How do I rid my cat of fleas?

Question

I've put a flea collar on her and sprayed the carpets and soft furnishing all to no avail. I'm being eaten to bits. The spray is supposed to last for 6 months. I don't think it lasts 6 minutes. I tried to put her in a cat box but it was all too traumatic for both of us. The vet won't hand out the stuff to put on the back of her head without first seeing her. Someone told me there was an injection for getting rid of them. If so, how does it work?

Malak, unfortunately, this is the U.K. where the E.U. makes the laws. They have ordained that the vet must see the animal before issuing prescription drugs. They are not available at the chemist (drug store) here. Thanks anyway.

Answer 1

The injection works by killing the fleas when they go to work sucking the blood of the cat, Whatever is in the injection enters the cats blood stream..

Answer 2

The reason your vet won't give out the flea treatment without seeing your cat first is because the treatment is quite toxic and will harm an animal that is not 100%. The vet needs to check your cats heart and lungs first and this doesn't hurt, its done with a stethoscope. It really is the only way to iradicate fleas because, as you've already found out, they will survive in your carpets and soft furnishings! I use Advance from the vets, it costs £12 for 4 little tubes and really does work! Don't waste your money on pet shop flea treatments, they do not work! If you take your cat to the RSPCA ( if you are on benefits ) it will only cost you about £15. There is a spray you can buy called Staykill, made by Novartis, in a 500ml can that costs £12 and is for your carpets and furniture, not for cat, but it really does work, promise. If you can afford to have your cat seen by the vet and buy this spray you will get rid of the fleas. Also, if your cat is badly infested with fleas she will become very ill if the problem is not sorted out. Fleas live on the blood of the animal and will breed non stop while there and can cause anemia which is dangerous. Please take her to the vet, you sound the type who is good to your animals and it will solve all your flea problems. Good luck.

Answer 3

just answered this for someone else too. But fleas are no joke so I'll tell you too.
It's not an injection its a spot on treatment.
It depends where in the world you are, in uk you can get stuff from the vets called Frontline or Stronghold, these products are applied to the back of the neck from a little pipette containing liquid, it gets absorbed through the skin.
When a flea jumps on they nibble on puss and then shortly after die because pusses blood is now toxic to fleas, this in turn means they stop laying eggs and if you keep it up for a few months all new hatchings are covered too.

Its not bad for the cats and most do all sorts of worms and parasites too that are very harmful to cats. I'm not saying the cats like the feeling of it when you put it on, but even if they manage to lick at it they will be ok.
If you have loads of cats and a low wage see if cats protection or vets, PDSA or RSPCA can help with cost.
Also dont be tempted to get cheaper versions from supermarkets, not all of them are any good. I only treat mine from march, when the weather is getting warmer until end of october, cos fleas dont tend to be a problem in colder months and it gives puss cats a rest from the medication.
I use essential oils around my house but never on my cats, you cannot medicate them with human medicine. I have also had my cats for 6 years and never had fleas because of the above medicines.
I did however help a freind who had a mighty infestation in the carpets of her house by, medicating the cats and sending them out of the house all day, each morning we would spray all the carpets beds and settee with lavender oil (20 drops) in a litre spray bottle, then shut the door and go to work. Did it for a week and changed the vacuum bag. hey presto no more fleas.

Just to add bathing a cat can cause pnuemonia, just get the pipette drops, it takes 2 minutes to treat em.

Answer 4

No, the vet would have to check her out before he gives you Frontline spot-on which goes on the back of the neck, but it is the absolute best stuff and has kept my cats flea free for over ten years. He can also recommend a good flea spray to use on the house, I think it is called Nuvan or something. Please consider going to the vet, its a one off and then you can get the flea drops when you need them, they kill the fleas, ticks and lice in 24 hours and cover the cat for a month. It is well worth it. You won't save money by not going, because you will by other products, like the spray you used and keep buying the cheaper products, which won't work, and in the end you will have spent what it would have cost you to see theb vet and get some Frontline. I only know this because that is what happened to me. Good luck, it is the best stuff to use.

Answer 5

Leonard...Go to a pet store and buy Front line or Advantage, one dose a month and the fleas will die. Get rid of any cat bedding and vacuum frequently. The fleas will die, If your lucky your cat will not have an allergic reaction to the flea bites and need medication. If your cat starts to develop sores on her skin she needs the VET!!
As an afterthought, if your problem is you can't get her in the box for the visit, pick her up put a towel around her and then place her in the cat box....she and you will be fine. She is ready to go! The vet will help you get her out and back into the box to go home!!

Answer 6

I think that you should take her to see the vet so that he can give her some of the stuff that goes on the back of her neck. This is the only easy way to efficiently get rid of the fleas.

To make sure that the fleas are gone, get a flea comb (it has really tight bristles to catch the fleas) and run it through her fur. If she still has fleas, they will be caught in the brush so that you will know that she still has them.

You can also get the flea medication from places other than then vet, and the vet is probably the most expensive.

Good Luck!

Answer 7

You need to get her to the vets to get some Frontline which is the best thing for fleas, once you have it, remove the flea collar and spray her and the house with it, all their bedding and your bedding if the cat sleeps with you and then hoover every day to get rid of their little corpses.

Hope this helps.

Answer 8

you really need a vet's prescribed treatment for fleas. If your cat flatly refuses to go to the vet, ring him and ask for the number of the nearest mobile vet. As has been pointed out in other answers, the flea treatment is toxic and a vet needs to examine the cat's heart and lungs.
By the way, bartandmarge, there are easier ways of getting rid of unwanted pets - has anyone suggested you have an injection?

Answer 9

Vets seem to have a monopoly on certain products they sell at inflated prices. With the additional scam of having your cat checked over? As if they don't trust you! This is how they manage to drive flash cars. Sorry to be cynical but it's true. ' 4fleas' from the pet shop or EBay is your cheapest bet. Hoover up after first dose. Failing this you can order 'frontline' from Australia at half the price that the vets charge here. They cash in on our love of our animals in a big way.

Answer 10

You can order FrontLine for cats on 1800PetMeds.com (or call 1-800-Pet-Meds) without a vet prescription. It's a little more expensive than the spray, collars, or other treatments that you can buy at a regular store, but it's the only thing that really works. Plus, if you order it from Pet Meds it's usually a little cheaper than getting it from the vet.

Answer 11

i do no longer be attentive to of something that retains fleas from coming back, de flea puppy and bedding spray is organic i'm getting mine at a puppy shop. additionally in case you do could use a flea scientific care you do no longer could use the full ingredient in simple terms use some drops, I truthfully have 6 cats and four dogs and that i exploit one large packet for dogs between all my animals. desire this facilitates. :)