*sob!*

[RainbowLass]

Seriously, this flea problem is getting beyond a JOKE!!!

We've used Indorex, frontline.... malaseb baths but somehow, SOMEHOW we are back to square one and seem to be more infested than ever!!!

I'm close to the end of my rope here trying to get on top of this.... If Rogue's skin wasn't so bad i wouldn't worry but she was looking soooo good when we thought we were on top of it, but i've noticed her scratching these past couple of days and now i've just been 'pinged' as i was sat on the sofa and i could CRY!!!!

I thought that the cold weather would see the problem ease off a little but obviously not!

so. Who comes first? the cats who have been here all their lives or Rogue, who really can't deal with the constant fleas?



starting to get me down all of this, i've spent a bloody fortune for nothing!

[jesterjenn]

Have you tried adding garlic to their meals daily? It's a natural flea repellant and won't cost a lot if it doesn't work

[Caryll]

I take it you've also treated all your furniture/dogs bedding etc?

Have you tried tea tree oil?

[RainbowLass]

Rogue has garlic every other day, i have tried tea tree oil with the cats (ever tried to bath a cat?!) but still we get them.

The cats are frontlined regularly, in fact they were only done 10 days ago and still they bring them in.

10 days ago i stripped the house down, washed and tumble dried all the bedding and emptied easily about half a can of indorex all over the place, every nook and cranny i could find after i'd treated the cats and Rogue. They ARE cat fleas, i've just brushed three off her. It's crazy, i now have to indorex the house AGAIN, i thought this stuff lasted a year????

[lauraburns]

Do you always use frontline? I only ask as I used to use frontline and the fleas seemed to develop an immunity to it! I have just bought some advantage, you can get it online now without a prescription! Might be worth changing to something else or going to the vet and get a vet strength flea control!

[banger]

Vet always used to sell us frontline, but having no cats we never seemed to get any on Max except when he played with hedgehogs with his paw.

[RainbowLass]

Originally Posted by lauraburns

Do you always use frontline? I only ask as I used to use frontline and the fleas seemed to develop an immunity to it! I have just bought some advantage, you can get it online now without a prescription! Might be worth changing to something else or going to the vet and get a vet strength flea control!

We did use the vet stuff, but that wasn't working so we switched to frontline about 6 months ago.
I'm willing to try anything right now. Problem is i'm fast approaching skint and don't get my grant in until January!

It's sad that i have an allergic dog! The cats came first but i'm seriously considering re-homing them as they are the ones bringing in the fleas.



But they are MY cats, and on the same token i'd be gutted to lose them.

We're making up some flea traps now to see if that helps, i HATE the idea of spraying chemicals around, but i'm going to have to give it all another go tomorrow.

Next step is rentokill.

[Stuart]

I have been looking into this a little,... try looking up Apple Cider Vinegar, by all accounts people claim it to be the magic formular for all things,... and part of these claims is it stops itching, because it is both antibactrial and antifungal,... its well worth a try,... and cheap too

It makes the dog smell like a good chip for a while, but the smell soon goes away

[Bet]

You have my sympathy, I can remember how hard it was years ago to get rid of the little blighters after a cat of ours brought them in. I treated the house and cat then used a flea collar after that. After you've hoovered empty the contents into a plastic bag and seal it with tape before disgarding...I was told that any eggs can hatch out and escape if the hoover sits with waste in it. I'd put a flea collar in the hoover bag/dust container too.

Another suggestion would be to keep your cats inside. Mine have been indoors for years and adapted well to it, they never had much common sense to be honest...their mother died when they were a few weeks old and I had to hand rear them. I made the choice for their own safety due to a few cats being poisoned in the area and one of them got trapped under a neighbours floorboards while they were renovating the house If it means you can keep them it would be worth a try They will be prone to putting on extra weight though so you would need to watch their diet.

If you have the space when your budget allows... a large scratching post/climbing frame would be great for exercise. I made one for mine as they were too expensive to buy...all you would need is some reclaimed timber and board, offcuts of carpet and some rope and basic diy skills. Oh and a litter tray with a cover and flap so the dog can't get in it

Have u tried RIP flea killer? A spray for the house + bedding. It has purple top, giant aerosol. It was the only thing which eradicated our flea epidemic in conjunction with Frontlining the cats when we had them. Fleas can live for months without a host (food) supply.