Cat fleas

My last cat had an injection every six months from the vet. This was not an insecticide, but rendered any flea which bit the cat infertile. In a very short time this broke the life cycle of the fleas already in the carpets/furniture and if any new flea was brought in it couldn't have babies. Worked brilliantly and I was much happier not having to fill the house with noxious chemicals.

Adult fleas only hop onto cats/dogs for a meal they then live in the bedding or surrounding area [that's what I've always thought]. Is there a similar injection for dogs, I wonder? Going to the vets today so I'll ask.

Has anyone else who contributed to this thread noticed all the flea treatment adverts popping up all over the place? There is one at the top of this page now.

This is clever internet stuff shysal. I cant see the cat flea ad, but I can see an ad for create your own website, in fact a site I was looking at yesterday. GN has to earn its keep (several salaries worth of keep) somehow. "cookies" are, I believe, behind this clever marketing technique - GN will get some income for this - don't quite understand how it works. Maybe we need to click on the ads for them to get the money?

Mentioned to my vet today that all my neighbours are having trouble with fleas and he said he thinks some fleas are becoming resistant to Frontline. He says he has seen a change over the last five years. He suggested treating with Frontline every two weeks is worth trying if doing it monthly isn't working.

Surely the more often you use the treatment, the more resistant the flea population gets?

Our vets now sell Advocat because fleas are now resistant to frontline. It's used the same way as frontline, simply pop it on the dog/cats neck once a month - problem solved. Some of my dog loving pals only use non chemical treatments. My dogs have all lived to 15 or so, despite the last 2 being rescues and in a poor state when they joined the family, so hopefully the chemicals haven't harmed them too much. They've certainly made sharing our lives with dogs a more pleasant experience. Visiting homes where the cats/dogs were flea ridden meant we'd often get flea bites and it isn't pleasant. It also must be very unpleasant for the animals who are flea ridden.

I bought some Prac-tic [pyripole] for my dog and, for some reason beyond me [she wasn't coming into contact with other dogs and didn't seem to be getting fleas] didn't use all of it. I've got three lots left, all out of date and not sure if I dare use them [I don't think they would be dangerous, but perhaps not so effective now]. Also not sure if I can use it when I've just used Frontline on her . Is Advocat pyripole, Iam? I was so shocked to find she had fleas but, as she's a bit under the weather at the moment I don't want to bombard her with more chemicals.

Is anyone else itching?

DD2 was allergic to cat flea bites and got huge wheals (sp). She was also allergic to flea treatments. We had no cats for about 3 years then risked it again and she seemed to have grown out of it.

The S.O. has been seeing several doctors for weeks due to a reaction to bites [and blaming my dog] but the bites that have really caused him a problem are mozzie bites. He started to turn into the Elephant Man. Strangely enough, although I get a bit of a reaction to mozzie bites, they also induce a feeling of well being in me because I associate them with holidays abroad.

Every cloud, Tegan every cloud..............

every cloud is good. It's also good to hear about your daughter and cats kitty. I honestly wonder if exposure is good for some allergies. When I was about 4, I was evidently allergic to strawberries. The GP told mum to give me loads, and I'd grow out of it. I did. I'm so glad mum was sensible, and had a sensible GP. I know some allergies are deadly, and I'm not a huge risk taker. One of my daughters had asthma as a child and our GP said don't get rid of the rabbits, or stop her horse riding (both big causes evidently) because he didn't want her to lose things she loved. The asthma wasn't a huge problem and she now only occasionally is bothered by it (she is in her late 20's) I was thankful for a good GP as I would have done as advised if we'd been told to keep her away from riding, which she loved and was good at.

My neighbour had cats for years but when the last one died she became allergic to cats [she found this out when she came round to look after mine].

When my now husband began to spend time at my home, I had 2 cats. He said he sometimes felt his chest was a bit tight, but put it down to 'other things'. 5 years later, we had no cats. Soon after this, he developed an allergy to cats, running eyes, asthma within an hour of being in any home where a cat has been. Odd isn't it.

Just had a bad thought. Given that my dog is sneezing and coughing a lot, could she have developed an allergy to humans? In which case, will I have to move out into the shed ?

Our vet used Advocat on one of our cats who had very persistent fleas and I have to say it was very effective. However I later read some really scary stories about cats dying after using because of kidney damage. I know they say on their website to have a vet make sure the cat is fit before you use it, but I've not been tempted to try it again.

Tegan - oh dear, is your shed one of those posh ones, with a heater and electric socket for your kettle.

I used to live in one like that [I really did; it had a baby belling cooker as well] and it was lovely [apart from not having a bathroom ]. Visions of dog sitting on sofa with cup of tea watching telly with copy of 'Dog World' on the coffee table now....

...me shivering in hovel....

Sorry if this starts you all itching again, but here goes. We have a white cat, and have had her for 19 months, with never a sign of a flea, and her being white surely they`d be easy to spot? Anyway, as from last Friday, we seem to be infested with the little sods, although it`s only me who gets bitten. We can`t see any sign of fleas on the cat, and she isn`t scratching at all, so I`m sure she isn`t the source, but if not, where the hell are they from? And, more to the point, how to get rid? We Frontline Mia regularly, and I`ve sprinkled the carpets and furniture with flea killing powder then vacuumed off after 30 minutes, but to no avail. We wondered if they are from someone visiting who`s dog or cat has fleas, but it offends folk if you ask if their beloved pet has fleas!

My vet said that Front-line doesnt work anymore as the fleas have become resistant to it. I was mortified when the dribbling and swollen lower lip on Felix the cat was said to be caused by over grooming because he had fleas. I protested that I front-lined regularly and that was when she told me, and gave me some Profender which did the trick. However, my dog, despite not mixing with other dogs, and despite having just had her annual shampoo and set, has started scratching, so will have to start all the washing bedding, vacuum rugs process again. Cat is fine.

Are you sure they're fleas? Have you seen them?
If so you need to treat the whole house, as well as the animal that you suspect is carrying them.
This involves vacuuming all soft furnishings including carpets and mats. Burn the contents of the vac. You might have to burn mats (we did.)
Then set off a "bombe" in each room that's affected. We got them from the vet's. Do it at night before you go to bed because the room needs to be closed off for several hours.
It's a nightmare, hope never have to do it again.

I of support for tallboys post.

I share the concerns about the strong chemicals used. However, 30 years ago I came home from holiday to find the rug in the hall and carpets in the sitting room jumping. A friend had been feeding my cat, it was a warm Easter, and the fleas loved it. I followed the approach Tellboy suggests. Since then, my dogs/cats have been treated with anti flea stuff prescribed by the vet. It's expensive, but worth every penny. Our vet isn't prescribing Frontline because fleas are becoming immune to it. I think our current stuff is called Advocat. You simply pop a spot in the animals neck, once a month and never see a flea again. Even cats would accept this, as it can be done so quickly. My dogs, inevitably, see it as a treat, as it means human contact. They line up on flea night!
Good luck medic - I sympathise

Unfortunately, the "bombs" aren`t an option for us, our daughter sleeps downstairs in the front room, and I have to get up several times a night for the loo, which is downstairs, plus the possibility of Mia needing her litter tray. And if we do it during the day, it`s not possible for us all to vacate the house for several hours as daughter is disabled, and hubby isn`t able to drive right now. What is Profender?

I too use a multi spectrum flea, mite, wormer, for our dogs. I think it's Advocat too (or something like that). It's expensive, about £30 per pack but that does 3 treatments. Never had a problem, yet.