Oh No More Fleas!
By winterose
@winterose (39887)
Canada
July 30, 2008 4:00pm CST
As my friends know, I am infested with cat fleas. I have been trying now for 3 years ago to get rid of them but they never stop coming. We are down to one cat, Junior and he is treated every month and he doesn't have any fleas. But the fleas are in the floor board in the living room and I do believe that they are coming from the cellar below.
If you remember from my last post about fleas, I had ordered some stuff from the states called Synergy it was made in Kentucky, the ingredient is boric acid. I have been using it now for a month. I am not sure if the fleas are going away but they seem to be less then before, but then again maybe that is just wishful thinking. The point is I still have them. Perhaps it will be better after the flea season is over. I know that I always suffer the worst in July, then there is August slightly better and then September. This winter they never really went away even in the coldest of weather. I am hoping that 2009 will bring better results.
Then some of you will remember how Junior my cat wrote about how he feels threatened because Sophie the cat next door had kittens and we were taking one of them. Junior wanted to know which one should I choose.
Guess what, the kittens are three weeks old and they know have fleas too. Leopold is upset with me, says he must have carried them in his house after coming into mine. But I still feel it is the cellar that is full of fleas. He lives on the bottom as well and there are many holes in his floors that lead directly to the cellar. I gave him some flea shampoo and we bathed the mother and the kittens together, and there they kittens still have fleas. The vet said to continue bathing them and he will check it out when they come in for their first checkup and needles
Any opinions, I am so discouraged right now?
7 people like this
18 responses
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
30 Jul 08
Put Borax into your vacuum bag and vacuum all carpeted areas and upholstered furniture. Thoroughly wash all slipcoverings, bedding, cat bedding, etc. Remove cats from basement area and moth ball the basement (the odors are quite strong, but it does the trick).
Make the cats less appealing of a meal by adding brewer's yeast or chelated zinc to their diets.
Mother Earth News has several articles devoted to flea control. You may want to check out their Web site as well.
Good luck with the flea battle.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
30 Jul 08
thank you so much for the advise and the reference to the site,
I don't have carpets and really it is only the hardwood floor in the living room where the fleas are and I am sure it is from the cellar.
The cat does not go outside my apartment he gets a treatment every month just in case, and we do not have a basement that cellar is just where the pipes to the house are that go to the street.
4 people like this
@WhatsHerName (2716)
• United States
30 Jul 08
Have you ever tried putting a flea bomb in the cellar and your house? I have used those in the past and they got rid of all the fleas.
Maybe you could get some boric acic and sprinkle it around your house and cellar. I was going to suggest that before I read the part that it's the ingredient. It used to be very inexpensive.
3 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
30 Jul 08
I don't have access to the cellar I live in a rental,
I am using boric acid in the house on the floor in the living room above the cellar, but as I said in my article I do not know if it is working or not. I sweep up what looks like thousands of them.
2 people like this
@WhatsHerName (2716)
• United States
30 Jul 08
Sorry, I didn't see that Rose. Maybe your landlord will let you put a bomb in the cellar. Have you tried a bomb in your house?
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Jul 08
winterose...I've posted a link about boric acid...please really reconsidering in using that stuff...since I'm involved and know pet rescuers, they all say boric acid is the WORSE thing to use around pets.
2 people like this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
31 Jul 08
He shouldn't blame you for something that is beyond your and his control it is nature. I feel that as you stated the fleas just came up from the cellar. Have you tried that water,lamp and dishsoap trap yet? it might work some. Maybe putting that stuff down has drove a few out of your apartment into his but he still can't blame you for that since it isn't like you lead a path to his apartment. Well I do hope they let up some more. Have you thought of letting off bug bombs in the cellar about 2 or more? But then that might scare them up into your apartments more. So probably not so good an idea. I hope something works don't give up hope..
3 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
31 Jul 08
I don't have access to the cellar, it is not my house,
the man next door does though and I told him about that but it doesn't look like he wants to do it.
2 people like this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
31 Jul 08
Why do some people complain about things but choose to be to stubborn to do anything about it? I know that money is tight especially more so now days, but even if you did get the fleas dealt with they just run to his half then back to yours after the smoke clears so to speak. Maybe you could see if you can get a family memeber to talk to him about it, he might listen..or not..
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
31 Jul 08
Okay, first, get some flea bomb and bomb the basement. Bomb the heck out of the basement. I also advise you to bomb the rest of the place, but at least also bomb the livingroom where the fleas are. Then, get that flea treatment and treat mom cat and the kittens - I don't know what you are using, Advantage is probably best to use on the kittens, but only put a drop on each of them, use the rest on mom. Now, once you bomb, it will take a couple of weeks to see the end of the bugs. The treatment treats both adolecent and adults, but they hatch and pupate daily for at least 2 more weeks.
None the less, and this from a Texan with loads of cats, it will deal with the problem.
3 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
31 Jul 08
I don't have the kittens and mom cat they are not mine they are the man next doors, he is shampooing them and the vet told him to wait until they go for their checkup, and he will see then what to do with them,
I have no access to the cellar it is not a basement, it is the place where there are pipes and that is all. The man next door has access I told him about the flea bomb but he does not seem interested, but maybe he will change is mine.
@underdogtoo (9579)
• Philippines
30 Jul 08
We used to have cats and fleas too, when I was growing up. I hate fleas well, not really hate them but they bite people too and not just feed on cats' blood. My wife hates fleas with a passion and we don't have animals in the house. My kids want dogs but I always resisted having one but they put one over me and got a dog while I was away. I could not do anything about it so the lovable little thing became part of the family. He got infested with fleas and ticks and no amount of shampooing would stop the little tormentors. Someone suggested using a wash made from some vine and it wiped out every vermin that ever lived on our feisty little doggie. Cheers!!
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
30 Jul 08
wow wish I could get a hold of that vine, or the shampoo
1 person likes this
@iyah10 (4115)
• Kuwait
30 Jul 08
I think the best way is to make a contact of the pest control protection company to have a better results of removing those fleas anywhere and in any part of the House friend and even I in your side would have to worry for in the time of sleeping they will jump on us and go to our ear is more problem......
3 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
30 Jul 08
it is only in one spot which I am treating and only me that gets bit not my son. It is very strange.
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
31 Jul 08
I don't have access to the cellar,
I am using boric acid as I said in the article, but I just don't know if it is working yet or not. I think it is but I can't be sure.
@chertsy (3798)
• United States
31 Jul 08
Is there any way to put the Synergy in the cellar, where the fleas are coming from. I'm amazed that you where able to get it, since it contains Boric Acid. With Canada's laws on chemicals. Well, either way, glad that you got it, just sprinkle it around the outside of your apartment, around the cat's bedding. Make sure you get it on your welcome mat and around the inside the front door. Make sure you take off your shoes before coming in, so you don't bring them in on the bottoms of your shoes. That's basically all you can do at this moment.
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
31 Jul 08
thanks hon,
I don't know if we have flea bombs though again they are chemicals I wonder how I can find out.
1 person likes this
@chertsy (3798)
• United States
31 Jul 08
You don't need a flea bomb, just sprinkle the Synergy around your house and around the outside your doors. Bathe your kitty in the flea bath if he will let you. My dogs don't look forward to baths, so I can only imagine that cats are worse.
Since the cellar, is off limits, I would just try to keep around the areas that the fleas can get in from the cellar, so they can carry it back to their nests. The cats bedding, outside floor mats, aound your furniture, anything that has a carpet like material. It will take some time to get them all, since they have to carry it to their nests, then you got the eggs that are hatching, so you just have to keep the Synergy around these areas until you don't see any more fleas. Just because it gets cold outside, doesn't mean they aren't there. They are like bears, they will hibernate. So keep some extra laying around to get them when they come back, which will probably be the remaining eggs that didn't hatch this spring/summer.
A flea bomb is dangerous because the smell still lingers in your home after they say it's not. Your poor kitty could get sick, and if he can get sick, it will make you sick. Plus it doesn't always kill off all the fleas.
Sorry that I rambled on, I do hope your able to get rid of this nasty flea problem.
@someonesmom (5761)
• Canada
30 Jul 08
Hi winterose,
I'm so sorry to hear about all of this, and can certainly relate. We don't have a flea problem now, thank goodness, but we had major infestations, when I was growing up. We had several cats, and they all went outdoors, so this created the problem. Our Anna Belle that we have now, never goes outside, and she's never had fleas. When I was a teen, our basement was full of the little critters, and they were quite impossible to get rid of. We tried flea collars, flea treatments of all sorts on the cats (to no avail), spraying the basement, etc. I remember being so horribly bitten, and when I'd go into the basement to do laundry, I could see them literally jumping on the floor. They were in the furniture and carpets too. We moved eventually, and didn't take any cats with us, as we were unable to, so gave them away to good homes.
I sincerely hope you find an affordable solution to this problem. We were never able to afford an exterminator either.
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
30 Jul 08
thanks so much hon for your understanding and your support
1 person likes this
@tuayon_san (299)
• Philippines
31 Jul 08
Please refer to this site.
I beleived that is a better
help to your problem.
In oder for your eradicate that
fleas of your cat and house.
http://www.knockoutpest.com/fleas.html
it guide how.
I am hoping that this will help your pobs.
--
oli
1 person likes this
@Rustinas1 (438)
• United States
31 Jul 08
Do you live near water, a bog, or swampy areas that is very wet? If you do, good luck. You will ALWAYS have fleas. That's their breeding grounds. I went through the same thing for the last 3 years. One day, upon buying more Frontline, which works great, I complained to the Vet about it. How I bombed the house many times. Three times in a matter of months, given her the Frontline faithfully wich has done her a world of good. I'm sure she is as relieved as I am from just seeing her in so much discomfort from those pesky things. Which makes you wonder, whatever is their purpose here in the first place. Well, according to my vet, because we live near a bog, we will always have a problem with fleas. We just have to continue with the treatments or move. Well, moving is out of the question seeming as of this year our place is paid off. I do have to say, that the fleas are'nt as bad but just a pain and more out of pocket money to treat every year but it's well worth it. It truly has lessened with the fleas. We don't get chewed up ourselves anymore.
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
30 Jul 08
That has to be horrible having fleas!! If I were you and had this problem every year, I would call an exterminator to see what they recommend.
My dog gets fleas once in a while and I just use advantage and it works great. I haven't had any in my carpets or anythinglike that.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
30 Jul 08
well the exterminator I cannot afford,
the landlord keeps promising to fix up the cellar and hasn't done it yet,
and he would not pay for an exterminator because he will blame me because i had cats and probably evict me, so I have to solve the problem on my own. I think this will be the last year that we live at this place, I am going to try and find somewhere else to live though it will not be easy.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Jul 08
I have no idea if this company ships to Canada and if it would be expensive to do so....but this website is fantastic and has a lot of natural pet products with no harmful chemicals and includes a LOT of flea type products.
Boric acid isn't exactly that great when you have pets around.
http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/
Read up on this article about Boric Acid...in the opinion of this person Boric Acid is considered a hazardous substance
http://devinefarm.net/rp/rpboric.htm
3 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
30 Jul 08
when you get the infestation I have you have to do whatever it takes to get the job done, junior does not go near the one spot that the fleas are coming up from, it is not a problem. thanks for the link, I wrote them and asked them if the delivery to canada, how they ship and if they take paypal.
2 people like this
@tyc415 (5706)
• United States
30 Jul 08
It is possible they are in the cellar and even possible they are just coming in on people from outside. There are certain times of the year here also when fleas are at their worse and so many people who don't even have animals or any close to them have a bad flea problem.
3 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
30 Jul 08
yes I am really thinking that the are coming up from the cellar, it is always humid and damp down there and full of mold.
2 people like this
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
31 Jul 08
It sounds like the infestation is definately coming from another source because by rights the stuff you are using should have done the trick. I mean it could be that the stuff takes time to work and you may not notice them disappear for a while but usually flea stuff works pretty quick.
If you wait until the summer is over then you could try putting the flea stuff down everywhere again and then see what happens next year. If you get the same problem again then you know that they are sourced elsewhere and then you will have to try and get the cellar done.
1 person likes this
@greenglitterturtle (2750)
• United States
30 Jul 08
we used to always have cats that were in and out the door. then one day my sister's cat had fleas so bad that she was eaten up by them. so she stopped allowing the cats outside and that stopped the problem.3 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
30 Jul 08
my one cat junior does not have fleas and he does not go outside, we stopped him last year from doing that.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157545)
• United States
31 Jul 08
Did you try salting the cellar? It is cheap. Salt your floor too. A remedy my mom did was to put a stripe of bacon grease down the back of the kitties. It also helped with hair balls. I feel so sorry for you, and Junior, and Mr. Leopold.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
31 Jul 08
I don't have access to the cellar, only leopold does and he does not seem too interested at this point. I hope he will change his mind.
@TessWhite (3146)
• United States
31 Jul 08
Fleas are a hard one. I'm battling them right now too. I have 7 cats and three dogs. It isn't overwhelming yet, but it will be if I don't get control of it. One year they were so bad I had to buy a special pill for each pet to take to kill the fleas on their bodies. At the same time I hired a professional pest company to come in and spray. It took two different times to spray, and between that and the vet cost me a fortune. I'm hoping it doesn't come to that this time. Good luck!
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
31 Jul 08
oh gosh you better get ahead of it now before they get too bad then, you don't want to put all the money out again.
@Munchkin547 (2778)
•
31 Jul 08
i really feel for you, my cat got fleas last year and it was horrid! i felt as though they were crawling on me all the time and felt as if the house was never cean! you just need to keep persevering with it! keep the cats dosed up with anti flea treatment, i buy mine for the vet and it works really well, i have had no more problems since i switched to it! i also bought a spray from the vet which i spraye all over the house and i eventually killed them! you have to be really consciencous when spray or applying the repellant in the house and move all the furniture as the little critters will hide everywhere! i really hope you manage to get your problem sorted out as i understand how awful it is to have to share a home with the little vampires!
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
1 Aug 08
you got that right I am tired of sharing my house with those little vampires.
@fuzzywuzzy (8)
•
31 Jul 08
I recommend using Borax. It's a laundry detergent. I put a bunch of it down on our carpets and then shampooed them. It's seemed to help quite a bit. You have to buy a lot of it and then rub it into the carpet. I've heard from some people that the fleas eat it. Other's say it just kills them on contact. I don't know. It didn't get rid of all of them, but it made it a lot better. The Borax should be harmless for you and your cat.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
31 Jul 08
not sure if we have borax here but I will check,
I don't have carpets either so I will just rub it into the floor like I am doing now,
thanks so much for your advice
