Fleas!

all4mom2

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On an indoor-only cat, no less! Never in 15 years have we needed a flea treatment or preventative, but apparently we did -- and do. Are they particularly bad this year or something? At any rate, what do you all recommend, especially for a topical? There are so many on the market, and I'm hearing that either the manufacturers have weakened them to lessen pet health risks OR fleas are becoming resistant to them. Please be specific re: brand name. Also, what's your remedy for a house infestation? It's horrible!
 

noani

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How many? Just to gauge the situation.

I use frontline and sometimes broadline (broadline seems to be quite strong and also leaves an oily spot for DAYS whereas frontline dries up overnight (and is more affordable), but I do like that broadline can all be applied in one swift push of the syringe as opposed to frontline having to squeeze about three times. After one squeeze, my cat goes into "I hate this what is this why are you doing this to me" mode and it becomes hard to get the rest on him). Also broadline protects them from internal parasites which is why I sometimes alternate.

Has worked well but you'd have to check for resistance in your particular area.
 
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all4mom2

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A lot... I noticed him scratching suddenly, so combed him and found a lot of "flea dirt" on him. I didn't even know what it was at first! Like one day there were none, and next day we had an explosion of them. I bought and used Frontline Plus (I heard original Frontline had to be "improved"), but he still has them, so I'm thinking I need prescription strength.

Where would I check for resistance in my area; is there a website?
 

Sajast

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Frontline works, Advantage, and Revolution are also good - although Revolution might be more than you’re looking for. You can get Frontline and Advantage at PetSmart. Just an FYI - it takes 3 months to break the life cycle of a flea so be patient and diligent and they will go away.
 

noani

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If you've just used frontline you might not be able to just give another one right away - I am not sure of possible interactions but I'd get the advice of a vet / more qualified member here.

You can try to Google it or ask around. Vets usually know about it if there is an issue with resistance in a particular area.
 
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all4mom2

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With EVERY topical, you find reviews saying they don't work. So hard to know which to buy. Then some say pills work better, but this is a cat we're talking about. I won't be able to wait three months for this to end; I'll be calling an exterminator and paying big bucks!
 

Sajast

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Won’t really help but so much 🤷‍♀️ There’s no product in existence that can kill flea pupae so it’s a major hassle/expense to try and go the exterminator route and you’ll still probably have some fleas as the pupae emerge and some escape “treated” areas. But to each their own! Just make sure kitty is treated for the next three months minimum and it shall pass either way 🤗 I use Revolution on my girls but that’s because one of them likes to eat grass so I like the mild dewormer additive. I’ve also had success with Frontline plus in the past when my cats picked up fleas from my mom’s dogs.
 

daftcat75

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Fleas are awful. Treating your cat won't be the end of it. It will be a multi-prong approach that can take several weeks to get flea-free. Failure to do all of these thing will just prolong the infestation.

Fleas!
 

countrygirl576

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I have indoor only cats too but I have had flea problems. My vet told me you can carry them in from outside in the country or city. Did have one time when company brought the fleas with them. (They had a cat and they left it behind to almost starve to death so you can imagine). I have always used Revolution for mine and I only buy it from the vet. Have heard bad stories about buying flea medicine from the store or online. I won't fog the house or use real furniture flea spray because it is just way to dangerous so I buy the flea medicine you can spray right on them and I vacuum all furniture and then spray it really good. Also washed all bedding and furniture coverings. I had to do this for 3 weeks in a row but I thought it was much safer then fogging the house or using real flea furniture spray that can not come in contact with you or pets. Then after the fleas are all gone keep giving the flea medicine to your cats. That way you are ahead of the game if it happens again. I give my cats flea medicine every 3 months all year round.
 
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all4mom2

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Most of these products CLAIM to kill adult fleas, larvae, and eggs. Can anyone specifically recommend something that ACTUALLY works?

Countrygirl, what topical do you apply only every 3 months?
 

noani

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If you want to give us your approximate location someone might be able to tell you if there are any resistances. Otherwise, in absence of resistance, they all work very well. It's down to personal preference/cat tolerance then as frontline is just ticks and fleas, revolution has a dewormer added, broadline has a broad spectrum of worming and other external parasites added in...
Could you call up your vet and ask which product they recommend as they know your cat?

I have indoor only cats too but I have had flea problems. My vet told me you can carry them in from outside in the country or city. Did have one time when company brought the fleas with them. (They had a cat and they left it behind to almost starve to death so you can imagine). I have always used Revolution for mine and I only buy it from the vet. Have heard bad stories about buying flea medicine from the store or online. I won't fog the house or use real furniture flea spray because it is just way to dangerous so I buy the flea medicine you can spray right on them and I vacuum all furniture and then spray it really good. Also washed all bedding and furniture coverings. I had to do this for 3 weeks in a row but I thought it was much safer then fogging the house or using real flea furniture spray that can not come in contact with you or pets. Then after the fleas are all gone keep giving the flea medicine to your cats. That way you are ahead of the game if it happens again. I give my cats flea medicine every 3 months all year round.
Which spray do you use for this purpose? Is it the frontline spray that is supposed to be sprayed directly on animals but you use it to spray furniture instead of the frontline specific environment product? Because I was considering that too.
 

noani

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Awesome! I bought a natural plant based one on Amazon yesterday as the people at the pet shop didn't want to sell me the frontline animal spray for this purpose, they were trying so hard to push the bedding & furniture spray that frontline make. So I didn't buy either as I was unconvinced :lol:
 

countrygirl576

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Most of these products CLAIM to kill adult fleas, larvae, and eggs. Can anyone specifically recommend something that ACTUALLY works?

Countrygirl, what topical do you apply only every 3 months?
Revolution is what I use. I buy it from my vet. I guess it is supposed to be used monthly but since mine are indoors only and seldom have a flea problem I only use it every 3 months.
 

countrygirl576

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Awesome! I bought a natural plant based one on Amazon yesterday as the people at the pet shop didn't want to sell me the frontline animal spray for this purpose, they were trying so hard to push the bedding & furniture spray that frontline make. So I didn't buy either as I was unconvinced :lol:
Yeah, I found the people who work at pet shops don't really know about different things for pets. :headshake: Found that out just for my fish tank. I bought what they told me would work better (and more expensive) and it didn't work at all :frustrated:so I found what I was actually looking for on Amazon and it is still working and a ton cheaper. Took the stuff back to the store.
 

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With as many as I have, I use Revolution (blue box) unmeasured. I don't think where I get them from sells it like that to any but previous buyers. But I'm sure it's out there still. Buying it premeasured saves me a lot of money. I went from paying $15 per dose, to under $5.
I live in Virginia and the flea season is often overwhelming. But it's always worked wonderfully. I know Frontline had problems about 2yrs ago. I never used it, but found out through my vets that there was a lot of returns to them over it being garbage. Might have changed since then, but can't say. I used to get mine from Sierra Pet Meds. Came from Australia and I know plenty online say Don't do that! Never know what you're really getting. But I've used it for over 7yrs and if it didn't work? I'd know about it by now. It's also the least bad smelling one I've ever tried and not greasy or drippy. I have a cat that I swear is Autistic, and while she still doesn't like this stuff, she doesn't freak out about it and doesn't slink around all day with it on or try to rub it off on my carpet.
:lol:
 

countrygirl576

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With as many as I have, I use Revolution (blue box) unmeasured. I don't think where I get them from sells it like that to any but previous buyers. But I'm sure it's out there still. Buying it premeasured saves me a lot of money. I went from paying $15 per dose, to under $5.
I live in Virginia and the flea season is often overwhelming. But it's always worked wonderfully. I know Frontline had problems about 2yrs ago. I never used it, but found out through my vets that there was a lot of returns to them over it being garbage. Might have changed since then, but can't say. I used to get mine from Sierra Pet Meds. Came from Australia and I know plenty online say Don't do that! Never know what you're really getting. But I've used it for over 7yrs and if it didn't work? I'd know about it by now. It's also the least bad smelling one I've ever tried and not greasy or drippy. I have a cat that I swear is Autistic, and while she still doesn't like this stuff, she doesn't freak out about it and doesn't slink around all day with it on or try to rub it off on my carpet.
:lol:
Wow, I wish mine was that cheap. It's at least $20 or more each dose and I used to have 6 cats and then add my mom's cat to it. That's why I only use it every 3 months. Except for the time the company brought fleas with them and then I had to do it 3 months in a row and that was some serious money but I was out numbered by fleas.
 

dustydiamond1

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Wow, I wish mine was that cheap. It's at least $20 or more each dose and I used to have 6 cats and then add my mom's cat to it. That's why I only use it every 3 months. Except for the time the company brought fleas with them and then I had to do it 3 months in a row and that was some serious money but I was out numbered by fleas.
Was the 'companys' cat rescued in time?
 

dustydiamond1

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Gypsy is the former stray neighborhood alley cat and we've been taking her outside in harness since she adopted us 5 yrs ago. I use Revoultion Plus from Spring thru Fall. She hates the smell and will bolt as soon as she scents it so it takes the 2 of us to apply. She doesn't fight us just tries to take off. I chose it for the heartworm protection from mosquitoes. I haven't been using anything once the weather gets cold although reading about flea horror stories I may start using regular Revolution. A vets prescription is needed for both. Good luck.
 

countrygirl576

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Was the 'companys' cat rescued in time?
Yes but only because I got involved. Tried to get animal control to arrest them but they took off to another state and they do not cross state lines for animal abuse. SHOULD but they don't. She was left without food/water too. Sorry for not adding that information to the story.
 
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