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Flea bites?!?!
Posted: Jul 30, 2012
Why all of a sudden am I getting flea bites? I have had cats for over 16 years and normally every summer about this time, the fleas come. I treat my fur babies with Advantage, vacuum and wash their bedding, but they go out in the fenced yard and other strays come in, so I know the fleas are a way of life, just try to keep them at bay. But over the past week or so, I got big, itchy red welts in spots where I come in contact with my cats. One is on the back of my upper arm where I hugged one cat, one on top of each knee and 5 on one leg after my cat sat on my lap yesterday. What gives? Why are they biting me now? The only thing different is I am doing a parasite cleanse right now on myself, did the cats last week. Any ideas how to deal with this? Am using calamine lotion and ice, but itching like heck. Do I have to go back to pants and long-sleeved shirts, geez. ;
Could be that a couple of them are in your bedding, - clothing, rug, etc. I have trouble - sm
[ In Reply To ..]even keeping indoor-only cats flea-free, as they can come in on me, or just walk in by themselves.
In conjunction with Advantage, I also use a flea- comb diligently. It's not easy to find them in my long-haired cats, but I look for clusters of flea-dirt (aka flea-poop), especially if it seems to be in a straight line. Often the offending flea isn't far away.
As soon as I catch one on the comb, grab it between your fingertips and put it in a bowl of soapy water to drown it. Or, flush it down the toilet, but close the lid and flush quickly, as those little buggers can jump something like 6 or 8 feet, even out of water. (That's why soapy water works best - it cuts the surface tension of water, so they can't jump out. That's what makes soap work to get us clean, too!)
Giving a long-haired cat a summer clip can also help locate and discourage fleas, as well as keep the cat cooler if it's an indoor cat. Outdoor cats might get sunburned.
The egg cycle is about every 2 weeks. So even if you kill the fleas, if you don't also kill the eggs, they'll hatch and come right back. They can also hide in dust-bunnies under the couch, etc. If you think they may have gotten an infestation foothold in your house, there are odorless flea-killers that exterminators can treat your house with. Or, ask about orange oil. I don't know if it works on fleas, but exterminators use it for termites successfully.
I would probably not let stray cats inside, unless it's in a non-carpeted side room, like a pantry or mud room, that can be closed off, because that just brings in more fleas and their eggs.
But definitely invest in a flea-comb, and use it at least once a day. I found that to be an extremely valuable adjunct to monthly spot medication for fleas.
>^..^<
Meerkat
Another tip from my groomer friend... - Hayseed
[ In Reply To ..]Battling fleas here too this year...uphill battle all the way!
My groomer friend recommended Borax of all things. She said to sprinkle it in between couch cushions, under couches, under the bed, anywhere really. You can vacuum it up or leave it in places where it won't be seen. She said it's safe for pets and kids and is cheap and WORKS. I just got this tidbit of info myself so haven't tried it yet, just thought I'd pass it along.
Good luck little soldier!
:-D
Great ideas- thanks to you both - Camt
[ In Reply To ..]Thanks Meerkat and Hayseed, great ideas. I used a flea comb when I had a few kitties, but now have 7, so I think it might take a while :). I love the idea for the Borax. I love using natural stuff and not chemicals. I don't use bug spray for ants in the house anymore, too toxic. I just caulk with toothpaste any of the holes they use to come in and clean the rest up with water. I will give it a shot. Fleas be gone!
Just be sure not to use anything with permethrin in it. - Its toxic to cats. nm - Meerkat
[ In Reply To ..]
Borax is quite toxic - Silica is better
[ In Reply To ..]Borax is toxic. You can only use it in inaccessible places.
Silica, or diatomaceous earth, is inert and so nontoxic that it can be mixed in grain meant for consumption. It consists of the silaceous skeletons of diatoms, which are microscopically so sharp that they scratch and puncture insect bodies, which then die as they dry out.
THAT is what you sprinkle in your carpet and between the couch cushions.
You may still be bitten by the adults your pets bring in, but they will be unable to reproduce in your carpet and furniture.
It is available online from feed stores. Maybe even Amazon.
I used Frontline Plus until 2 yrs ago when - alana
[ In Reply To ..]it just didn't work at all on our in-and-out long-haired cat. We had to use Siphoteral in the house. When we switched to Revolution, we no longer had fleas. If you don't get them out of the house, and they're getting a blood meal from you, then you'll continue to have them. You might want to buy a cheap flea collar, cut it into pieces and stick a piece into your vacuum cleaner bag or dust cannister to kill fleas you suck up. We originally put a piece of clear mailing tape over the hose hole and were amazed to see how many fleas were stuck on it.
Are you sure they're fleas and not something else - noseeums?
I guess they could be something else - Camt
[ In Reply To ..]They could be something else I suppose. But just from where they occurred where I had contact with the cats, top of knees, back of arm, I just thought of fleas. So strange all of a sudden, never been bitten by fleas all the time I have had cats. I looked up flea bite pictures online and they looked the same. Same as the mosquito bites I had as a kid too. Oh well, I put a towel on my lap today and no bites, we'll see.
Just chiming in.... - sm
[ In Reply To ..]They haven't hit too hard here yet, but when they do, I put a little cup of water with a big squeeze of lemon from one of those plastic lemons near my chair at the 'puter and they back off fast or kamikaze into it. Also, use calendula cream for fast end to itching.
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