Fleas

[Kapohocat]

For some reason, maybe it was the hot dry weather for awhile - the kitties flea medicine seems to fall short of the month - any suggestions because we dont want to decrease the legnth between (4 weeks) much (unless it is really safe). Some one told me wash them in teat tree oil soap - WASH A CAT??? are you crazy?? hahaha

I dont want to get fleas in the house because.... I am so phobic about them! Bugs I can handle - fleas just mean to me a dirty house!! (it doesnt make sense I know!! haha)

So any ideas? These are inside/outside cats (2) that play with the feral cats SB feeds near our back fence!

[hikatz]

We have been having problems with fleas on our cats, using capstar flea tablets from the vet, (for cats and dogs 2-25lbs) you can safely give another dose in a couple of days, then I treat them with revolution, seems to work well. Email me if you have any questions

[Carey]

I have washed a cat in the past (had one that thought a skunk would be a fun play toy....)hint, pillow case the thing (no one will be happy, but at least the claws will be contained!)

Before washing, is the oil soap effective if wiped on, rubbed in, then wiped off, or does the cat need a soak in it?

Also flea combs do lift off fleas & eggs without any chemicals, best to dip & swish the comb in soapy water with every passs to wash of the eggs, nits & fleas picked up, and some cats really get into the grooming (others hate it, so it would depend on the cat)

[csgray]

We found sprinkling nutritional yeast on pet food decreased the fleas on our pets as well as reducing the reaction to the bites on our dog who had flea allergy. dogs and cats both loved it too.

The flea comb was my best friend when dealing with short haired animals too. It gets fleas and the flea poop which newly hatched fleas feed on. Focus on the area at the back of the neck and base of the tail for best results. I would push off the fleas and flea poop which got caught in the comb into a weak solution of Dr. Bronners peppermint soap which killed them dead. It is important to keep the comb dry. Tea tree has a really strong smell in pure form which might be hard on sensitive kitty noses. Good luck!

Carol

[Kapohocat]

Shopping List:
Dr. Bonner's peppermint soap (which does double duty for the white flies!)
Flea Comb
Tea Tree Oil
Pillow Case
Revolution ( good idea as I switched them from this one to Advantix!)

Anything else? I am on a mission!

[Punamom]

After years here I've tried them all, they only seem to work for about a month nowadays. If I don't rotate them they only work for a week or two if that (some of them like advantix and frontline won't work at all anymore) I was very glad when two new products just came out, one did not work but the other a tasty pill did work for about a month. I am talking about dogs if I keep their fleas down the cats do alright by themselves with a once a year dose.

To save money I buy the biggest dose and just use it on all of them, but you have to know about the dosing and measurement which can usually be found in the patient insert the folded up paper with the tiny writing. Also some are used on both dogs and cats so buy the one for a big dog and it should last awhile for a couple of kitties.

And spraying the yard should help too. Its best like anything around here to keep it under control at all times cause once its not....

[lquade]

yes, i also have found if i do one month advantage, next month frontline back and forth it works... i also springle the DE i get for my chickens (dels food grade) in their bedding it seems to also work...

[StillHope]

I have a flea zapper from Sharper Image.It requires a manual labor,but works good.
I prefer to use natural stuff.A lot of useful staff I found in Dr.Bader's book "1001 All Natural Secrets to a Pest-Free Property.
Cat,I can scan and e-mail some tips for you-too many to include in the post.
I do believe in the bathing first.
Here's some tips from the book:

Do it yourself flea collar.
Soak a store-bought leather collar in the lemon juice(citrus oil) solution.
Most commercial flea collars use a pesticide.

Vitamin B to the rescue
Your vet can recommend a vitamin B supplement..Fleas will not remain on your pet if they are on a vitamin B supplement.

Flea-Away Foods

.Add a small amount of brewer,s yeast,apple cider vinegar or crushed garlic to your pet's food,it will keeps fleas away.
The garlic is questionable,since he will smell garlicky for some time.
Brewer's yeast can also be powdered o your pet and allowed to remain for 5-10 min before vacuuming the pet off.( BIG DOGS ONLY!!!- S.H)

Fleas Hate Sage


Anyway,I love that quote from the book:
"Vacuuming mini Chihuahuas is not recommended or the may be staring out from the clear plastic dirt tank"

[csgray]

I don't know if they are available or would work in Hawaii, but in Oregon we had great luck with flea specific nematodes we spread in our yard in spring, especially focusing on the areas the dogs and cats hung out in. It really reduced the base level of the flea population in our yard. I'll ask my daughter for her recipe for the nutritional yeast/garlic powder gravy she feeds her very long haired cat (who has major attitude but actually puts up with bathing during flea season).

Carol

[Carolann R]

StillHope...LOL!!! No chance of vacuuming Chuy...he's so scared of the vacuum, he hides the second I touch it!

Carrie

http://www.carrierojo.etsy.com
http://www.vintageandvelvet.blogspot.com

"Freedom has a scent like the top of a newborn baby's head..." U2