Eek - A Flea!

[DougG]

This morning I noticed a single flea on one of my three Himalayan cats - this is the first time I've EVER had a flea on a pet. Unfortunately I couldn't catch it but I'll keep looking and working her long fur with a steel comb.

The three cats are indoor-only pets so I surmise the flea must have been picked up at an open window or at the back door, where they spend a lot of their time lazing during the Summer months. There are a lot of squirrels and other critters around all the time outside. Or could one of us have picked up the flea outside and brought it indoors on our clothing?

What should I do - are flea collars effective? Comments & tips would be appreciated. What a way to start my day off. 

[himimom1254]

Doug,

I've found fleas three times on my kitties (Himis and Persians) over the years.  These are cats that have never gone outside, but.... I was told it's possible for us to bring them in from the outside especially if you have squirrels and rabbits in the yard.

I've done the whole flea removal thing; vacuuming like a maniac everyday for a month and then treating the cats.  I now use Revolution 7 months out of the year as a preventative.  It's a topical application that's applied monthly.  I don't like having to use it, but since having a really bad infestation I don't want a repeat experience.  It was so bad, I was getting bit by the fleas. 

We also treat the yard every spring as a preventative as well. 

Good luck

[Sharon L.]

Or could one of us have picked up the flea outside and brought it indoors on our clothing?

Yup!

What should I do - are flea collars effective? Comments & tips would be appreciated. What a way to start my day off. 

Flea collars are not only ineffective, they are dangerous to cats. Terrible stuff.

Flea combs are good for low level flea problems (and one flea classifies as low level ), and vacuuming is good to catch any possible eggs in the carpet (be sure to empty the vacuum in an outside right after vacuuming).  Any of the topical flea treatments, i.e., Advantage, Revolution, Frontline, are good ... but any other topical drop like Hartz is very, very bad.

Good luck.

Sharon

[DougG]

Thanks for your comments!

I've gone over Silky from head to toe, and there's no sign of the flea, and no sign of droppings anywhere - thank goodness. Silky's a blue / cream point so her fur is white over most of her body, and it would be easy to spot anything unusual. Still, she's going to get even more attention than usual throughout the weekend!

As for my other two Himalayans, they're darker in color (the male is a Seal Point and the other female is a Seal Tortie Point) so it will be a bit more of a challenge to examine them as potential problems won't stand out as they would on Silky, but I'll be as thorough as I can.

I was thinking of a flea collar for a couple of days (until I bring them all in to see the vet this Monday) but no, I just can't put one of those things on them.

You can bet I'll be vacuuming a few times this weekend - and the bed Silky was in when I spotted the flea on her hind leg is now in the garbage.

We have a pretty large squirrel population this year - I think I'll start live-trapping them tomorrow (just in case they're bringing fleas around outside the house), and releasing them a few miles away in the woods. A few years ago I trapped a lot of squirrels (40+) over a two month period as they were wreaking havoc in our bird feeders, and they ruined our neighbors' soffits. So I figure I'll give this year's squirrel bunch a new career in a new town starting now, and hopefully reduce the chances of fleas hanging around & also keep our bird feeders from being ravaged once the Fall food gathering & hoarding begins...

[DougG]

The vet was able to see Silky this evening. I got three doses of Advantage - Silky has been treated, as have Kobi (Seal Point Male) and Molly (Seal Tortie Point). I've heard that Advantage is extremely effective, so I feel better now.

Tomorrow I'll vacuum and clean thoroughly - and then when I go to the pet store in the morning to get some more Eagle Pack kibble (which they love, and are doing just great on), I'll buy a couple of nice new pet beds. I threw Silky's bed out this morning after I saw the flea on her leg, and now with her favourite bed gone, and no access to our bedrooms for the next 24 hours, she's just beside herself. Poor little poo.

I'll watch for a reoccurrence over the next month and if need be, I'll treat them again.

This has been quite the crash course for us!

[Geff]

.  Any of the topical flea treatments, i.e., Advantage, Revolution, Frontline, are good ... but any other topical drop like Hartz is very, very bad.

Good luck.

Sharon

I've had better luck with Front Line. My guy has very sensitive skin & Advantage seems to burn him. Never tried Revolution.

[himimom1254]

I've had good luck with Revolution.  There doesn't seem to be any skin sensitivity or other effects that I've noticed.    The thing I like about Revolution is that is also protects against heartworm and ear mites.  We have lots of mosquitoes so that's a plus even though Andy never goes out there always seem to be one or two that get into the house over the course of the season.

Another tip I learned from my vet is put the "nasty" flea collar in my vacuum cleaner bag.  I just put a new one in every time I change the bag.  It might kill any nasties that are picked up by the vacuum.  Although when I first had the infestation I was vacuuming daily and emptying the bag each time. 

[Bonkers]

  There are natural products that can be used to deter fleas that are much safer than the normal prescribed products. Supplementing with garlic is often of great help. Sprays or shampoos containing neem oil are also effective in repeling fleas.

[GreyGhost]

I have always used garlic. It really works. I get mine from Springtime Inc. I give her a few tablets a day. The horse gets hers too for flies. It also repels tics. I can happily say in 6 years Misty has never had a tic or flea.

True story:

Went out in the fields with my dog and my friends dog. By the time we got back friends dog had dozens of tics and mine had none.  They went to the same place. I have never used any other form of flea or tic med.