Posted on 10/25/2014 4:11:02 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
Help Freepers! How can we effectively completely eliminate fleas from the house. We are getting rid of the cat immediately. A long time ago, one could buy Lindane, but I believe that has been banned. Would appreciate any advice on how to rid the house permanently of the little buggers. To save you words, I already know about he egg cycle thing from previous experience. Just can't find any Lindane.
We give our cats Capstar (a pill that kills fleas on them for 24hrs) and then Program (another tablet). We had a new cat and a really bad infestation a couple of years ago when the Frontline we had been giving them quit working. We had to give the Capstar every 3 or 4 days for a week or two. We haven’t seen a flea in years now. Still have the cats too.
(they are inside only cats now)
That’s why I told him to get a citronella plant. They make good pets for people who have no sense of responsibility.
You have been given some good advise about the flea bombs but the problem started because you let the cat go outside.
...
In a way that’s correct, but I know cats that stay outside all the time and don’t have fleas. They don’t get any kind of treatment either. The problem is once the fleas get inside they breed like crazy in the carpet and upholstery.
Yeah, that’s about right. But would he water the plant or just toss it out?
The fleas don’t live on the cats, they suck blood and then get off. If they get off in the house you have a problem.
Boric acid, not borax. Sprinkle everywhere carpeted.
That’s the beauty of it. It doesn’t matter.
it is available in many forms but the one that worked best for us was the fogger. we'd drag the cats off to vet's for dipping in the early am, then set off one fogger in each room of the house (overkill, perhaps) and leave it sealed up for the day ... after work, open it all up, air it out, and then go pick up the cats
you gotta treat the animals AND their environs at the same time, otherwise no worky
We had to do that every 3 months or so when we lived in san diego ... 2 people, 2 cats, 2 bedroom apartment
Here’s a temporary pet for him.
Permethrin is extremely toxic to cats. It is great safe stuff, but cats are highly sensitive to it.
I had a relative with a flea infestation that took ten years to fix and resulted in having the carpets replaced the and house tented. Infestations make me nervous.
So, to prevent fleas, I would apply a powder that was 50/50 Borax and baking soda to all of my carpets. Once a month, I’d lay it down before we went to bed, then vacuum it in the morning. In addition, I was religious about applying the flea drops (from the vet - never the stuff from the store) on my animals.
When Texans were being overrun... we were not.
Borax is a very effective insecticide. I don’t know if you watch home building shows, but every once in awhile, you’ll see blue lumber. This lumber is treated with Boron (Borax). It’s resistant to termites, mold, and rot. Homes built with this lumber are less likely to have roach and ant infestations.
We’ve moved to an area that doesn’t have a flea problem and both of my cats are indoor, so it hasn’t been a problem here. But, if I were to do it again, I’d do 50/50 Borax and diatomaceous earth. (I only used the baking soda as a carpet freshener)
Diatomaceous earth has the added benefit of dealing with bedbugs. Studies have shown that feeding it to animals helps with parasites and fleas. (Chronic fleas in an animal is actually indicative of a weak immune system and a sign of ill health - unless the house is infested, then the poor cat’s just being overwhelmed.)
If I were in your shoes, I’d first do a spring cleaning (furniture out of the house, everything fabric washed, vacuum and shampoo carpets.) When you shampoo the carpets, dissolve Borax in the water of your carpet shampooer. While your furniture is outside in the sun, sprinkle it with the B/DE powder and let it sit, then vacuum it out and beat out the dust. Make sure you hit all mattresses, as well. (You can also make a Borax solution with hot water, then spray it on everything. Both will work, but the powder won’t damage water-sensitive upholstery.)
About a week later, start the Borax/DE powder treatment on the carpets.
Treat the cat with flea drops the same day. Give the cat 1 tsp of DE twice a day.
I do this process twice a year just because.
Incidentally, about a month ago, my son’s place got bedbugs. (Lord knows where they came from) The exterminator dusted the entire house with DE and had my son was everything with hot water and run each load through the dryer multiple times. (Dry heat kills bedbugs) The exterminator laid down a very fine mist of DE and ordered my son not to vacuum for 6 weeks. He even opened every wall outlet and light switch and tossed DE into the cavities.
Finally, there is one more ‘nuclear option’ - before you pay thousands for a tenting. Dry heat kills fleas and bedbugs. (I know you don’t have a BB problem, but it’s good to know that these methods work for that situation.)
You do the cleaning with the Borax and DE, then get every living thing (including plants) out of the house for three full days. Makes sure all mattresses are bare and cupboards are open. Remove candles and crayons and anything else that will melt. Jack up the thermostat as high as it will go and seal the place in. (The temp needs to stay over 100*) When you come back in three days, every insect in your house will be dead. August is a great month to rid your house of insects.
Hope this helps somebody! :)
Get rid of the fleas, not the cats.
One more important thing about the Borax/DE powder. You want a very *light* dusting. You can buy a DE duster for $10 off Amazon. If you can see it, it’s almost too much.
When you treat the furniture, some will remain in there no matter what. You don’t need to go crazy with the stuff.
I tended to put it on too heavily and it just wasn’t necessary.
You can buy DE at the farm and feed store. A 50# bag for around $20. 1-2 bags is enough to treat an entire house. I’d look for bulk Boron at the hardware store, but it’s not expensive.
For me, this was just part of my normal cleaning and I did treat our mattresses once a month when I did the carpets. (I just let the powder sit while I washed the sheets.)
LOL, perfect.
Don’t know why I’m laughing...it’s sad, really. When I hear about pets getting dumped, all I can think of is the poor animal, confused and upset, thrown into a strange environment and wondering where its people went.
I have little patience for that crap. If you’re going to view a pet as disposable at the first inconvenience, damn well don’t get one.
We used to call them "power surges." And a group of us went by "The Red-Hot Mamas."
Mene doesn’t speak ancient Chaldean.
Fleas are terrible here, this year.
All the rain, I suppose.
I’m using flea traps, DE and non-toxic sprays on the dogs.
It takes longer but we’re not all being exposed to those happy little neurotoxins people fog themselves with.
I know what you mean.
Years ago, I was at a Home Depot in Frederick MD and whilst checking out, a ladybug popped out of the sleeve of my coat.
It had probably been hiding in there since I’d left the house, hours before and I held it in my hand until I could find an empty pill bottle in the car.
I brought it “home” so it would not be confused and disoriented, and that it might join its family in the annual migration from which it was surely resting, when it got lost in my coat.
Now, extrapolate *that* to lost ~mammals~ and you can imagine the emotional angst that my life truly is.
:D
Now his carpets won’t be Mule Team fresh.
:-\
I’m the Glowering Inferno.
:[
You’re a one-person universal rescue squadron. All you need to do is lose the angst and keep doing what you do, and all will be right in your universe.
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