FLEAS?! What do I do...

[CraZx2ing]

Anyone have experience with cats and fleas? One of my cats got outside a few times this week and now both have what appear to be fleas. What's the best stuff to get to kill em quickly? Links would be great to whatever products you tell me about.

No carpet in the entire house... I just need to know how to get them off the cats :).

[droptoutzx2]

my g/fs cat we just hold her down and slowly pick them off

[Buster]

Bug bomb.

Flea bath.

How much do you like the cat?

[ZX2guy19]

Fire would do it pretty quick.

[Buster]

Also, a deep fryer.

[JohnP]

Borax , spread it around all over the floor , leave it a few days . Get the cat a flea collar , it'll help keep the flea's off till the Borax kills flea's and the egg's . Vacuum up the Borax in a few day's ,throw away the vacuum bag , it'll have egg's in it . Keep and eye out for flea's , sometime it takes a few doses to get rid of them . Borax you can buy at any grocery store , it's a laundry soap . It' non toxic , no smell and it'll work better then anything else you can buy , and it's cheap .

[CraZx2ing]

We've already considered eating them as a last resort (wife is viet... she'll fry them up in egg rolls and i'll bring them to a work party or something...). We would prefer not to need to terminate the cats unless the fleas are causing them mass pain and suffering. I remember the TV telling me to buy this ish one time that is a drop on the back of the neck and the problem is solved. One other time, the TV advised me of a collar that would also rid the cat of fleas. I would need to know what these are so I could start researching them.

My house should stay fine, we have all hard floors and nowhere for the fleas to chill at in the house. A flea bath would work... but i'm anti cat baths if there is another way.

[JonsZX2SR]

Feline Advantage works, but I don't likie what it does to the cat. I'd suggest you give the cat a bath with whatever gets rid of the fleas then give the cat a new collar every 6 months.

Ask Jen, she probably knows more about animals than anyone else on here.

[pissdrunx16]

just give the cat a bath with flea shampoo..... buy some advantage/ frontline (there are cheaper versions, hince they dont last as long or as good)...... They also sell like carpet fresh or somthing like that (carpet powder, kinda like the borax but made for this purpose) that kills fleas.... works pretty good its what I used on my dogs and ferrett....

Flea collars, flea bomb, flea dip,

off topic you guys ever see those ummm flea traps with the green light and the sticky pad.... my old girfiends parents had one those things are crazy!!! you wouldnt believe how many fleas flock to the green light lol ( i doont even think they make those anymore)

[CraZx2ing]

Feline Advantage works, but I don't likie what it does to the cat. I'd suggest you give the cat a bath with whatever gets rid of the fleas then give the cat a new collar every 6 months.

I remember my parents using the drop stuff on our small dog and she instantly tripped out and started watching Friday and various cheech and chong movies. I'd prefer not to have stoned cats :).

I'll keep reading this post through out the night and looking up the various things on google and after work i'll head to walmart with the recommendations I get and will keep everyone posted...

Once again, I do not have a single room in my house with carpet (yey remodeling!!). I'll just sweep and mop the floors tonight to make sure there isn't anything hanging out that i'm not aware of...

[inis]

if the carpet gets flea's your fucked. We had it happen when I was younger, took a shit load to get them out. We had to sprinkle stuff on the floor, use soap pans and heat lamps. It seriously took like 10 days to get them gone. It was nuts.

[scort2498]

when fleas got into the floors here we had to wait till winter when it got cold and it killed em off... so assuming that cold kills fleas throw the cat in the freezer they have a fur coat on anyway,

[CraZx2ing]

And after 2 or 3 posts.... no one realizes I don't have carpet in my house lol.

[Buster]

Soak the carpet with gasoline and lock the cats in the room for 2 days.

[pissdrunx16]

haha then you should have it easier then ppl with carpet!!!

just clean your floors then thats all you can really doo ... I dont think they make like flea killer for hard floors lol

[pissdrunx16]

make sure you wash the cats bedding or where ever they sleep!!!!

[pissdrunx16]

flea comb em after or while you give them a bath with flea shampoo.... maybe some drops (cheap/ expensive) you should be good on top of all of that Id throw a flea collar on for the hell of it lol!!!

[CSCustomCars]

Like everyone has been saying get them a flea dip, or use the stuff on the neck. I haven't had any bad experience with the flea stuff on the neck. I use the inexpensive kind and it works just fine. I use this stuff:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752099

As for the floors, not having carpet puts you in a much easier position to take of those fleas.
Get yourself some flea spray Like this stuff:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752952

Put it between your mattress and your box spring. Also spray it on any other fabrics in your home. Couch, chairs, bedding (Not your pillow) etc. Let that sit for 2 days, then do it again. Let it sit again for 2 days, and do it one final time. This will kill all adult fleas, and any eggs that hatch. If you prefer you can use flea powder like this:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752950
And it will also kill larva. Both products are safe for animal use.

What's better about the spray though is you can use it on smaller areas, whenever you feel there may be fleas in the house again. And you can also use it on the cats themselves.

Note: Do not use a flea collar at the same time you are using a neck treatment or vice versa. Only use one or the other. If your cats go outside frequently, use the neck treatment. It's more effective, and also repels ticks as well.

I've had bad flea infestations in the past. Using these methods I have been able to rid my home of the fleas. In a bad infestation, you will have to use the flea bombs. they work great. But they can be harmful to electronics.

Hope you get rid of those things. They drive me insane.

[CraZx2ing]

Like everyone has been saying get them a flea dip, or use the stuff on the neck. I haven't had any bad experience with the flea stuff on the neck. I use the inexpensive kind and it works just fine. I use this stuff:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752099

As for the floors, not having carpet puts you in a much easier position to take of those fleas.
Get yourself some flea spray Like this stuff:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752952

Put it between your mattress and your box spring. Also spray it on any other fabrics in your home. Couch, chairs, bedding (Not your pillow) etc. Let that sit for 2 days, then do it again. Let it sit again for 2 days, and do it one final time. This will kill all adult fleas, and any eggs that hatch. If you prefer you can use flea powder like this:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752950
And it will also kill larva. Both products are safe for animal use.

What's better about the spray though is you can use it on smaller areas, whenever you feel there may be fleas in the house again. And you can also use it on the cats themselves.

Note: Do not use a flea collar at the same time you are using a neck treatment or vice versa. Only use one or the other. If your cats go outside frequently, use the neck treatment. It's more effective, and also repels ticks as well.

I've had bad flea infestations in the past. Using these methods I have been able to rid my home of the fleas. In a bad infestation, you will have to use the flea bombs. they work great. But they can be harmful to electronics.

Hope you get rid of those things. They drive me insane.
Great reply! I actually just scored a $5 off coupon for petsmart. I"ll research the products and get them this weekend. I'm going to sweep and mop the floors tonight and clean out any areas where the cats may hide. The wife already washed out sheets/blankets just in case and is keeping the cats out of our room. I'll do what you said about the spray on the bed.

[JenzZx2]

If it's just a one time deal, you can go to the vet and pick up a product called Capstar. It's a pill that lasts 24 hours and kills all the fleas they currently have on them. It's usually about $12-$15 for the pill.

Otherwise I would use Frontline (Kills fleas and ticks) or Advantage (only kills fleas). You should be able to buy just a one month application from a vet. One thing to keep in mind is if your cat is cleaning itself and it ingests a flea carrying tapeworm larvae, it can get tapeworms. So keep an eye out for white rice looking things around kitties butt. (I know you probably have a lot of rice in your house, so don't go eating any you find off the floor, lol).

You can also get flea shampoo, but depending on how bad the cat has them, it may or may not be effective.

If you don't have carpet, you should be okay as far as your houses is concerned. But if not, the one month dose of Frontline/Advantage should be enough to break the cycle, along with a bomb or spray. Just be careful if you have any fish or birds, it can be toxic to them, so read the labels.

Whatever you do, please please PLEASE do not use stuff you buy at the grocery store or wal-mart or wherever. That stuff is known to cause seizures, hair loss, uncontrollable vomiting and other nasty things. I wish they would take it off the market.

[ford motorsports]

If it's just a one time deal, you can go to the vet and pick up a product called Capstar. It's a pill that lasts 24 hours and kills all the fleas they currently have on them. It's usually about $12-$15 for the pill.

Otherwise I would use Frontline (Kills fleas and ticks) or Advantage (only kills fleas). You should be able to buy just a one month application from a vet. One thing to keep in mind is if your cat is cleaning itself and it ingests a flea carrying tapeworm larvae, it can get tapeworms. So keep an eye out for white rice looking things around kitties butt. (I know you probably have a lot of rice in your house, so don't go eating any you find off the floor, lol).

You can also get flea shampoo, but depending on how bad the cat has them, it may or may not be effective.

If you don't have carpet, you should be okay as far as your houses is concerned. But if not, the one month dose of Frontline/Advantage should be enough to break the cycle, along with a bomb or spray. Just be careful if you have any fish or birds, it can be toxic to them, so read the labels.

Whatever you do, please please PLEASE do not use stuff you buy at the grocery store or wal-mart or wherever. That stuff is known to cause seizures, hair loss, uncontrollable vomiting and other nasty things. I wish they would take it off the market.

I am with Jen here CAPSTAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! makes all the fleas dead in about 30 minutes

[CraZx2ing]

interesting. is it something i can order online, or do i have to find a vet and bring the cat in and stuff.

[sinzx2]

Originally Posted by JenzZx2
If it's just a one time deal, you can go to the vet and pick up a product called Capstar. It's a pill that lasts 24 hours and kills all the fleas they currently have on them. It's usually about $12-$15 for the pill.

Otherwise I would use Frontline (Kills fleas and ticks) or Advantage (only kills fleas). You should be able to buy just a one month application from a vet. One thing to keep in mind is if your cat is cleaning itself and it ingests a flea carrying tapeworm larvae, it can get tapeworms. So keep an eye out for white rice looking things around kitties butt. (I know you probably have a lot of rice in your house, so don't go eating any you find off the floor, lol).

You can also get flea shampoo, but depending on how bad the cat has them, it may or may not be effective.

If you don't have carpet, you should be okay as far as your houses is concerned. But if not, the one month dose of Frontline/Advantage should be enough to break the cycle, along with a bomb or spray. Just be careful if you have any fish or birds, it can be toxic to them, so read the labels.

Whatever you do, please please PLEASE do not use stuff you buy at the grocery store or wal-mart or wherever. That stuff is known to cause seizures, hair loss, uncontrollable vomiting and other nasty things. I wish they would take it off the market.

[CraZx2ing]

SCORE!

Your Order
Item Cost
1 CAPSTAR Blue
for Dogs or
Cats 2-25
lbs(6
tablets) $15.99
Subtotal: $15.99
Shipping: $6.95
Tax: $0.00
5.00 savings: -$5.00
Total: $17.94

I ended up finding a $5 coupon online. So I'm getting 6 tabs for $18 shipped via 2-3 day mail. woohoo! I'll pick up a collar over the weekend and some stuff to clean the house with.

Thanks for the help all... i'll keep you posted!


EDIT: Nice try on the burn sinzx2... Internet > brick and mortar.

[sinzx2]

i tried...hope all goes well and good luck...both my dogs had flease in a fully carpeted house...i stayed at my friends house for about a month to steer clear of the horror that is the flea

[SMusser]

As far as your carpet goes, I would just get some of this stuff called Borax and use that. It works great for killing off any fleas or eggs in the carpet itself. Haha I'm just messing with you, I just thought it was funny how nobody noticed you said you had hardwood floors! Glad you found something so quick to solve your problem though!

[CraZx2ing]

As far as your carpet goes, I would just get some of this stuff called Borax and use that. It works great for killing off any fleas or eggs in the carpet itself. Haha I'm just messing with you, I just thought it was funny how nobody noticed you said you had hardwood floors! Glad you found something so quick to solve your problem though!

LOL. If only you knew what I was thinking when I started reading that :).

Thanks again to everyone... i'll let you guys know how it all works out!

[Chromenomad]

the last time we got them we set off like 20-25 bombs, our whole house is carpeted

[JohnP]

No carpet no problem , they go into anything they can hide in , rugs ,furniture , beds anything on the floor or close to it .

[Wogdog]

RAID makes a flea spray that kills fleas and the eggs they lay. Frontline/Advantage works, but you are right it bums the animal out for a day or two, after that they are normal and lasts for a month or so.

[dean]

hold the cat underwater for about 2 hours (that should do it)



and oh yea clean your carpets ;)

[CSCustomCars]

DAMN YOU! :P You jinxed me. NOW I HAVE FLEAS! Damn it! I hate these little f*ckers.

Ugh... Freeking bites all over my ankles. Damn it.... I always seems to get an infestation around this time of year. I think it's because of where I live, and the fact that I have cats, and I'm on the ground floor, and I had the windows open all day long every day last week.... F*ck. I hate these things. They are so f-ing annoying! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR I swear i could end up in an insane asylum because of these damn things.

You jinxed me.

Off to kill some fleas tomorrow.

[CraZx2ing]

HA! that capstar stuff worked perfect BTW. 1 dose and they are flea free!

[CSCustomCars]

That's good.

My cats already have the flea treatment on them, so they are good. I think the fleas came in through the windows. I am on the ground floor, and my complex has been known for fleas so I hear.