Kitty parenting is hard work!

[Siwsan]

I reached my flea breaking point, today, so I gave the kittens another flea bath. I've been combing them practically from day one but still not getting things under control. So I resorted to flea shampoo, again. They are bigger and stronger than the last time I bathed them, but I escaped with only one puncture. In fact, Madoc quite enjoyed the spray rinse off.

One thing I noticed, in retrospect. They seemed a little low energy, lately. No wild rampaging, no attacking my toes, no wrestling, none of their usual behavior. After the bath, and much cuddling and kisses from me. I bought a new, metal flea comb that works really well and gave them another good combing to remove any survivors and carcasses. Then they dozed off until I gave them their dinner. Afterwards that, holy cow! They were like tiny Tasmanian Devils!

I've always had luck getting right into the vet's office on Wednesdays, so that's when they will go in for their 2nd vaccinations AND either a flea treatment or advice on what to buy. Meanwhile, along with the grooming, I'm doing daily steaming of their beds, kitty towers, and the rugs in the play room. Also going to try and steam the den rug. Maybe even buy myself a flea collar.

[hlthe2b]

1. What you are doing is certainly the safest thing for kittens to control fleas...

But might the fleas have a significant foothold in your house (and yard) that might warrant some cautious and targeted insecticidal intervention?

[Siwsan]

2. The weird thing is, I haven't really seen any, anywhere but on the kittens.

And, trust me, I've looked. I had a friend who once had about 8 cats, and never got the flea problem under control, so I know what to look for. Fortunately, the kittens are confined to the den and the play room so I'm going to concentrate on the den.

I've been researching what to use, from natural oils (like lemon) and chemical insecticides. And, actually, this might just be the motivation I need to tear the carpeting out of the den. I can cover the wood floor with rugs until I can get around to sanding and sealing it. It's not as if it gets a whole lot of traffic.

[SheltieLover]

3. You can eradicate fleas with Diatomaceous earth

Non toxic, but be careful not to breathe dust.

Can get a 1 lb bag at lowes for ~$8 or so. Sprinkle in carpet.

It will absolutely kill fleas. They walk across it & it scores their shell, which kills them.

There is a food grade of this product as well.

You can use this directly on cats, but do not make a dust cloud because, although it feels like powdered sugar, it does have an abrasive quality, which is what scores flea shells.

It will contimue to kill fleas until either you vac it up, or if it gets (& stays) wet. Getting wet is ok if it can dry back out. 👍

[I_UndergroundPanther]

4. Got a flea infestation

Used a herbal flea killer spray.
A white bowl with a candle in it,full of soapy water..

And salt. Lots of salt in a layer that covered all the floors and left it there for 2 days. Vacuumed it all up and after 2 days there were no more fleas.

How does salt kill fleas? Apparently the salt crystals are sharp edged,fleas will cut themselves on it and because its salt they dehydrate quickly and die.

Also
Gave Othello a flea bath also got a flea collar for Othello.
No fleas since that time and its been 2 years.

[Siwsan]

5. I do have some herbal sprays. One for the kittens and one for application on beds, etc.

I just steamed the rug and furniture. Will probably do it, again, tomorrow. I'm just not noticing a problem anywhere but on the kittens but I want to keep it that way.

And I picked up a spray that kills fleas and keeps the eggs from hatching. I think that's a BIG part of the problem because the shampoo might kill fleas but I don't think it has that much of an effect on the eggs/larvae.

I wondered if the kittens are too young for a flea collar. Of course, I keep forgetting they are 3 months old, now. That seems to be a transition age for some things. Another thing to research.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

6. Try the salt I was amazed

At how good it worked.
I put salt everywhere the floors,in the carpet ,in my furniture everything and the infestation stopped in 2 days. And salt wont harm the kittens..

[Siwsan]

7. Sure sounds worth a try!

I'd sure rather avoid having to use chemicals.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

8. Just call Madoc,salty paws

Sophie stinky toes
And Madoc salty paws..

Goes together like peas and carrots..😸

[LisaL]

9. Flea collars could be dangerous.

Vets should have topical treatments you can apply once a month to the back of cat's neck.
My indoor cats got fleas once (likely I brought it in on my shoes).
Got the treatment and all the fleas were gone after one time treatment.

[diane in sf]

11. Don't use flea collars, especially with long haired cats, they can be really toxic,

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

10. What LisaL said.

A couple of times over the years I've had a cat get fleas. The medication from the vet is astonishingly good.

[pansypoo53219]

12. my new kittens had fleas. they got a bath. then went to my grandparents. flea bombed the house.

no more fleas. i only have indoor cats. my hostages all had Stockholms. no dead things, til my basil. declawed stoped on a mouse. found him waiting for his new toy to move. it wasn't dead yet. my only mouser, tho his sister found a mummified mouse right after i got her. found another dead one. last dead mouse.