Fleas and ferals

jeanw

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Fleas are an extremely large problem in this area - maybe everywhere? - and cause so much illness and heartbreak for feral cats.

The first feral cat I brought to the vet in Mexico was very very ill due to a flea infestation and nearly died. He is a beautiful white cat with blue eyes and a fluffy tail and a gray streak on his head. I always told him he's a "good boy" so his name has become "Good Boy". He's been my house kitty for almost 2 years and willingly went me when I first picked him up and brought him home. He's not at all interested in going outside.

Most of the current group of cats won't let me touch them and they eat from each other's food dishes so treating them for fleas is challenging.

A friend told me about Edible (food-grade) DE - edible diatomaceous earth - and I'm considering using this to treat my ferals for fleas and as flea prevention.

Does anyone here have experience with this?

Here are some articles I looked up on it -

Diatomaceous Earth For Cats & Dogs.

Diatomaceous Earth for Pets — Woofur Holistic Pet Care Centre

"Diatomaceous Earth is a natural, non-toxic, chemical-free and safe way to keep your cat or dog free of parasites both internally and externally. The fine powder kills parasites while doing no harms to your pets or you! Under a microscope, the powder has microscopically sharp edges that are safe for your pet but are deadly to parasites and insects. Diatomaceous Earth has been used for decades to kill parasites, insects, larvae, and eggs when their sharp edges pierce through and dehydrate these pests.

How safe is Diatomaceous Earth?

Diatomaceous Earth is perfectly safe when used on dogs, cats, and even humans! Just be sure that you are ONLY using 'food grade' versions of Diatomaceous Earth as the 'filter grade' Diatomaceous Earth can be harmful to your pets."
 

FeebysOwner

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Sorry no one has responded to your post yet! I have never used DE, but I am not sure what you are planning on doing with it. You can't touch these ferals so application to their skin is impossible. You could place it around the yard, but that is probably not a good idea unless you can control the dust because it is harmful to the lungs when inhaled. If you are thinking about using it in food, you have no way of knowing how much each cat would eat, and whether some would ingest more than appropriate. However, I do believe other members have used DE, among other treatments - here are a couple of related posts, in case they might help any.
How to deworm and deflea ferals? | TheCatSite
Dealing with fleas on a feral I can’t touch - advice? | TheCatSite

Hopefully, you will still hear from other members who can be of more help that me!!!
 
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jeanw

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Sorry no one has responded to your post yet! I have never used DE, but I am not sure what you are planning on doing with it. You can't touch these ferals so application to their skin is impossible. You could place it around the yard, but that is probably not a good idea unless you can control the dust because it is harmful to the lungs when inhaled. If you are thinking about using it in food, you have no way of knowing how much each cat would eat, and whether some would ingest more than appropriate. However, I do believe other members have used DE, among other treatments - here are a couple of related posts, in case they might help any.
How to deworm and deflea ferals? | TheCatSite
Dealing with fleas on a feral I can’t touch - advice? | TheCatSite

Hopefully, you will still hear from other members who can be of more help that me!!!
Thank you FeebysOwner FeebysOwner !
 

Margot Lane

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I have only ever heard of it being used for bedbugs in the walls in NYC, but just want to say good on you for taking this on. In my mind is indelibly imprinted a kitten I once saw in India, more fleas than kitten. It surely died seconds after I saw this agonizing horror. It must be torture to live with even a few fleas so if you do find out a method for helping ferals, you ought to be promoted to Sainthood. You might ask a vet?
 
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jeanw

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I have only ever heard of it being used for bedbugs in the walls in NYC, but just want to say good on you for taking this on. In my mind is indelibly imprinted a kitten I once saw in India, more fleas than kitten. It surely died seconds after I saw this agonizing horror. It must be torture to live with even a few fleas so if you do find out a method for helping ferals, you ought to be promoted to Sainthood. You might ask a vet?
Thank you! :redheartpump: Yes I will ask my vet.
 
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