S.L. asks from Gardner, MA on July 25, 2008
Fleas
Hi, just wondering what I can do for my sister... She is on vacation and her cat has fleas. She is an outdoor cat and I already bought and put on a flea collar for her. I vaccuumed her house, but now still every time I go in to feed the cat, I find one on me, so are they in the rug or just on the cat? Can fleas live in the rugs????
So What Happened?™
Thanks for all the great advice! My sister comes home from vacation today, I just really hope they aren't everywhere. I'll let her know the tips, I'm sure she'd appreciate it. I think the Frontline is the cure-all and smartest thing to do for the cat. I just hope all the flea bomb and other stuff wil work, she is also pregnant and I wonder if she can be around all this stuff.....
Ok, so they came home from the Cape on Saturday, stayed at a hotel, and her hubby bombed the house and bought some frontline. Thanks for all of the help. She appreciates it as well. She's had this cat for 5 years, and not once has it had fleas and its always been an outdoor cat. Thanks alot!
Thanks again for your help!
Featured Answers
K.B. answers from Boston on July 26, 2008
Hi S., my cat has had fleas before, and the best thing we ever used was a product called Bio-spot, available at petco. Its a white and pink bottle and its safe for everywhere and everything. We spray the cat every few months to keep fleas away, but the one time we had the infestation I sprayed rugs, couches, everything! Works fast and safely and we didnt have to repeat it. Good luck!
D.B. answers from Boston on July 26, 2008
If she is gone for awhile you set a flea bomb in the house. You will need to dust and vaccuum after but usually does the trick. The cat may need to be dipped too and this can be difficult. You may need her or another person to help you with it.
More Answers
K.B. answers from Boston on July 26, 2008
Hi S., my cat has had fleas before, and the best thing we ever used was a product called Bio-spot, available at petco. Its a white and pink bottle and its safe for everywhere and everything. We spray the cat every few months to keep fleas away, but the one time we had the infestation I sprayed rugs, couches, everything! Works fast and safely and we didnt have to repeat it. Good luck!
N.S. answers from Springfield on July 26, 2008
If it is just a minor case we have done this.
Put the flea collar on when the cat goes out so it does not pick up fleas & the ones it has on it will jump off. Then take it off when it comes in the house. The cat picks up the ones that are there & takes them outside.
If you see one flea then there are 100 you don't see. They can definitely live in rugs.
If that doesn't work or it's more serious you need to flea bomb the house. Check a pet store for what they recommend.
Good luck.
D.B. answers from Boston on July 26, 2008
If she is gone for awhile you set a flea bomb in the house. You will need to dust and vaccuum after but usually does the trick. The cat may need to be dipped too and this can be difficult. You may need her or another person to help you with it.
E.M. answers from Boston on July 27, 2008
As a veterinarian who has treated many cases of toxicities from flea products inappropriately placed on cats, I would just advise you to be very careful. Be very cautious with pesticides including flea colors. Never use a product marketed for dogs on a cat, and be very careful about products that you buy from a pet store. Advantage or Frontline for Cats are safe for the cat and for the children. In many cases you might not even have to treat the home after applying one of these products, but sometimes a carpet treatment is also neccessary. Also your sister should have her cat seen by a vet because fleas carry tapeworms. The cat should be treated for tapeworms which can be done easily with a tablet or injection.
Good luck.
E.
T.A. answers from Boston on July 26, 2008
Spread Borax over the carpet and let sit for a few hours then vaccuume.
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf747531.tip.html
Good Luck
T.A. answers from Boston on July 26, 2008
I had the same issue before. Yes they live in rugs and in many things. You would need to take the cat to have a flea dip bath. During that time you would wash everything in your house. In our case we flea bombed our cellar. You would clean teddy bears..etc. Advantage worked great for our animals. It's hard for an outside cat to not get any fleas, but maintenance is key. The Advantage worked great. Wash the rugs and maybe treat it. You might look into non toxic variations because of the children and day care.
Good luck
T.
M.W. answers from Boston on July 26, 2008
HI
Sounds like you need to doa flea bomb. They can live in carpet, sofas, bedding. You can the bombs in the house hold iles with other pest control products. Best to get it done while they are on vacation because you need to leave the house for a few hours.
good luck
P.T. answers from Providence on July 26, 2008
Hi, Oh yes fleas can live in rugs! Fleas can live for 110 days just about anywhere. In that time they need a blood meal to reproduce. Once they get it there's no telling how many fleas there will be! They multiply fast! I use Frontline (drops you put on the back of the cats neck) and they are all gone the very next day. It is a little costly ($45 for three tubes, each tube lasts for a month). Then spray the rugs and furniture with Raid flea spray. That ought to do it. I word of warning. Fleas carry many germs and also cats can get tapeworm if they are bitten enough.
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