Not sure if this is the right section but hey I will give it a go.
For years I have used Frontline on my dearest cat and it is has worked everytime except for now. I think I had a bad batch and she has fleas. But I must add that they are not that bad so I have been combing her everyday and hoovering to remove eggs.
Is there an alternative way to get rid of these things?
Any ideas would be greatfully received.
Full Version: Fleas
You need to spray your carpets too, and anywhere else she may go! That means furniture and curtains as well! They will live in your hoover unfortunately!
If it's REALLY bad sometimes flea bombs are the only answer, but that would be a last resort for me. Good luck!
If it's REALLY bad sometimes flea bombs are the only answer, but that would be a last resort for me. Good luck!
I find those sprays awfully bad for the environment and for the lungs so I tend to stay away from them. I was hoping there would be an alternative that is good for myself and my cat.
Our cats have been using "Frontline" for years.
It's a waste of bloody time. It would fine in a closed environment, maybe, but if your cats have access to the outside world, and most cats do like to get out and about, then they'll come in contact with other flea-carrying creatures. Hedgehogs are the most likely. When the Tomcat comes and sits on my knee, it's a good indication that he has a flea and wants to pass it to me. When the White cat is a peculiar shade of grey, it means she has been taking a dust bath in an effort to discourage the fleas.
Frontline? Crap.
I don't know any way of getting rid of them other than combing them out.
It's a waste of bloody time. It would fine in a closed environment, maybe, but if your cats have access to the outside world, and most cats do like to get out and about, then they'll come in contact with other flea-carrying creatures. Hedgehogs are the most likely. When the Tomcat comes and sits on my knee, it's a good indication that he has a flea and wants to pass it to me. When the White cat is a peculiar shade of grey, it means she has been taking a dust bath in an effort to discourage the fleas.
Frontline? Crap.
I don't know any way of getting rid of them other than combing them out.
QUOTE(Fred-in-the-Green @ Aug 23 2008, 02:20 PM)
Our cats have been using "Frontline" for years.
It's a waste of bloody time. It would fine in a closed environment, maybe, but if your cats have access to the outside world, and most cats do like to get out and about, then they'll come in contact with other flea-carrying creatures. Hedgehogs are the most likely. When the Tomcat comes and sits on my knee, it's a good indication that he has a flea and wants to pass it to me. When the White cat is a peculiar shade of grey, it means she has been taking a dust bath in an effort to discourage the fleas.
Frontline? Crap.
I don't know any way of getting rid of them other than combing them out.
It's a waste of bloody time. It would fine in a closed environment, maybe, but if your cats have access to the outside world, and most cats do like to get out and about, then they'll come in contact with other flea-carrying creatures. Hedgehogs are the most likely. When the Tomcat comes and sits on my knee, it's a good indication that he has a flea and wants to pass it to me. When the White cat is a peculiar shade of grey, it means she has been taking a dust bath in an effort to discourage the fleas.
Frontline? Crap.
I don't know any way of getting rid of them other than combing them out.
This is the first time she has used "Frontline" whilst living in our new house and we live out in the middle of nowhere -so you may have a point about hedgehogs and what not.
I will keep on combing her and just squeezing the life out of the little beggars!!
Thanks
If she doesn't go berserk at the idea, you could try hoovering HER? I used to hoover my dog, and there was the added satisfaction of emptying the dust bag onto the fire and listening the the delightfully staccato symphony of the buggers popping as they went up in flames!
I take my cats to the vet and he gives them a jag that makes the fleas infertile. Expensive, but it works a treat.
I take my cats to the vet and he gives them a jag that makes the fleas infertile. Expensive, but it works a treat.
QUOTE(Tas Mania @ Aug 23 2008, 03:20 PM)
If she doesn't go berserk at the idea, you could try hoovering HER? I used to hoover my dog, and there was the added satisfaction of emptying the dust bag onto the fire and listening the the delightfully staccato symphony of the buggers popping as they went up in flames!
I take my cats to the vet and he gives them a jag that makes the fleas infertile. Expensive, but it works a treat.
I take my cats to the vet and he gives them a jag that makes the fleas infertile. Expensive, but it works a treat.
Hahah, I have this crazy image of my cat being hoovered. I think its a great idea but I think she would hate me for eternity.
My cat had fleas a couple of years ago, they are a bugger to get rid of so you have my sympathy!
I tried all sorts, but in the end the chemical spray was the only thing that worked... the cat was less than impressed and hated being sprayed but it did shift them.
I did find these electronic flea combs in a local pet shop, they are meant to kill the little blighters with a quick zap while not harming the cat at all. They are meant to be fantastic, but they are expensive - I think the cheapest I saw was still over £20, but if they work and don't use chemicals it might be worth getting one. Particularly if you think she may pick them up again regularly with going outside.
I tried all sorts, but in the end the chemical spray was the only thing that worked... the cat was less than impressed and hated being sprayed but it did shift them.
I did find these electronic flea combs in a local pet shop, they are meant to kill the little blighters with a quick zap while not harming the cat at all. They are meant to be fantastic, but they are expensive - I think the cheapest I saw was still over £20, but if they work and don't use chemicals it might be worth getting one. Particularly if you think she may pick them up again regularly with going outside.
A few years ago we had an outbreak - introduced via a sofa that had been in the garage and had been slept on by a local long haired fleabag who had snuck in when we weren't looking. The sofa had to be thrown out in the end, but we then had to deal with the ones that had gotten into the carpets, so I steam cleaned from top to bottom - problem solved.
We kept up the regular frontlining of my cat and we never had any more problems.
I think the steam just cooked everything vaguely alive - including me as I recall
We kept up the regular frontlining of my cat and we never had any more problems.
I think the steam just cooked everything vaguely alive - including me as I recall
Sitting here reading this at 3.15 a.m itching and scratching, oh! how the mind works!! 
dumb question but did you put it on when dry ?. We tend not to use it on cats when its raining as they go out and get soaked and if it hasnt all absorbed into skin before they go out i think its wasted.
There's a fantastic product you can get from your vet or some stores (it's non-prescription) called Capstar. It's a chewable tablet and dogs and cats can take. It won't interfere with frontline/advantage but it'll kill any flea that gets on your cat for 24 hours. It's amazing. I take it along any time I take my dog hiking and we never bring home any tagalong pests (of the flea variety). It's really good to pair with frontline because frontline doesn't kill as fast as Advantage because the flea/tick actually has to bite the animal for it to take effect. Frontline is great, but a little slow and since your kitties can pick up fleas or you can bring them inside on your shoes/socks or pants Capstar is easy to keep around. Also it's dirt cheap. In the States it usually costs like $2-4 a pill (depending on the size of your cat/dog).
This endorsement was brought to you by someone who did not invest in the company but is kinda wishing she had.
~Vertiline
This endorsement was brought to you by someone who did not invest in the company but is kinda wishing she had.
~Vertiline
Pick Tansy (aka "bachelor's buttons") which is in flower atm, strew on floores for a few hours, then hoover. Use leftover tansy to make a decoction and use this as a spray for floors etc. (Used in medieval times as a strewing herb to deter bugs, also internally as a vermifuge.)
QUOTE(mysticcat @ Aug 24 2008, 06:07 AM)
dumb question but did you put it on when dry ?. We tend not to use it on cats when its raining as they go out and get soaked and if it hasnt all absorbed into skin before they go out i think its wasted.
Yes I always put it on dry and I keep her in overnight so she doesn't go getting her furry freinds to rub it off her!!
QUOTE(Tas Mania @ Aug 24 2008, 06:07 PM)
Pick Tansy (aka "bachelor's buttons") which is in flower atm, strew on floores for a few hours, then hoover. Use leftover tansy to make a decoction and use this as a spray for floors etc. (Used in medieval times as a strewing herb to deter bugs, also internally as a vermifuge.)
Sounds great, I shall have a go! Thanks very much
We had two cats in my previous house and they had an awful flea problem. We Frontline'd them and used flea bombs, as well as natural products. The flea population dipped using natural products but we only ever got rid of them using the hardcore chemical products. I hope what you use works as I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I have no idea how they coped in the middle ages!
Mince a clove of garlic and add to the cats food once a day, never have a problem with fleas.
Garlic is brilliant, our dog doesn't mind it, but our cat curls his nose up, wouldn't go anywhere near it. 
However, we have been "flea-free" for several years without using any collars, powders, frontline, or any other thing you can buy from your pet shop or vet.
The only thing I do on a regular basis is put a tiny amount of Neem Tree Oil on my hand, rub them together, and then let your hands slide through their coats. It does "pong" a bit, but it is brilliant, effective, healthy, edible, skin healing, etc, etc.
You can buy pure Neem Tree Oil from some good reputable Oil Suppliers.
If your doggy needs a wash, all you need to do is add a tiny amount of the Neem Tree Oil to their shampoo and it will get rid of all the fleas, ticks, etc, etc.
It doesn't kill the fleas as it isn't toxic, but it stops the flea's reproductive system from working, very clever, and very safe! Insects don't like the smell, a brilliant repellent, even for garden pests!
If you have kids, a tiny amount in their shampoo will prevent any nasty creepy hair visitors as well!
Cardamom.
However, we have been "flea-free" for several years without using any collars, powders, frontline, or any other thing you can buy from your pet shop or vet.
The only thing I do on a regular basis is put a tiny amount of Neem Tree Oil on my hand, rub them together, and then let your hands slide through their coats. It does "pong" a bit, but it is brilliant, effective, healthy, edible, skin healing, etc, etc.
You can buy pure Neem Tree Oil from some good reputable Oil Suppliers.
If your doggy needs a wash, all you need to do is add a tiny amount of the Neem Tree Oil to their shampoo and it will get rid of all the fleas, ticks, etc, etc.
It doesn't kill the fleas as it isn't toxic, but it stops the flea's reproductive system from working, very clever, and very safe! Insects don't like the smell, a brilliant repellent, even for garden pests!
If you have kids, a tiny amount in their shampoo will prevent any nasty creepy hair visitors as well!
Cardamom.
That's fascinating stuff - I like the way you say 'it isn't toxic' but stops their reproductive system working
Hmmm. Very useful info though.
My kittens also appear to be flea proof for some reason - I don't use anything, they just haven't got them yet. They're around nine months old now and do roam free a lot but just never seem to get them. Perhaps it's something I'm feeding them, dunno.
Hmmm. Very useful info though.
My kittens also appear to be flea proof for some reason - I don't use anything, they just haven't got them yet. They're around nine months old now and do roam free a lot but just never seem to get them. Perhaps it's something I'm feeding them, dunno.
There could be several reasons for it Thinair, but when you discover their first fleas then it is usually too late as they will have taken up residence in your home as well. Well worth it to get a small bottle of Neem Tree Oil, it is wonderful stuff! It also works really well to prevent abscesses when you notice that your cats have been in a fight. We often have to remove claws from our tom cat's skin, but they don't seem to get infected at all.
This oil works in such a way that it tricks the insect's hormonal system by mimicking it. This changes their insect behaviour and it also stops them from feeding which will eventually finish them off. The fact that they can't reproduce also prevents them from becoming super-bugs as they can't become resistant to the Neem Tree Oil so there is never a “next generation”.
Another good thing is that when you use it in the garden, it only effects those insects that have "consumed" the Neem Tree Oil, so beneficial insects don't get effected at all.
There is plenty of info on this traditional "Village Pharmacy Wonder Oil" on the net, but here is an interesting link if you like.
http://www.netowne.com/alt-healing/ayurveda/
Cardamom.
This oil works in such a way that it tricks the insect's hormonal system by mimicking it. This changes their insect behaviour and it also stops them from feeding which will eventually finish them off. The fact that they can't reproduce also prevents them from becoming super-bugs as they can't become resistant to the Neem Tree Oil so there is never a “next generation”.
Another good thing is that when you use it in the garden, it only effects those insects that have "consumed" the Neem Tree Oil, so beneficial insects don't get effected at all.
There is plenty of info on this traditional "Village Pharmacy Wonder Oil" on the net, but here is an interesting link if you like.
http://www.netowne.com/alt-healing/ayurveda/
Cardamom.
Asian soaps and shampoos are excellent, as they are based on neem. You can get them now at Tesco (spits!).
We haven't had a problem since moving house - no carpets downstairs seems to be the answer.
I did use the spray but stopped when it was still killing spiders and woodlice several months after spraying - if it's that toxic I don't want it in my immediate environment.
I have also used Frontline in the past but haven't had to use it for a couple of years now. Neither cat has a flea collar as one has eczma triggered by the collars and I'm not sure I'm happy about deliberately exposing her to constant chemicals.
Rhiannon
I did use the spray but stopped when it was still killing spiders and woodlice several months after spraying - if it's that toxic I don't want it in my immediate environment.
I have also used Frontline in the past but haven't had to use it for a couple of years now. Neither cat has a flea collar as one has eczma triggered by the collars and I'm not sure I'm happy about deliberately exposing her to constant chemicals.
Rhiannon
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