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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsFleas! My cat has never had them before, but I spotted one.
I thought about using that treatment that you put on the back of their neck that works for a month, but I worry about the toxicity.
Advice?
DemonGoddess
(4,640 posts)You just can't bathe them for 24 to 48 hours afterwards. Not that you'd want to bathe a cat without chain mail...
Aerows
(39,961 posts)She is the sweetest cat I've ever owned, but attempting to submerge her in any amount of water would likely result in a visit to the ER LOL.
DemonGoddess
(4,640 posts)requires 3 people to bathe him. One to hold the front, one to hold the back, the third to wash. My next oldest tom likes water, so I can bathe him whenever.
TexasTowelie
(112,706 posts)We used some Vet's Best flea and tick spray on them and the fleas were jumping off the cats like they were training for the Olympic long jump. It costs about $14 per bottle while the stuff that you put on the neck is $60 for three treatments. By the way, I think it is good to give the cats a bath since it gets the oil and excess hair off of them so they don't get hairballs.
DemonGoddess
(4,640 posts)you can get for them, which is better for them. The oils in their coats are there for protection. I get the excess hair off with a brush.
You can buy the neck stuff from Jeffer's Pets for a lot less than that per dose. You can buy Fiproguard or VetriScience for $20 for 3 topical treatments (3 month supply).
The other thing, is you have to be very careful to make sure you use something formulated for cats ONLY, as the ones formulated for cats and dogs can be a problem.
Ghost Dog
(16,881 posts)Much cheaper here... I guess I could supply that by mail out of the Canary Islands for under $12.
Would that make a small- business plan?
TexasTowelie
(112,706 posts)I know they tack on a huge mark-up on every product that they sale. I told my brother never to purchase any cat food or litter there, but the stores in our local area usually don't have much available for treating flea or tick problems.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)Dr. Foster and Smith
Please warn your family to never ever use Hartz, or any other cat flea product, containing Pyrethrin.
At one time Haartz did contain it, almost killed my cat.
they went to great length to be secret about it, would only pay the vet bill if I signed a promise not to tell anyone about it.
I threatened to sue instead, they ended up paying the vet bill.
DemonGoddess
(4,640 posts)I also give my cats their shots as needed, and can get them from Jeffers as well. The only shot I can't give them is rabies.
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)Over the years, with several cats, I occasionally had fleas, and the back of the neck treatment was very effective.
840high
(17,196 posts)at the mouth and threw up. My other cats were ok with it. I flea comb my cats every night by the toilet. I also learned that if I spray the flea comb with 409 cleaner it keeps the fleas off cats longer.
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)Essentially a prescription flea medication. Have no recollection of the name of it.
Some of the stuff available at a pet store or in the cat stuff in a regular store can be highly toxic. Also, the flea collars are not a good idea because they are quite toxic also. I remember looking at the instructions for one and learning that if your cat was wearing one you should wash your hands after every single time you touched it. And since almost all cats groom themselves, they'd be directly ingesting that poison.
What you want to do is rid the cat completely of fleas, as well as the ones that are probably in your living space, which is what the flea medication will do. If you haven't taken your darling to the vet, you should do so. You shouldn't be needing to flea comb every day -- if you are she has a constant infestation, and that's not good -- and I'm not sure the 409 is doing her any good either.
840high
(17,196 posts)fur mattings now and because they enjoy it.
redwitch
(14,954 posts)And never use the grocery store products, Hartz stuff is horrible for cats. We use Advantage or Frontline.
Hissyspit
(45,788 posts)THAT I KNOW OF. That said, they are VERY effective.
Do NOT buy the Sargents peppermint and related stuff that you can still find in dollar stores. It is toxic, even though they say it's not.
http://www.thegreenspotlight.com/2010/04/flea-tick-treatments-poison/
Aerows
(39,961 posts)stuff! That was what I was concerned about.
Advantage looks to be decent. Appreciate the recommendation.
PennyK
(2,302 posts)We're in Florida where the fleas never die, so the vet said it must be done year 'round.
If the cat can reach it, it could cause a bit of frothing, so be careful where you apply it.
DemonGoddess
(4,640 posts)There's also a thing which I got from the vet after my oldest queen was spayed. She had worms and a couple fleas, and this topical killed ALL of them. Nope, not recommending you get that, unless your cat also has worms.
Speaking of worms, you need to watch out for that as well, with the appearance of fleas.
As to whether or not my cats have fleas at any given time, I have a clear indicator in my big tom cat. He's allergic to them. So, he starts showing signs of his allergy even if I don't see the nasty things, I aggressively treat every cat I have, starting with Capstar.
Fla Dem
(23,887 posts)My girl for only the 2nd time in 10 years got fleas. It was traumatic for both her and me.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/116127918
DemonGoddess
(4,640 posts)Last edited Sat Jul 2, 2016, 11:57 AM - Edit history (1)
Thing is, one thing I DO steer clear of are OTC flea remedies. 1. They don't really work. 2. They're not necessarily developed exclusively for use with a cat.
For example, when Advantix, which is an excellent product, first came out, there was something in the formulation that cats reacted negatively to. So, they reformulated it to a version that is EXCLUSIVE to cats, and the reactions no longer happen. The reformulated version is Advantage, btw
The topicals I buy are the same as if I bought them at the vet's office, for much less money. It's why I get them online. It's funny, it was my own vet in California (the equine vet) who recommended Jeffers to me. He also taught me how to give shots to my horses, cats and dogs.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)Do the second a little earlier than they recommend or all the eggs could hatch! I'm very allergic and ended up with little white scars all over my body from the bites. It was awful, happened on a Sunday and I didn't know about benedryl to stop it!
DemonGoddess
(4,640 posts)without having to get your cat wet. You give the cat the pill, and within an hour, they're all dead. You can actually SEE them crawling to the outer edges of the coat, and fall of and die.
The topical ensures you get the eggs and any newly hatching ones as well.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)DemonGoddess
(4,640 posts)You give the cat the pill, and to allow the stuff to work through their systems, wait one to two days and use the topical.
As long as you keep up with the topical, or whatever you're using to control fleas once you've gotten rid of them, you don't need to give the cat the Capstar again.
irisblue
(33,059 posts)JCMach1
(27,591 posts)problem.
You are going to need to bomb/spray repeatedly to remove the fleas. At the same time, you will need to treat the pet(s). If you have exposed soil where they go, you will need to use diamatomaceous earth, or some chemicals to purge the eggs from the soil.
Good Luck!
DemonGoddess
(4,640 posts)When I had a bad infestation (this was after I took in a stray), I sprinkled that on my carpets, and at the perimeter of the house. The de actually cuts into the exoskeleton of the flea and kills them. It's also something that won't harm your animals or plants.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)Shouldn't be a problem.
DemonGoddess
(4,640 posts)That'll keep any of them from trying to come IN
Aerows
(39,961 posts)JCMach1
(27,591 posts)and next to the wood molding. Other good side-effect... d. earth is also good for roaches, ... basically any insect.
cuts their exoskeletons and kills 'em
panader0
(25,816 posts)She was also a cat lover, especially Siamese cats. She would macramé a yarn
necklace and coat it thoroughly with powdered pennyroyal she bought at the
health food store. It has a slightly spearmint scent and kept the fleas away
without chemicals.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentha_pulegium
Aerows
(39,961 posts)My little darling always wears a belled collar. That would be perfect.
womanofthehills
(8,818 posts)too many horror stories on net. Vacuum big time where your pet sleeps. Someone mentioned their cat was foaming at the mouth - that is a sign of pesticide poisoning - central nervous system stuff. Check out sites: http://www.hartzvictims.org/ and the horrible videos on you tube.
http://homeremedyshop.com/17-home-remedies-for-fleas-on-cats/
My sweetie - Mr. Lucky! No chemicals for him.