I've just recently discovered that my cat has fleas. I went out and got a (cat) flea collar and put it on her as soon as we figured out the black specks weren't cat litter, but flea litter! As soon as we put the collar on her, we put her in a single room, and have been using a spray around the rest of the house. I've not had time to do all of the laundry yet (sheets, bedding, etc) But I've sprayed a good deal of it (theres a LOT!) with a spray from the vet for linens and carpeting. We got frontline yesterday and put it on her at about 7pm. When we put the collar on her, we also put a bit of powder along her back (where she cant lick).
My questions:
-When should I let her roam the house again, Shes had the flea collar (and powder) on for 2 days, and frontline for just under a day.
-I've heard head and shoulders will aide in the killing of some of the fleas. Will this cancel the frontline? I'd like to wash her just because she's probably loaded with flea dirt and the flea powder.
2007-11-27 04:44:45 · 5 answers · asked by fiftypercentrick 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Thank you Crystal, for the warning, and clarifying that I probably didn't hit a thumb sized spot on my cat.. but you didn't answer my main question.. WHEN can I safely re-introduce my cat to the rest of the house?
2007-11-27 06:31:19 · update #1
As someone stated up above, get rid of the flea collar.Use frontline, advantix, or advantage. You can buy these online or get them from your vet. As soon as your cat is treated with on of these you can let it roam the house again.
2007-11-29 13:52:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I also suggest you take the flea collar off the cat - they really are useless. The chemical in them does not spread through the skin, all it does is ward fleas away from the neck area, which is a fairly useless action. It's really is true that any flea treatment you buy from a pet store is not going to work, including powders, sprays, spot-ons and bombs - stores are not licensed to sell the drugs that are actually safe, and effective against fleas.
It's good that you use Frontline. So long as you got this stuff right on the skin of the animal, it will rid him of fleas. I can't say the same for the treatment you used on the house, if it was from a pet store.
Head and Shoulders will not do anything to fight fleas. It is a dandruff treatment, and it's for humans. Furthermore, if you bath the cat at all within 48 hours of apply Frontline, you will wash the Frontline off. If you do not wait 48 hours AFTER bathing the cat to apply the Frontline, the Frontline cannot spread through the skin and work.
Let her roam the house now! She's properly protected by the Frontline, if you used it correctly, so if anything by letting her wander the house you will increase the likelihood that the fleas around the house will die - they'll be attracted to her, jump on and die! There's no Advantage in keeping her locked away. If you check the instructions on the spray can, if it's a decent one it will say you can air the room and allow animals back around half an hour after spraying.
Wait 48 hours after Frontline application before bathing the flea dirts off her. Personally I like to comb dirts off - cats will also do a good job of grooming them off themselves. Bathing cats is usually a nightmare and, given that it's usually unnecessary, to be avoided at all costs! If you do want to bath, make sure it's a proper pet shampoo (but not a flea one) - definitely not Head and Shoulders.
(Head and Shoulders killing fleas is a brand new one on me actually - I've heard of bathing in Dawn and all kinds of things, but that's a new - an equally useless - one!)
Chalice
2007-11-27 17:43:38 · answer #2 · answered by Chalice 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take the flea collar off immediately. They do not work and they are toxic to your cat. Also, do not use any other flea product you can buy in the store. They are too strong for the cat, and there have been cases of death after using those products, especially the Hartz brand.
Frontline should have been more than enough to kill the fleas.
I suggest you call your vet to discuss this overdose of dangerous flea product. Powders should not be used. They are just not safe and there is a high chance your cat will ingest them. There is only a tiny spot your cat can't lick, and that would involve a fingerprint sized spot, which you probably didn't hit.
Frontline is absorbed into the skin, so after 2 days it is safe to give your cat a bath. This is advice that came from my vet back when my allergies were so severe I had to bathe my cat weekly. Frontline will last for one month, and you may need another treatment after that.
Do not use anymore flea product! Just use a mild CAT shampoo, not a flea shampoo or human shampoo.
EDIT: You can safely reintroduce your cat now. I would do a couple more months of the Frontline but the fleas can't live on your cat anymore now that she has been treated. You should be vacuuming daily for the next few weeks though to get up the eggs and any fleas that may be in the carpet and furniture.
Use a flea comb to brush out your cat before bathing it. It will get out the fleas that may still be on your cat, and it will help reduce matting of the fur once it gets wet.
If you live in an area with a lot of fleas that can be brought into your home on your shoes, or if you let your cat out, she will need to get her on a monthly preventative such as Frontline or Revolution. I use Revolution on my two cats even though they are strictly indoors at the advice of my vet to prevent heartworms, fleas, ticks, and other nasties that we have in the area. I buy a years supply at once and it works out to be about $6-$8 for each cat monthly with the bulk discount my vet gives. You should see what deals your vet may have for a monthly heartworm/flea/tick preventative such as Revolution, and to see which product would be best for your cat and the area you live in.
2007-11-27 12:54:57 · answer #3 · answered by Crystal 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
don't use flea collars or any flea remedies found in stores because they contain pesticides that are very harmful to cats!
take her to the vet...the vet will treat her with frontline or advantage and will give, or reccommend a spray to use on the house.
a few days after being treated you can bathe her in dawn dishsoap...it kills fleas and will wash out any flea dirt left in her fur.
we just got over an issue with fleas...we washed all the bedding and sprayed the house several times.
eventually we had to use flea bombs on the house because they would not go away!
it's a huge pain in the butt...good luck!
2007-11-27 19:16:34 · answer #4 · answered by pbJ 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
all cats have fleas every now and then, not familiar with frontline but if a vet issued it then it will do the job.
the flea collar is useless and should not be used with other treatments.
use a good monthly treatment recommended by a vet( not pet shop rubbish) and you will have no flea problems.
as for cleaning, the head and shoulders will do nothing,she will sort herself out.
she probably thinks she is in trouble locked in on her own, let her out, the treatments will do just as well.
2007-11-27 13:27:00 · answer #5 · answered by tally 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋