Help! Cat Has Fleas. They're Everywhere.

[SnowWtch]

My 10 month old kitten has fleas. He was on Advantage for Kittens but we found it not working well so we changed to Frontline PLUS but it doesn't seem to be doing anything but making it worse. Any suggestions are appreciated. I'm trying to avoid chemicals as much as possible since I have asthma and don't do well when exposed to a lot of things such as dust from the diatomaceous earth.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Take him to the vet for a dip(because he is a kitten) or another way or them treat the live fleas on him. THEN you can add the preventative. Some people suggest washing them in Dawn dish soap to get rid of the live bugs, but it will strip the natural oils and some topical treatments use the oils so that would be counter productive.

We had a flea problem last year and used Borax. You can find it in the laundry aisle for cheap. It's fairly safe to use. You can google the different methods of using it.

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

Frontline and Advantage don't work in some areas anymore. Try calling your vets office and see if they can recommend a product that works in your area. Good luck, fleas are awful.

 

[Cindy_Rella]

You also have to treat your home, if you don't they won't go away. There are natural remedies, salt and baking soda will kill eggs and larvae. You can google how to use it. Dish soap kills them too.
Vacuum everywhere. Move furniture you don't normally move, vacuum and treat any upholstered surface your kitten has been on. Wash all bedding and even curtains. Repeat, and repeat and repeat.......

Last summer, my dog got fleas and then gave them to my cat. It took me a couple months of doing the above to get rid of them. I treated them with Advantage II after unsuccessfully using other stuff. I will never ever forget to treat my dog again!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

You have to be careful how much of the flea treatment/chemical you use on the kitten. There was a poster here once who had one kitten die and another become very sick from flea products.

We've only had them twice but both times we had to bomb the house in order to get rid of them, otherwise the cycle continues.

 

[jhoannam]

I would go get a flea pill... that's the only thing that will work for our dog.

 

[Pumbaa_]

prevention is the key with fleas. Once the animal has them, the cycle begins. They are in your rugs, furniture, cat bedding etc.

Good luck, they are a pain to get rid of once infested. Going forward preventive is the key!

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I would go get a flea pill... that's the only thing that will work for our dog.

OP said this is a kitten and some very bad things have happened to animals with the Capstar pills(which is what I assume you are referring to when you say "flea pills"). I wouldn't give it to a kitten and if I did, I would do it only the care of a vet.

 

[Saimaeve]

Frontline takes a while to work. it's not instantaneous. Go to your vet.

 

[jhoannam]

OP said this is a kitten and some very bad things have happened to animals with the Capstar pills(which is what I assume you are referring to when you say "flea pills"). I wouldn't give it to a kitten and if I did, I would do it only the care of a vet.

We only get our flea pills from the vet, I would never recommend giving pets any medications without the a vet's approval/recommendation.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Don't fart around with bug bombs. Call the exterminator.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

We only get our flea pills from the vet, I would never recommend giving pets any medications without the a vet's approval/recommendation.

I only say that because they're available OTC now.

 

[jhoannam]

I only say that because they're available OTC now.

I had no idea that they were.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Don't fart around with bug bombs. Call the exterminator.

Will be cheaper and easier in the long run.

 

[John VN]

Don't fart around with bug bombs. Call the exterminator.

Will be cheaper and easier in the long run.

DFIL's cat had fleas. NEVER went outside. We tried treatment on it and in house. Seemed to work then back worse. Took cat to vet and called in the Pro's. Seemed to work then BACK AGAIN.

Cat went back to vet, all carpet was removed from house, laminate put down, furniture replaced, Pro retreated house free and PROBLEM SOLVED.

EXPEN$$$$$IVE!!!!!!

 

[tasha99]

I recommend borox on the floors to dessicate eggs etc. My cats use Revolution to control fleas, and for us at least, it works great. Also controls for a bunch of worms and earmites.

 

[mom2rtk]

You need to visit your vet. And bring your checkbook. Believe the people saying you need to treat the house as well.

Get it under control, then promise yourself you'll stay on top of it. It's much cheaper to prevent than it is to get rid of them later.

 

[ParrotBill]

Limit the areas of the house with cat access or better yet, quarrantine the cat to a single room while you treat the house and cat each. Wait a week between house/carpet treatments, watching for a new generation to hatch. One way indoor cats get fleas is eating mice that get into the house. Good luck, we once had to do all this and we had 6 cats at the time.

 

[mom2rtk]

Also keep in mind that fleas can give your cat worms. Keep an eye out and don't be surprised if it needs treatment for that as well.