First time cat owner here!!! FLEA PROBLEM NEED HELP!!!!?

Question

Okay my roommate has a cat. I got a cat they're both indoor cats we live on the second floor of an apt. They're only able to go out on the balcony. Then my roommate got a dog from the shelter. All of sudden we have fleas. Never seen them on my cat before. My roommates cat was previously treated for fleas when she got her. The dog was treated at the shelter. The fleas were mostly on my cat a domestic long-hair. How the hell did we get fleas? I'm guess the damn dog brought them in with him from walking. I'm freaking out, I have a flea collar, which I don't thinks work at all. I have flea spray for the cat and the topical monthly solution. I'm afraid they won't go away. SUGGESTIONS PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

I am only assumong the topical stuff you used is advantix or frontline. I am not sure when you applyied but it should work within 72 hours may not kill all the fleas immediatley as some will jump off and back on.. and when they are off breed like crazy the best thing is to firt give frontline a chance to work the fleas right now are at an all time high.. If you have wood floors sprinkle some flea powder as it gets in the cracks best.. Vaccumm Vaccumm vaccum but after you vaccumm empty the bag outside immediatley as fleas will breed in the vaccumm and get out and back in everything.. If all else fails and they are through the hose you can flea bomb but you have to remove all living things while you do that and cover and wipe things down as it can be very toxic.. But it works.If you have gas for cooking or any other thing in your house it is not reccommended you use a bomb.. I work at a petstore and I know from all the calls we get the fleas are going crazy.. And you are right cat collars do not work they only keep fleas off the exact area the collar is touching and immediate area such as face and neck.. I would cut up a flea collar and put in you vaccumm bag as well to help kill fleas you suck up along with that and dumping the bag you can get them under controll. you want to do this now before they sit doormant all winter in your home and breed and make it worse for next year. People withou animals still get fleas you carry them in on your pants and they breed.. You also live in an apartment it would help if the whole buliding could treat at once as the fleas will jump up and down to other floors and while you think you have them licked they are at a neighbors and will find there way back to you when all the poison settles.. Good luck they are nasty critters I had this going on for a little bit this season.. I am happy to say 3 weeks and no fleas. Also if your dog goes out or cats in a sandy area spray that as well a breeding ground for fleas.. and ticks whoch are not as bothersom but carry lime diseas IF you are using frontline it does take care of the ticks as well. Try to get all your animals ona similar monthly topical time.. So that when one is running to there 27 day and the stuff is at a weakest and your other just had it last week the one who had it three weeks ago may get a few fleas making a never ending cycle..

Answer 2

Firstly flea collars are next to useless. If they get wet they can release chemicals onto the cat's skin and poison the pet.

Secondly, fleas can be brought in on your shoes, clothing, or jump up the side of buildings on their own. The dog isn't necessarily responsible at all.

Third, a dose of Advantage or Frontline will clear up all the problems on all the animals. It's $10 a dose, and lasts at least 6 weeks (experience talking). It's fast, takes care of the problem and is easily applied. You should get it from the vet because they order from the manufacturer. If you get it from pet supply stores an awful lot of flea meds are turning out to be counterfit and don't work--there's fakes on the market and the stores are ordering from warehouses who get the stuff form several different places.

Go stop at the vets, ask for treatment for the dog (have the weights on the animals with you, it's portioned by weight and species of the animal), and the cats. In two days you'll have no more fleas.

Answer 3

Two words: flea bath. That is, a shower with a flea and tick killing shampoo. Then go over the cat's fur with a fine-toothed comb to remove the fleas. Same with the dog. WAIT THREE DAYS before applying Frontline or another flea brand application; the bath washes off your pet's oil layer. It restores in three days, and spreading it then will help it to spread all over the cat/dog's body. Vacuum the place, and if the problem still persists, use insecticides that have INSECT GROWTH REGULATOR, and just spray all over or "bomb" a room. Don't let pets near for 24 hours; maybe you can lend them to someone else. After vacuuming, trash the bag quick. Also, put a bowl of soapy water under a light bulb. This attracts fleas and they'll hop right in.

Answer 4

be very diligent in doing the monthly treatment on both the 2 cats and the dog. also need to vacuum - vacuum - vacuum. be sure and throw the bag away every time or if it's bagless, better yet. empty it into an outside bin and then rinse it in hot water. you will also need to vacuum furniture, drapes, and anything else that the animals have come in contact with. wash all bedding ( yours, roommates, and pets ) thoroughly. wash and dry on highest possible heat that the material will tolerate. it is a possibility that you may even have to do flea bombs, depending on whether or not they are in the carpets. easy way to tell is put on a pair of white socks and then walk across the carpet in them. if you see fleas on the socks, then you have got a big problem. you will have to continue treating pets and house every month for up to 6 months to get rid of the nasty little buggers.
don't quite know what purpose they serve, but they must have one or they wouldn't be here. maybe it's just to annoy pet owners.
another thing, i saw a show on animal planet about how high they can jump. it's really high, but i don't remember how high. may try googling it to see - could be they are actually jumping to the level of your balcony.

GOOD LUCK !! i know how hard they can be to get rid of. i had to call an exterminator one year

Answer 5

You are going to have to have your apt. treated for fleas. The fleas have laid eggs in the carpet and they can multiply fast. You can buy spray and foggers and they do not work that great because fleas can "ball" up and live through lots of those kind of things. Best to call a bug man in and get it treated with the stronger stuff the first time. You will in up spending more if you just buy sprays at a store. You will need to treat the pets to make sure they do not spread the fleas again. The vet has the best things for that.

Answer 6

First of all flea collars are hopeless and they do not work. Secondly you need to get some dog shampoo for fleas and wash the dog. Then I would recomend a flea treatment for the cats, I'm not sure where you are from so I can't give you a brand but all pet shops have them. They are small tubes of liquid that you just squirt down the cats back. It isn't cheap but I have found these to be most effective.

Answer 7

what may have caused your flea problem is from the dog it came from a shelter and fleas go from animal to animal they jump and the dog probably got from the dog it was with in it's cage and felas live outside of course so you need to frontline take your dog to the vet so he or she can be weighed to see the amount of dosage it needs also for the cat fleas meds aren't a one time thing you have to keep on doing it every month in order to kick the fleas in the *** FRONTLINE not cheap *** collars or sprays but the only way you can get it is visiting your local vet office

Answer 8

You can go to the vets nd get ur cat treated there!! Oh and in summer cats have a more likely chance to get fleas!!

Answer 9

My experience and also my friend is with the flea drops. Advantix or frontline are the only one that work and work GREAT. Don't bother with hartz or zodiac low cost drops - they don' work at all.To get them out of the house - the flea bombs work well - but you and the pets need to vacate while bombing".

Answer 10

you need to dose with front line or advantage treat the cat and dog,then you need to treat your apartment ,by buying a spray and treating twice a week for 6 months,once you have fleas in your house you need to keep treating your carpets furniture,and upholstery.weekly to stop the eggs hatching,
its not a quick fix and once you have them it can take a year to remove them from your apartment