Saw a flea on my white cat, not sure if she still has them???? Help! Urgent!!!?
The other night, my white, indoor/outdoor cat came into my room and sat in my lap. Just before she moved, I noticed a small insect on her coat. I grabbed it and determined that it was indeed a flea. IMMEDIATELY, I gave her a bath with flea/tick shampoo and made sure to wash excessively around the area where I spotted the flea. The shampoo supposedly kills fleas on contact, and their eggs and also repels them. After her bath I put the flea drops on her and also put a brand new flea collar on her. Today, I noticed her scratching excessively around her neck and inspected her to make sure she has no remaining fleas. I didn’t see any, however I know they are quite quick. Our vet told us awhile ago to wipe a damp cloth on her coat and if it turns rust/red colored she has fleas. I did this and was unable to determine if she did or not, as she also has a tan patch (dirt) around her neck. What can I do to determine if she has fleas, and to further rid her of them, if they are on her
September 19th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
I think you have confirmed fleas-flea dirt, seeing an actual flea, scratching…get some Advantage or Frontline from the vet. Both are great at killing fleas and controlling flea infestation. Remove the flea collar immediately. They are unsafe and could poison your kitty. Run a flea comb through her fur. If you see fleas on it, she still has them.
i have 3 dogs
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September 23rd, 2011 at 7:36 pm
Try using Advantage or Frontline instead of the over the counter flea preventive…it works much better and will interrupt the flea cycle. It will also prevent more fleas from jumping back onto her. Flea collars do not work. Try using a flea comb to see if it catches any more of the little critters or their eggs. Comb near the base of her tail and around her neck for best results in checking.
i have 3 dogs
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September 27th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
You probably have fleas in the living area around your cat.They will jump on your cat,and then return to the carpet,etc.Your cat might not like it’s collar,or it may be irritating.I do recommend you flea bomb your house!
i have 3 dogs
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October 2nd, 2011 at 12:36 am
Frontline or stronghold from the vet. But i rather think you have over reacted with all the things you have done to the poor little soul you have probably irritated her skin. you need to treat your house. Fleas don’t actually live on a cat they just feed off them they live in the environment
i have 3 dogs
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October 5th, 2011 at 9:36 pm
You got the fleas in time- but you might want to rethink the flea collar: I’ve never had a cat who wasn’t sensitive to the collar, and that’s probably why she’s scratching.
Now, you might want to treat your house for fleas too, in case a few have hopped off to lay eggs. Close your kitty in the bathroom, and sprinkle your house and furniture with borax, then vacuum after about 20 minutes. And keep vacuuming every day for at least 2 weeks.
For getting fleas out of your yard, there are a number of aromatic herbs you can plant.
Good luck!
i have 3 dogs
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October 9th, 2011 at 6:38 pm
Hiya Bored!
Flea collars are not safe for cats, or in fact for any pets. They are toxic and there are a lot safer products out on the market. You cat may be scratching excessively around her neck due to an irritation from the collar.
http://shop.sixwise.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=154
Frontline, or Advantage are excellent products and work very well! We use Advantage for our cats. They are indoor cats and the product works very efficiently, as fleas can come into the house on clothing, shoes, and even people who visit.
Over the counter flea products also are risky. Hartz for one, a famous brand name is one of the top on the list of toxic products.
http://tippedearclan.wordpress.com/2007/01/21/beware-hartz-tick-and-flea-control-products/
You should also vacuum all your fabric covered furniture carefully, and your carpets. Fleas get into the fabrics and before you know it you can have a major problem on your hands.
Just keep combing her with a flea comb that you can purchase at any pet store. Since she is white, you have an easier time of it, as you will be able to see flea dirt and even see fleas crawling close to the skin. One effective way to rid a stray flea that you may see while combing or examining her, is to have a little dish of rubbing alcohol handy and a tweezer and q-tip. If you see the flea, douse it with alcohol with the q-tip and use the tweezer carefully to remove it. Drop the flea into the alcohol immediately. It may not kill the flea but will paralyze it instantly. Then flush the whole thing down the toilet when you are finished.
Fleas are nasty things and good that you are getting on top of the problem before it is huge. Fleas carry tapeworm, and can also cause feline anemia if the infestation is great. They suck the cat’s blood as their meal, and can actually cause this serious condition.
Good luck to you with your flea removal and prevention. Once a month treatment with either Frontline or Advantage should keep these pests at bay.
Troublesniffer
Owned by cats for over 40 years
Former breeder of Oriental Shorthairs and Siamese
i have 3 dogs
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October 13th, 2011 at 11:35 pm
it may be the collar shes itching. she may have flea eggs on her skin. you may want to call the vet.
i have 3 dogs
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October 18th, 2011 at 6:36 am
ive got a white cat to and had this problem, you should be lucky its white coz you can easily find them, go to your vets and they will either suggest to you givng you some flea stuff, but i cant remember whats its called, but just keep combing her fur a couple times a day
good luck
i have 3 dogs
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October 22nd, 2011 at 2:37 am
THAT IS EXTREMELY OVER EXCESSIVE ON THE TREATMENT. GET A FLEA COMB AND CATCH THEM WITH THAT. HAVE A BOWL OF WARM SOAPY WATER NEARBY TO PUSH THE FLEAS FROM THE COMB INTO THE WATER. THEY WILL JUMP OUT OF PLAIN WATER, BUT SOAPY WATER THEY WILL SINK TO THE BOTTOM.
CHECK FOR FLEAS ESPECIALLY UNDER THE CHIN AND IN THE HEAD AND CHEEKS. THE FLEAS GET EVERYWHERE, BUT THEY ARE VERY PARTIAL TO THOSE PLACES.
A MONTHLY FLEA TREATMENT IS FINE. DO NOT BATHE HER AS WELL. THE FLEA COLLARS OFTEN AS NOT CAUSE A REACTION IN THE CAT, APART FROM BEING VERY UNCOMFORTABLE FOR THE PRECIOUS ANIMALS.
I AM SURPRISED YOUR VET DID NOT MENTION SOME OF THIS.
50 YEARS OF OWNING CATS
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October 25th, 2011 at 4:37 am
The toxic shampoo to kill fleas is overkill when regular shampoo kills the fleas is the first thing (companies are trying to make money off you and the toxins is not good for the cat) the flea collars are again poison (neurological toxins) and not needed IMO.
I would recommend instead using some flea lights inside and in your yard to help with the flea situation and feed a raw meaty bone diet (check on the net for some cat lists that will help you switch over your cats)
Here is an old effective way to control fleas.
I ran across this when I was looking for a non chemical way to control flees. I went to the agriculture department and check their files before 1946 to get this one.
I suggested it to Judy B. who had tried lots of other methods and spent a lot of money but found this to be the most effective ;o)))
Try the safe soapy water and light bulb flee controller. Hang light bulb 1 foot above a
low container (about a foot wide and 2-3 inches deep and with at least 1 inch
of soapy water in it. A great use for those old wire crates!!
It is moved around about 5 feet a day or have several and the flees jump
to the light (heat) and fall in the soapy water (very old method of getting rid of flees)
Best places indoors is within 5 feet of where your pet sleeps and you sleep, rather they drown in the bowl than you or your pet getting bit.
Remember that fleas are not found in your driveway gravel or in the open. The larvae do not
survive high temperatures. They are found in shaded areas, like under porches, decks, car ports, at the edges of woods, and especially in places where your pets lay down outdoors.
Works very well
))) It was suggested on one of my lists you put it in a wire crate to keep the other animals out of it.
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Well, Louise….after spending hundreds of dollars on natural flea
products….the soapy water and light bulb are working like a dream!!!!!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you.:)
Regards,
Judy M
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I had great luck with this the one time I rescued an old beagle lady. She
spent the night in one spot at the top of my steps. Next morning I discovered she
was covered with fleas. Used the bowl in my office, down the hall from where
she slept.
Day 1 – 25 fleas, 2- 10, 3, 4, 5 – 2-3 per day Then all were gone
Christina C
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Lifecycle
You must keep in mind the life cycle of the flea. From egg to larvae to adult is between three to six weeks: to get rid of fleas in your house, you must break this cycle. As a practical matter, this means you will almost certainly have to repeat your efforts in several weeks to catch the fleas from the larvae that didn’t get destroyed the first time around. This is also why it is important to address the problem of the eggs and larvae as well as the adult fleas.
After taking a blood meal, fleas either lay eggs on your pet or in its surrounding environment. Eggs on your pet are often shed onto its bedding or into the carpet. A pair of fleas may produce 20,000 fleas in 3 months. Eggs hatch after 2-12 days into larvae that feed in the environment — generally on digested blood from adult fleas and other food matter in their environment. The food required at this stage is microscopic, and even clean carpets often offer plenty of food to the larvae. The larvae are little wiggles about 3-4 millimeters long, you may see some if you inspect your pet’s bedding carefully.
Larvae molt twice within 2-200 days and the older larvae spin a cocoon in which they remain for one week to one year. When in this cocoon stage the young flea is invulnerable to any kind of insecticide and to low, even freezing, temperatures. Only sufficient warmth and the presence of a host can cause them to emerge. This long cocooning period explains why fleas are so difficult to eradicate.
Keeping clean
Having your carpets professionally cleaned WILL NOT get rid of the fleas, unless they use something that is meant to kill fleas (some are very toxic though and the reason I had to look for other means). However, regular steam cleaning will remove much of the eggs, larvae and the food that the larvae feeds on, so it can be useful in conjunction with other methods.
Experience in dealing with fleas
The flea light information comes from the Agriculture department in Ottawa, Canada
Testimonials from various people that gave me feed back on it
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October 27th, 2011 at 7:35 pm
take to vet
Experience in dealing with fleas
The flea light information comes from the Agriculture department in Ottawa, Canada
Testimonials from various people that gave me feed back on it
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October 29th, 2011 at 11:35 pm
Stop panicking you’ve shampooed her put the drops on her so the fleas have been well and truly bombarded.If you are still concerned go to the pet shop and buy a flea comb.If there are any they get caught in the comb so you can clearly see them,vets use them.Get yourself a spray from the pet shop for household use and spray around the skirting boards to kill any that still might be lurking.Hope this helps.
Experience in dealing with fleas
The flea light information comes from the Agriculture department in Ottawa, Canada
Testimonials from various people that gave me feed back on it
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October 31st, 2011 at 5:35 pm
Treat your cat with Frontline, every 6 weeks and you will have no problem with fleas ever again…..good luck
Experience in dealing with fleas
The flea light information comes from the Agriculture department in Ottawa, Canada
Testimonials from various people that gave me feed back on it
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November 2nd, 2011 at 4:36 am
I think u better bring your pet to the vet just in case before you do anything. it would be the safest. Good Luck! =)
Experience in dealing with fleas
The flea light information comes from the Agriculture department in Ottawa, Canada
Testimonials from various people that gave me feed back on it
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