I cant get rid of them. I dont understand why. I frontlined my entire furry family less than two weeks ago (with the pipets), it cost me R400, and they are crawling all over my babies again. In november, they were frontlined, in October capstarred, September frontlined . . . I vaccuum every day, couches & upholstery gets done once a week, I spray fleago on all the doorways and skirtings, I spray fleago inside my vaccuum cleaner every time I clean it out. I wash the kid's bedding every week. What more can I do? This is driving me insane. I'm not talking about 1 or 2 fleas here, I was holding Stumpie just now, and I could feel the fleas running against my bare arm - the child is INFESTED. Frontline used to be effective for at least a month?? I've checked the flea tags on other posts, there is stuff called d. earth? I really like the sound of it (I dont like using poisons and un-eco friendly things), but I cant find it here in SA. Dont know if its maybe called something else here? I checked on the internet, I can have it imported from the US, its fairly cheap, but they only import in metric tons . . . Does anyone maybe know of a supplier who could send me some of the stuff? I'm allergic to fleas, so I really do feel the discomfort of my babies rather acutely. Usually I know they have fleas before they know they have fleas . . .
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Cats & Kittens
FLEAS!!!
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Cylindrotheca fusiformis is the scientific name. Maybe that will help? Remember food grade not filter grade.
Posted 2 years ago by ailuromaniac #
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Found a supplier in Krugersdorp, 120km away from where I live. I'll call them tomorrow and ask them if they could send me some of the stuff, and if they supply it in quantities smaller than metric tons . . . How do you use it? Rub it into their fur like fleapowder? Sprinkle it in the house??
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Anncetera2 posted this a year ago, in regards to using DE (food grade), for getting rid of fleas. There have been many posts since regarding the use of DE. Her explaination is very simple, and it works. The following is what she wrote to another TDK'r.
CW, it's true that carpet aggravates getting rid of fleas. Carpet is nearly the perfect hiding place for fleas and flea eggs.
Regarding getting rid of fleas... I've tried over-the-counter stuff, homemade remedies, and professional products (not all at once; don't want toxin overload). But I have yet to find anything that beats diatomaceous earth, overall, in terms of balancing effectiveness, performance, safety, and cost.
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is non-toxic. Like all fine dust, it's a good idea not to inhale it. And it's messy, while you have it down. But otherwise, I've found it's a fantastic way to get rid of fleas. No flea develops resistance (as they can with various poisons). You can treat both your house & pet with it. It's less expensive than just about anything else I've ever tried. And it remains effective, as long as it remains dry.
If I had Berber carpet, I'd sprinkle it heavily all over the carpet, like a carpet freshener. Then I'd go ahead and sweep the rug gently, to brush the DE into and in between the fibers a bit. Where you might have hardwood or tile, you sprinkle down the DE, then gently sweep to the baseboards (to ensure some of the DE makes it under the baseboards). Gentle sweeping only; again, you don't want to kick up a lot of dust.
I'd do the same for any upholstered furniture; chairs, sofas, mattresses, etc., brushing in the DE. With a mattress, you take off all the bedding, treat with DE, then make up the bed with new linens and wash the used linens in hot water. Also a good idea to wash pillows.
Anyplace where the pet sleeps on a regular basis also needs treatment. So pet beds, etc. need to be treated, too.
The most difficult part for most people is leaving the DE down for 10 days (long enough to break the lifecycle, and to allow any eggs present to hatch out and have the larvae killed by DE). After that, it's safe to vacuum (where the DE will then kill any fleas living in the vacuum bag). Afterward, discard the vacuum cleaner bag.
You'd want to treat your cats every month or so with DE. Any cat traveling back outdoors is likely to pick up fleas, but if carpet retains some residual DE, there's DE under baseboards, and the cats are treated with DE monthly, new fleas are likely to be short-lived.
Just my thoughts and experiences; I moved to a non-toxic method after nearly losing one of my cats to over-the-counter products, and spending more than a month's rent on her recovery. I've treated another of my cats with an OTC product, and it burned the skin on the back of her neck. I've treated my house and cats with prescription products, spending a lot of money, and still having a few fleas at the end of things. Last, but not least, DE is effective against all insects, not just fleas; any insect with a soft body or exposed joints is susceptible to it. Personally, I'm done with toxic treatments for my cats; it's just not worth it, to me.
Good luck, whichever products you decide to use! The battle against fleas is a tough one, but it helps if you learn more about their lifecycle (and how to break it). Some info at: http://www.wbvc.bc.ca/external.htm
Posted 2 years ago by 12PAWZinFL #
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Another thing to check with your vet is an injectable - here it's called Programme - kills the eggs, thus breaking the fleas life cycle. Here's some info :
http://www.myhealthycat.com/program-flea-control.html
I have our crew done every 6 months and only Pickle & Harry need any top up treatment as they're extremely sensitive to fleas.
Posted 2 years ago by MadcatwomanintheUK #
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Thank you! I'm really hoping this d earth stuff isnt too expensive - Between December and today, I've spent R4500 at the vet, and that's not even counting the frontline =( And then there is off course the issue of me not going back to work/getting paid untill March. I'm going to have to spend my whole paycheck for a few months just to pay off the credit card. Evil things - cant live without them, but you're always screwed if you have one. I'm still not clear about wheather or not you have to rub the stuff into the cat's fur? Or is it more about getting rid of the fleas in the environment, and thereby getting rid of the fleas on the cats?
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Skyron, Jeankit bumped up an old thread for you which gives some more info - here's the link :
Posted 2 years ago by MadcatwomanintheUK #
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Skyron, Ann suggested this supplier for overseas orders:
You can order DE from the following supplier; be sure to click on "Outside US Orders Only" when you order it. (Shipping will be more expensive.)
http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/buy_diatomaceous_earth.html
They sell small quantities. :)
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Two other US suppliers and another quote from Ann:
"You work this into the kitten's fur, but you also put in on carpeting, upholstered furniture, a bed mattress... everywhere. The trick is to not vacuum for a week or so. It looks a lot like flour.
More info at:
http://www.internet-grocer.net/diatome.htm
http://www.dirtworks.net/Diatomaceous-Earth.html
This product is non-toxic and works mechanically. If you have any problems with roaches, ants, etc. it should take care of them, too. Put extra near your baseboards and you may not have any insect infestation problems for a long, long time to come."
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You can ask neighbours if they want to purchase part of the DE with you. If you have fleas, so do they. Because it's not toxic, you can put a barrier around the edge of your home and eliminate a variety of crawly things, so even if the neighbours don't have animals it would still be a useful thing for them.
Posted 2 years ago by CheetahBoysmommy #
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Poor babies Skyron. I understand what you & they are going thru. I live in a mobile home park between the river & a lake. It sits right on top of nothing but sand. Even tho I have kits here that have been indoors-only all their lives,I've had trouble controling the fleas because not every homeowner sprays their yard for them regularly.
After hearing about the D-Earth over & over here on TDK,I had to try it. Everything else was failing to work & I also was worried about toxin build-up. With the number of animals you have & the large home, I would recommend the 5 lb. bag because you'll always have it on hand & most likely will need to use again to make sure they're all gotten rid of. I absolutely swear by it. The stuff stretches so far,it's amazing. I've only used about a fourth of it since last summer. I sprinkled it (using a refillable shaker bottle) around the entire perimeter of the house & doused the areas where the cats layed & ate. It does look as if you sprinkled flour all over but, who cares since it works so well. I never have an ant or spider problem anymore where the cats eat. I sprinkle it on the inside flooring & entrances to the house.
Altho it's not toxic to the kits,I sprinkle into the kitty's brushes rather than trying to hold them still to sprinkle them directly. They like the brushing & I have control of how much gets on their skin until I can see they aren't sensitive to it. With it being wintertime here right now,I find if I put too much on them too quick,it makes their skin dryer than usual,since the heated air inside does that already.Sorry for the long post...I just want to say...the stuff is fantastic! Good luck. I hope your able to find a distributor who is willing to ship it to you w/out charging an arm & a leg. It's so worth the money.
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I think part of our flea problem is that the house next door to us has been standing empty for a few years now. The yard is really overgrown and nasty. I have on occassion considered setting fire to it. Just as a vengeful thought though . . . Thanks for that info feral. I hope to get some DE into SA soon. I cant get hold of the SA suppliers on the numbers listed on their websites, the phones just ring endlessly . . .
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