Mr Cory has black specks in his soft white fur

[Corygal]

... and I can't see a single flea. Could it be something else? I've Frontlined him twice, am hoovering like a loony, have given him a new box for rest (tho he sleeps next to me most of the time) and changed the bed.

What else could it be but fleas? He also has dandruff on the back of his tail which I groom off - he loves it.

It sounds awfully like flea dirt, Corygal. Do you ever see him scratching?

(Frontline has, I'm afraid, stopped working in many places. (Some fleas are becoming immune it seems so it may be time to try something else on general principle.) You also ought to remove the flea dirt if you can, first, so that you can see whether it's fresh and continuing or whether what you see is just residual.)

Probably as well to use an indoor spray (Indorex or Acclaim) and to worm him as well. Those are on genera principle also - it's possible that the Frontline has worked and that what you're seeing is 'leftovers'.

I didn't see a single flea on my cats or dog until I came home from a fortnight away and the house was infested.

Indorex for the house and Advocate for the animals worked for us and this year we did not arrive home to Fleamageddon!

Frontline is useless ime - I prefer Stronghold, though am going to give Advocate a try as have heard good things and its apparently effective against fox ticks

I see fleas on mine but never any dirt (I pick them off and advocate him, he's not wandering around infested).

I'd order some indorex and ask the vet for advocate.

Mr Cory and the fleas are slumbering on my brand new cashmere cardigan, unfortunately, but I have managed to Frontline him again. Do fleas come off in the wash? I hope so.

I was using Bob Martin's for the rooms, which I can certify is balls.

Thanks a million, have sent off for Indorex and am hassling vet for Advocate.

There's an injection called Program they can have, it stops fleas breeding so you don't need indorex if they do get fleas.

Fluff cat has it, it's £70 a year but you don't have the stress of a flea infestation.

Put the black flecks on some damp kitchen towel or loo roll if they are flea dirts red will appear in rings around them as they are basically dried blood.
Someone mentioned Advocate treats ticks it does not. The only three products that treat fleas and ticks in cats are Frontline (I would use the combo not the regular), Broadline and Seresto collar.
If you only want flea control there are several products. Someone else mentioned program it does not kill adult fleas so initially you need to use an adulticide too.