Immortal Fleas... Help!

[Zippa D Doodah]

We have lived in three houses prior to this one and have always had indoor cats. But for some reason we can't get rid of fleas. We've used Frontline (and a few other brands) on the cats; we dusted the carpets yesterday with this special "Adams" brand dust that the lady at PetSmart said would certainly work. This morning we still saw fleas; DW had three on her sock after walking thru the house for a few minutes . So right now I'm out over $100 in flea meds; DW is exasperated; I am ready to throw the cats out of the house What else might I try?

 

[cardaway]

We had an outbreak (also with an indoor only cat) and we did the powder and Frontline treatments as well. It doesn't work overnight. Give it time (took about two weeks for us) and you'll find they are not so immortal after all.

Of course it's also possible they just all moved out.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I'll just have to be patient. I thought that dust was going to kill ME when I was brushing it into the carpet yesterday afternoon.

 

[Rajah]

If you have a yard, treat it as well.

 

[lyzziesmom]

The problem with fleas is, you have to treat the whole life cycle. The eggs, the larvae, and the adult fleas. This takes multiple treatments over a period of time. There is a lot of information available online, just do a search for fleas and you will find tons of detailed information. You shouldn't have to buy any expensive treatments, but it does take a long time. The eggs can survive unhatched for a couple months I think (I forget exactly how long) so if you don't get rid of them, then just when you think the fleas are gone, bam, a new generation hatches. One thing that helps tremendously: after each treatment, vacuum several times a day for about a week. It's a lot of work, but it will get rid of them. Eventually.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

We had a horrible, horrible flea problem. Frontline and other topical flea control just did not work for us (even combined with spraying our yard and bombing our house.

What finally worked for us was Program (the monthly oral flea control that kills pre-adult fleas) combined with spraying our yard and treating our carpeting. We literally have not seen a flea in over 10 years, and we're in Florida (flea capital of the USA!).

 

[doxdogy]

As stated in an earlier post, you need to treat the yard too. You can carry fleas in with you from the outside. Believe it or not we used good old Ivory dish detergent to treat our yard for fleas. Pour the detergent in a hose spayer and spray the yard. We were going to have an exterminator treat the yard, but he told us that the fleas would just go next door and come back.

 

[escape]

Another tip - when vacuuming and not using flea powder on your carpets, cut up a flea collar and vacuum it up into the vacuum bag. Otherwise, the fleas can survive and escape.

Frontline Plus works for our cats. One thing I like about it is that it goes after the eggs and not just the fleas. Just be sure to treat your cats on a monthly basis - whatever brand you choose.

 

[Lanshark]

Was told by the vet to use 20 Mule team Borax on the carpets to kill fleas. Sprinkle on, rub in with a broom. Go to bed and vacuum the next morning. Make sure to treat all areas. I've done this every time we've had a problem in conjunction to treating the animals with frontline.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Thanks for all the help Has anyone tried putting the dust (or borax) designed fror carpet treatment on upholstered furniture. I am thinking they might require some treatement as well

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

we put the borax on our furniture, but just down in the crevices...we only had a mild infestation and I was so worried about the borax ruining the fabric. I had heard if the fabric got wet with the borax on, then it would leave bleached out spots.

 

[canwegosoon]

I used to get the cats on a frontline...take them out of the house in a carrier, and set of bombs(smoke ones-but they make dry ones now). I did one, and then did one in 3 weeks, and problem solved...keep the cats indoors.

 

[ilovepcot]

Borax does work really GREAT on carpets...don't know about upholstery. I do know, however, never to treat your yard with it. Burns grass up! I got the bright idea with my last dog to treat the area she used for "taking care of business". Terrible mess!

 

[Quinn222]

Borax does work really GREAT on carpets...

We used Borax as well, it helped a lot.