Natural Household Flea Tx

Re: Natural Household Flea Tx

NuttyNu — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 22:17:01 GMT

I do like the idea of the flea traps... however, I know the sticky stuff which catch flies cannot be used around birds! (I know... Super cautious around my babies but they have been known to be toxic!) and I cannot light candles because of the fumes and smells for the birds!
However, am doing a mass hoover tonight and bedding going in wash tomorrow. Then another massive hoover tomorrow. Cats being kicked outside tomorrow... Only 1 more bite found today... they are getting less!
The annoying bit is I cannot see any on the cats (Even the scratching one although this is getting less now!). They brought them in in the hot weather... Why can they just not evict them now!!!

I never had a problem for 13 years.... Had a kittne Dec time and he came hooching in fleas (Never seen so many fleas on a cat and owners claimed they had frontlined him!). First place he went was bath! However... From a brown tabby we had a macrel tabby after the bath! And You might have just washed a garden with the brown of the water! I know... Came from a bad home and now potentially has calici and is allergic to wet food! (This list is only for a 8month old!) never had a problem then either (did frontline him just after bath!). 6 months later started getting a couple of bites and found them on the long haired cat. put it down to him sleeping in garden under bush... easy target for the little critters! Think he is sharing the love!!!

With the program injections, i can see how it works but I am a little bit sceptical... The other flea products stop them from laying fertile eggs... So either way, the good products stop breeding (inc program). However, fleas are still living in the home and off me so surely it would take a similar length of time to get the household flea population down as any other... Just my thoughts there!
However, It may help for the times when i am useless and a month goes in one blink!

Re: Natural Household Flea Tx

Heather Bacon — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 19:00:20 GMT

I think that flea trap is similiar to something my mum used. She used chinese takeaway type containers with water, lit a little tealight and let tealight float on the water. She left them on the floor near skirting boards etc. In the morning she would have lots of drowned fleas.

Can't say it will definitely work but it's free, but also a fire risk!

Re: Natural Household Flea Tx

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 17:09:39 GMT

[quote user="Shelly vn"]

Take one dead flea

Drop in water

Spray house

All fleas die

[/quote]

Laughed out loud. Problem is you'd have to drop it in something containing all the water in the world, and all the water in every other world, and then some more, in order to get an effective dilution!

Re: Natural Household Flea Tx

Shelly vn — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 16:50:04 GMT

[quote user="Caro Laithwaite VN,"]

Take one dead flea

Drop in water

Spray house

All fleas die

*steps back whistling, eyeballs hippo homop ermmm the controrversial H thread awaits brown stuff flying*

[/quote]

Love it Caro!

Re: Natural Household Flea Tx

Caro Laithwaite VN — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 11:34:35 GMT

Take one dead flea

Drop in water

Spray house

All fleas die

*steps back whistling, eyeballs hippo homop ermmm the controrversial H thread awaits brown stuff flying*

Re: Natural Household Flea Tx

Honeybadger — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 09:22:35 GMT

You could try some flea traps at point sources where your cats spend a lot of time.

http://www.pvrdirect.co.uk/productinfo.aspx?catref=STV020&incvat&gclid=CKfb5Jnz6rgCFbQetAodLRkAJQ

It certainly wont get them all but may offer a bit of relief from being bitten!

Re: Natural Household Flea Tx

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 09:13:42 GMT

[quote user="NuttyNu"]Any ideas of known safe methods? [/quote]

In another life years ago, I used to do the public relations for Novartis Animal Health, which makes Program, so I know a thing or two about fleas!

Also, I don't work for Novartis any more, so don't have a vested interest.

Program Injectable for cats sounds absolutely idea for your situation. Probably teaching granny to suck eggs here, but in case not, it's a six monthly injection. After being injected a small amount of something called a chitin inhibitor circulates in the cat's bloodstream. Cats don't have chitin. It's what a flea's exoskeleton is made of. So it doesn't do anything to the cat. But when a flea lands on the cat, it bites and ingests some of the chitin inhibitor. Then it lays eggs, none of which are able to hatch because they don't develop properly. Then the flea dies. All fleas that land on the cat will bit the cat, so all will ingest the chitin inhibitor. What's more, the cat acts like a sort of natural hoover, visiting all the places where fleas are likely to be found.

It takes some weeks for the existing fleas in the house to hatch, jump on the cat, fall off and die. I have no idea about the efficacy of the Bimeda treatment Jane recommended, but it sounds like it might be a good short term natural option to get rid of the ones that are there now.

Once you have cleared the house, the six-monthly injection will keep it clear.

Re: Natural Household Flea Tx

jane Lewis — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 06:37:32 GMT

Had a client a few months back who swore by using talcum powder as a natural home treatment for fleas?! To be fair though she did arrive at the practice with a flea riddled dog lol. I'd opt for stronghold or advocate and lots of hoovering. I got a bottle of Flee spray at congress that's silicone based and works well in the environment: http://www.bimeda.co.uk/news/item/482-flee Maybe give the company a ring a see if they can offer you any advice? Good luck with your battle X

Re: Natural Household Flea Tx

Sal the 1st — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 22:25:52 GMT

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gotcha-STV020-Flea-Killer-Electric/dp/B001A2XCLQ/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

just been and checked and this is the same as the one I have in the spare room, tho didnt get it from amazon. Must admit dont use it all the time but has been on recently as one of my cats is a bunny hunter and comes back with fleas quite often and whilst the weather has been warm has been banned from my bed

I usually alternate with either frontline combo or stronghold on mine and I do use indorex so this just catches up any strays, but I have found it quite effective. It also keeps the moth population down and stops my cats destroying the house whilst demonstrating their moth hunting skills.

Re: Natural Household Flea Tx

NuttyNu — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 21:55:56 GMT

I have used Advantage last time as I changed practices (and therefore brought from new practice!) and they use advantage. I used this before on my cat with Fronltine allergy without any problems and it is used lots within practice (Although... Have learnt how horrid it smells when on the cat for the next 24hours!). Frontline was used in june. they are due 16th each month! I have never used Stronghold. Don't know why! It was the combo we always used to use before changing.

will try hoovering more!! (It isn't a daily event here - until now!)

Cats are restricted to about half the house as it is as they are not allowed in the rooms with the big birds for their own safety!

I always start to feel like I am on top of it, then I wake in the morning with more scabs and sores where I scratch them in my sleep! Bedding is going on a hot wash tomorrow again to see if that helps.

They are outdoor cats too so i guess that isn't helping (However, there is no way to keep them indoors as one refuses to use a litter tray and will mess on carpet if she cannot go outside!)

We have a dyson at the moment as that is what we always have had and it picks up the cat hair best! We do sweep daily all the rooms that are not carpeted.

Its just getting frustrating knowing they are there and eating but not being able to use anything safe!

Re: Natural Household Flea Tx

Sal the 1st — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 21:48:17 GMT

speaking of hoovers - if your hoover is of the bagged variety, the best use I have ever found for a cat flea collar is sticking it in the hoover bag to make sure it doesnt become a flea nursery

Re: Natural Household Flea Tx

Caro Laithwaite VN — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 21:12:49 GMT

l would dump the frontline use stronghold l have never rated frontline and all l hear is complaints. Agree with the hoover. Can you keep the cats out of all bar one room for a couple of months and hoover like a mad un. that should allow treatments to kick in as they wont have even the odd flea shedding eggs all over.

Re: Natural Household Flea Tx

lskm 23 — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 20:09:03 GMT

are you using frontline combo? as this would be an option if you don't want to use sprays around your birds.

I have used Skoosh before in my house, admittedly not in the room with my birds and this worked well.

Make sure you are vacuuming everyday as this will help pick them up too.

Sorry don't have any other ideas.