Cat still has fleas after Advantage and using an IGR spray - help!?
They won't leave! I found the fleas 2 weeks ago, used a flea comb and drowned them in soapy water, then applied Advantage and used IGR spray all over. Later, I washed bedding, towels, etc. and vacuumed like crazy (couches, rugs...). Now, I just found some adult fleas on him! This time he has hardly any of the "flea dirt" that I found before - so it seems much milder - but I'm afraid I can't get rid of them. He's always been an indoor cat, too! Can I reapply Advantage only 2 weeks later? It was the right dose for his size last time and I used the whole tube. Also, is it possible that giving him a flea bath with BioSpot just one day after the Advantage lessened its effectiveness? (I was being neurotic and wanted to bathe him in case. Boy, did he hate it!) And should I have used a bomb instead of just the spray? I tried to be really thorough with the spray but could have missed something. Any advice or help would be great. My kitty is my baby and I hate to see him scratching. Thanks!
Should I bathe my cat before applying Advantage?
If your cat is really covered in flea debris, then a bath is really the best bet. Use a very minimal amount of shampoo, and then be sure to rinse very thoroughly. Towel dry her thoroughly then flea comb to get out any of the debris that the bath didn't remove. The bath will strip the natural oils from her fur, so wait 48 hours before applying the Advantage. The Advantage needs those oils to spread properly through the fur. Bathing cats is generally not necessary, but sometimes it's for the best.
What are the dangers of flea dirt on cats?
The “flea dirt” (which is crumbs of dried blood defecated by the fleas) isn’t dangerous in itself, but it’s a sign your cat should be treated to rid it of the fleas. The main danger from the fleas is skin irritation (for the cats and their owners) from the bites, but there is a certain tapeworm that cats often get from swallowing fleas when they groom themselves.That “flea dirt” is vital to the life cycle of the fleas. It falls from the infested cat or dog into the animal’s bedding, as do the fleas’ eggs. The eggs hatch into tiny wormlike larvae that must feed on these dried blood crumbs to survive. That is, survival of the young depends on eating their parents’ feces. In a household with a heavily flea-infested cat or dog, these blood crumbs and larval fleas will not only be in the pet’s bedding, but in the furniture, carpets, crevices, cracks in or between floorboards, house dust, etc. After feeding on this dried blood for a while, the flea larvae pupate and metamorphose into adult fleas (like a caterpillar into a butterfly). Their pupae are enclosed in silken cocoons often covered with sand, dirt, or other debris that adheres to the sticky silk. In response to vibrations in the floor (like human footsteps) or agitation of the bedding when a pet lies down to sleep, dozens or hundreds of adults emerge from their cocoons simultaneously and attack the first warm-blooded thing that comes to hand (dog, cat, human), with often intensely irritating results.Fleas and their eggsFlea larvae compared to a pinpointCat flea cocoons containing pupaeHead and thorax of a cat flea as seen by scanning electron microscopyAnd the itchy consequences of household flea infestation
My cat is still scratching after being treated for fleas?
He probably still has sores. My female was experiencing Flea Allergy Dermatitis (it's when they're allergic to the flea saliva)....so even now, after putting her on Frontline Plus and killing all the fleas, she's still itching the sores. Once they heal, she'll be ok. I'm guessing your cat will be, too. Don't use ANYTHING by Hartz. And DON'T give your cat garlic. I used to think it was OK, too, but it's not. Onions, Garlic, & Related Root Vegetables Onions contain a substance (N-propyl disulphide) which destroys red blood cells in the cat, causing a form of anemia called Heinz body anemia. Garlic contains a similar substance in a lesser amount. (And your cat won't become reinfested if he's been put on a preventive like Frontline, Advantage, or Revolution.)
What do you use to get rid of flea dirt on cats?
Its everywhere my cats are just digging and licking their backs like there's no tomorrow and this black stuff is falling out,I gave them these spot drops on the back of their necks and it did nothing,I can feel all the flea dirt on their backs i feel so sorry for them.I've try the bath thing they were fighting me and scratching me it was just crazy to try to give them baths their has to be another way to treat them,i can't afford advantage or frontline i have 5 cats a mother and her4,7 month old kittens,is their something else cheaper that would work.Thank You, my cats are indoor cats.
Can a cat go outside after being treated with a flea treatment?
This depends on what type of “treatment” you are using?? I suggest you read the label.In one of my most recent articles https://www.tailsofkalima.com/te... How To Teach a Cat to Walk on a Leash, I explain the importance of selecting an appropriate flea treatment.I personally believe in veterinarian prescribed flea preventatives. I feel there is no comparison between a veterinarian prescribed product versus the over ones sold at the pet stores or online. My cat uses Advantage Multi for Cats. The cost is $118.00 for an 8-month supply (I buy 6-months and get 2-months free) from my veterinarian’s office. That comes to $14.75/monthAdvantage Multi for Cats applied once a month to the back of my cat’s neck, protects her from; fleas, heart worms, ear mites, intestinal parasites, roundworms, and hookworms. If she is going to be outside I need to protect her from everything, and not just “fleas”. It’s important to me that she be safe and healthy.I also believe it is critical for pets to have a mirco-chip. That is also discussed in my article.I wish you all the best with your cat. Happy Tails to you!
How can you remove flea dirt from a cat's tummy?
You can wash it off, unless you've used a spot-on within the last 48 hours. If so, comb the cat. This will take a few days but so long as you've killed all the fleas, the flea dirts will come off in time - your cat will also be grooming them off herself! Chalice
How do you get rid of fleas on cats? Do fleas die in winter?
No they don’t. Flea eggs can remain dormant for 6 months. In the Winter, they just have longer life cycles. To get rid of fleas, you need to do the following:1 Give your cat a bath. Use some anti flea shampoo. After the cat is dried, use a topical anti flea drop (Frypst or Frontline or Advantage), on its neck where it cannot lick it. This has to be done once every 5 weeks. Do NOT use the same brand every time as fleas become resistant after a while. Also, do NOT touch the cat for a whole day.2 Vacuum your house thoroughly. Cover all areas- behind the couch, under the bed etc. If you are beginning your flea control today, the vacuuming has to be thorough. After day one, you can vacuum every other day with less thoroughness. Day 1 is the most important. Vacuuming will remove 60% of flea eggs. A single female flea lays around 50 eggs per day.3 Mop the floor. Use some strong floor cleaner. A rule of thumb is- the worse the cleaner smells, the more effective it is. Again, be careful if you have babies. Similar to vacuuming, day 1 has to be more thorough.4 Wash all your sheets, pillow covers etc using washing machine. Water must be at 55C or more. Use a strong detergent. My cat shares the bed with me. I use a white sheet. When you see flea droppings on the sheet, it is an indication that the fleas are back. Time to repeat steps 2 and 3 again.5 Use a flea comb once every few days to catch the fleas. Be sure to feed the cat and calm it down before you begin this. Most fleas will be found on the neck, forehead and belly. Carefully trap the fleas in the comb and dunk them in a container of slightly hot water (not too hot that your fingernails come off) mixed with dishwasher soap. The flea will drown. Also keep in mind that the comb has to be dried before being used again. Otherwise the cat will begin to lick its fur where the (wet) comb was used, ingesting the soapy water.6 Use a insecticide spray once in 2 weeks on the couch, bed and other places where the cat spends more time. Again, be careful if you have babies.