Inconvenient Annoyances

I brought back good hearty North Carolina fleas with me 2 trips ago. The other cats slept inside of my luggage and I didn't even think about it. I can't get rid of them. Flea meds here do nothing.  I use a flea comb on Pedro Felix every night. It is maddening.

Do they sell DE here? Maybe you can use that or borax on your carpets?

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Yeah, I'm gonna have to carefully use DE. I don't trust vacuuming it and don't want the kitty inhaling it. unsure how well imitation borax would work.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

20 Mule Team Borax (Borax Sodium Tetranitrate Decahydrate ) sprinkled liberally on the carpet. Let sit overnight.
Thoroughly vacuum all hard surfaces, pay special attention to anywhere kitty likes to go (windowsills, etc.)
Vacuum carpet the next day. Be sure to empty/toss the bag if there is a disposable vacuum bag (otherwise, wash out the inside of the collection thingy with screaming hot water, if it's one of the machines with a plastic bin where the dirt goes. Don't forget to wash the filter.).
3 days later, vacuum again. Discard bag.
3 days later, vacuum again. Discard bag.

Wipe down all surfaces kitty may sit, every few days, as the flea eggs can fall off and hatch there.

If kitty has a bed, wash it in hot water at least weekly - there will be flea eggs in there. If kitty has fleas, they've probably made it to your bedding as well. Wash in hot water. Do what you can to vaccuum the furniture.

A flea can hitch-hike into your home on your jeans if you've walked through grass where one was waiting. That's kinda all it takes. Once the little bastard is in the house and finds the cat, it bites, drinks, and starts laying eggs like mad.

Kitty will forgive you the anti-flea drops, and will be a happier kitty for not being bitten constantly. If it were me I'd buy a flea comb and comb kitty daily, paying extra attention to around the ears, the base of the tail, and under the chin - that's where we used to find them the most on our kitties. You just have to keep combing, keep vaccuuming, and keep wiping until you don't see them any longer. It can take some time.

I don't envy you all that. Ick!

Oh. You can't get Borax OTC here. (Sigh)

Oh. You can't get Borax OTC here. (Sigh)

What? Another ridiculous thing!

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Flea meds here do nothing.

Maybe the dog stuff is stronger, but I used Frontline drops on my dearly departed greyhound, and I never saw a single flea on him in the 12 years he was with me.

They are literally the worst. 

I have nothing good to say about them! 

Maybe the dog stuff is stronger, but I used Frontline drops on my dearly departed greyhound, and I never saw a single flea on him in the 12 years he was with me.

I think it is these industrial strength NC fleas. To be fair, I can't kill them off there either but they are too difficult to control on outside/inside cats when your lawn is covered in them.

I brought back flea powder with me and that does work (can't buy topical flea powder here? Only for carpets.) but I hate fighting Pedro Felix to put it on him.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Yeah, you definitely need to treat indoor cats too. It's so, so easy to bring a flea home with you,. It happened to us in the US and was an absolute nightmare, we had to get professionals in to sort it.

I use Broadline for cats on ours. It's a spot on that I get from the vet and apply once a month. There is also the option of an injection given by the vet which provides cover for 6 months at a time.

Be very, very careful what you give them though. There are horror stories all over the internet about certain over the counter products and never use dog strength stuff on cats.

so there was only one option for the fleas and it was so watery it ran down her back. Of course the first thing she did (and keeps doing) is trying to lick it off

Part the hair first so that you can apply directly to the skin. Apply right at the top of the neck where she can't reach round to lick it. 

Part the hair first so that you can apply directly to the skin. Apply right at the top of the neck where she can't reach round to lick it.

Yeah, unfortunately since we only have two options this one was very liquid. I've used advantage in the past in the US before I became allergic to it and it wasn't nearly as drippy. I think when this batch runs out we may switch to the pill type. She calmed down and slept in her spot last night so I think she's OK. I have hives from it though. (my husband put it on but I could still smell it)

FWIW broadline is what my friends here use and it works well on their outdoor cats. It's also a de-wormer which is why we can't use it, if my kitty does actually have heartworm it would kill her. (cat immune systems usually kill it before it becomes mature but there are no guarantees, and a mature heart worm dying can cause anaphylaxis.)

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

FWIW broadline is what my friends here use and it works well on their outdoor cats. It's also a de-wormer which is why we can't use it, if my kitty does actually have heartworm it would kill her. (cat immune systems usually kill it before it becomes mature but there are no guarantees, and a mature heart worm dying can cause anaphylaxis.)

Gosh margo, that must be a constant worry.    Have you thought about having her tested?

Alexa, please stick a rusty nail in my eye.

Gosh margo, that must be a constant worry.    Have you thought about having her tested?

She has the antibodies showing exposure, and is due for another xray to check for adult worms and standard blood work. The vet is going through her US records to check for any other vaccines she needs before we schedule a full check up. They appreciated that we checked with them first before giving her any meds!

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

Mrs. Seahorse... have you seen that there is a Meetup happening?  It's being called the Blizzard Party (there are reasons).  We are hoping the seahorses can make an appearance.  Have a look at the meetups thread. 

The blizzard is happening 3 November? That's the weekend before this term's draft assessment submission (I'm doing an MSc in my spare time, LOL), so it's unlikely. Were I a more-efficient person, I could conceivably plan ahead, but between work and various associated ephemera in October -- on-site at a symposium in Vienna, an industry competition (why my company chose me when there are proper humans available, we will never know), co-planning the team day murder mystery -- I will probably need that weekend to write and/or curl into a ball with the cats. Although I AM tempted by a couple museums in Bristol.

She has the antibodies showing exposure, and is due for another xray to check for adult worms and standard blood work. The vet is going through her US records to check for any other vaccines she needs before we schedule a full check up. They appreciated that we checked with them first before giving her any meds!

Oh boy! Hopefully her body has rejected the little buggars and there won't be an adult to find. Keeping fingers crossed for you!