07/2005 22:10

Oh yuck thanks WWW, making me itch now

OP posts:
WigWamBam · 20/07/2005 22:14

Sorry!

Try combing the cat with the flea comb - you'll see little black gritty bits if she's got fleas, that's flea poo, and it will streak red if you wipe the comb on damp tissue.

It may not have been a flea he saw, and it would be a shame to waste the Frontline if she hasn't got fleas at all.

Original poster
nutcracker · 20/07/2005 22:14

Yep thanks, will get a comb too.

Thanks for all the help.

OP posts:
okapi · 20/07/2005 22:15

nutty, if you have no soft furnishings you will probably get rid of the fleas quite easily with another dose of Frontline and a bit of spraying.

My cat had fleas as a kitten and hasn't had them since and he's 6 now - and our house is full of soft furnishings

Original poster
nutcracker · 20/07/2005 22:18

I meant to add that she hadn't got fleas when we gave her the first treatment of frontline, does that make any difference ?

OP posts:
okapi · 20/07/2005 22:22

if she didn't have fleas she probably hasn't got them now - doesn't frontline last for 6 weeks or something?

dp probably saw a fly or an ant on his shoe

WigWamBam · 20/07/2005 23:14

If she didn't have fleas then the chances are she still doesn't.

Save your money ... don't treat for fleas until you definitely have them. The vets might not like it, but I can't see any point in paying out a fiver a shot for flea treatment when the cat has no fleas.

RTKangaMummy · 20/07/2005 23:49

DH has just got STRONGHOLD for our cats for fleas

We were told NOT to use FRONTLINE cos we have 2 cats that wash each other and it will damage their livers.

So we have to use this and keep them separate for 2 hours so they can't wash each other

They don't have any at the moment but becasue they both hunt they will do soon IYSWIM

oops · 21/07/2005 00:05

Message withdrawn

RTKangaMummy · 21/07/2005 00:21

That is what the vet told him when he asked about side effects

The stroinghold would be ok after 2 hours but the frontline if they licked each others neck when grooming it would then be swallowed and therefore damage the liver

Anyway that is what he was told when he asked the vet on monday.

That is why you put it on the back of their neck so they can't wash it off but if you have 2 cats who wash each other then they can wash and therefore swallow

oops · 21/07/2005 00:44

Message withdrawn