[Maven]

Since my cats are indoor and outdoor cats (except for the kittens, who are strictly indoor), they get fleas. I just spent over $107 on Frontline, and my boyfriend still hasn't put it on them. I need glasses, because I can't read the tiny print on the box.

Anyway, we have a flea infestation. My legs are all bitten up. They itch like crazy, and I've used Cortizone 10 Intense Healing, and it still itches like mad. I've sprayed Off! on my bedding, socks, and self. It seems to work for a little while, but does nothing for the itch. That stuff is toxic, too, and makes it difficult to breathe.

Does anyone know what I should use to get rid of the fleas? And what cam I do about the itch? Thanks for help.

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[bluekoi]

Flea bombs purchased from a veterinarian or a professional pest control company/supply store. Follow directions carefully.

You might need a different med. You might be allergic or highly sensitive to flea bites. You may need to see your doctor. Ice, oral antihistamine, calamine lotion. If problems persist, please see your doctor as flea bites can become infected.

Sorry you are going through this.

Did you buy the Frontline from a vet? If you did, they should be able to advise you about getting rid of the fleas in your house/apartment.

If you didn't buy it from a vet, and haven't used it before, you might want to ask a vet what flea product they recommend for cats for your area. Depending on the area of the US, fleas can be resistant to some of the flea treatment products.

I couldn't tell for sure from your post if you are planning to put Frontline on the kittens (don't know how old they are.) If they aren't going to be getting it, they're probably going to need regular baths until the fleas in their environment are gone.

Regular vacuuming and washing bedding helps to get rid of fleas, too.

You can use "bombs" to kill the fleas in your environment, but you have to take the cats out while you're doing it and for a few hours afterwards.

Benadryl (especially the liquid version) can help to calm down the flea bites. Calamine lotion can help, too.

Really, though, you have to get rid of them, otherwise you'll just keep getting new bites.

If you decide to use the Frontline, you don't necessarily have to read the package instructions, so long as you use the right size for the cat depending on their weight. You just snip off the tip of the vial and spread the liquid on the back of the cat's neck & upper back (where they can't get to it to lick it off.)

If you want to read Frontline instructions, you can look them up online where they'll probably have larger print.

Remember, the Frontline only lasts for a month.

[lizardlady]

Maven, lots of good advice so far. I agree with bombs to get the fleas out of the house. Be sure you take the kittens/cats out while the bombs are going off and afterward. I would give the kittens baths while they are out of the house. Would also treat the adult cats while the bombs are going off. That way all of the cats/kittens should be de-fleaed before they go back in the house.

Applying Frontline or any of the other products is simple. Snip the tip off the container and apply it to the cat's skin at the base of their neck. Be sure to get it on the skin, not the hair.

Personally, I stopped using Frontline. It stopped killing the fleas. There's a new product called Revolution. You have to get it from the vet but the cost is actually slightly less than Frontline per dose. Revolution kills EVERYTHING - internal and external parasites, fleas, worms, mange. It's very effective. It cleared up Krissy's mange. I love it.

[cakeladie]

When we had fleas real bad years ago we used the bombs then sprayed then we used advantage on all the animals. What took the longest for me was I washed all the beddings and vacuum like 3 times we also did not go barefooted in the house for a while. The reason for that is if there was any fleas left they would get on our white socks. So we knew if we still had a problem.

Good luck

[Maven]

Thank you all for your advice. The kittens were born February 19th, so they should be fine for treatment. I bought the Frontline at PetSmart. Right now, I have Cortizone 10 and Benedryl pills, recommended by a pharmacist, but I haven't tried it yet. I'm worried about the Benedryl making me sleepy, like it does my boyfriend. I used Benedryl cream for other itching (can't remember the cause), and it didn't touch the itching at all.

I'm going to come right to the problem: My boyfriend says he's going to do stuff, but usually doesn't, or takes months--even years--to do it. Since our house is a wreck, things are less likely to get done. A flea bomb would also require us to get our bird out of the house. Not easy, because he doesn't like to come out of his cage, but not impossible.

My boyfriend said he'd help me with clearing stuff out of my room, so I can put some of it in storage. I *really* don't want to do that, because it's an extra expense and there's risk of losing your property if you miss any payments, but I'm thinking it might be the best way to improve my situation. The fleas are in my room (and the whole house), and the trash--it's all ludicrous! But my boyfriend says it won't be done before he leaves for his vacation (July 3 - 12),and I know darn well it won't happen soon after that (probably not for a long time after, or his next vacation will come up (Labor Day weekend), and then his Thanksgiving vacation, but he'll also be taking up at least one day (or both) of all weekends between September and November, then there's one free weekend (maybe), and that leads us into the aforementioned Thanksgiving vacation.

He doesn't understand why I have so many flea bites (which he was skeptical about at first, suggesting it could be allergies, but I've seen the freaking fleas on my legs and socks), because he is able to get close and pet the cats much more than I (I have OCD and that makes life difficult) and doesn't have as many bites.

There's no way to wash and vacuum floors and bedding. I normally change my sheets often, but my room is too crowded to get the sheets off (and my OCD doesn't like it, believe me). I'm tempted to take a picture, but once it's online, it can go public.

This is also why I've been considering trying to find a way to move and be on my own. I'd like to start by writing and making some money from that (it may not be much, but it's a start), but I can't really do that until I get my new computer up, which can't be done until the room's cleaned up. I've had the computer since January. 😬

Thanks, lizardlady, for the info on Revolution. I'll keep that in mind if the Frontline doesn't work. This whole thing is absolutely ridiculous. Much of it is my fault, but I didn't create this whole mess.

Sorry, I'm just so frustrated 😤. I can't see any way out if my boyfriend won't help me. He won't let me get outside help, because he's so ashamed and embarrassed for anyone to see. Well, so am I, but something needs to be done.

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[lizardlady]

Maven, a tip for keeping the biting beasties off. Coat your lower legs and feet with some kind of bug repellent. I use Skin So Soft but sprays work too.

As for the monsters biting you more than your boyfriend... it's a scientific fact that some of us taste better to the beasties that others. I can be with a group of people and be the only one the mosquitoes are biting!

[cakeladie]

I have a friend that does not like to use chemicals in her house because they can harm her dogs. Yet she gets these bugs every year but found a way to kill them off without chemicals. I will send her an email and ask her advice on what works with to kill off the fleas without using chemicals.

Maven, not to get to personal but do you have your own money? If not and your disabled is there some way you can get your own place with some help? My son has a case manager and if something was to happen and there was no one to look after him they would find him a group home that he fit in or his own apartment. Is there anyone like that you could ask for help from?

Take care of yourself and your fur babies.

[Maven]

Lizardlady, I've been using Off! Deep Woods Dry repellent, which does help. I spray it on my socks before I get dressed each day, because the little beasties seem to like my legs best. I don't think there's any way around it; we're going to have to use flea bombs in the house, even though it means getting our bird and cats and us out for a day or two (or however long it takes). I'm most concerned about our bird, because they are particularly sensitive to chemicals and stuff like that.

Thanks, cakeladie (I love cake!), and I don't mind your questions. I do have some money, in the sense I get Social Security each month, and I have a dwindling inheritance that will be just about zilch when I pay my boyfriend back for paying CareCredit for me. That's going to be over $3,000 and that leaves very little. This is why I want my computer up so I can at least try to have an income.

I have no one I can rely on for help. My sister lives in Kentucky and is disabled, too, and struggling financially. I'm thinking of contacting a lawyer to see if s/he can get me higher social security (it's for my panic and OCD, but now I'm also disabled by my weight and physically, although I'm hoping my doctor will sign a form so I can join a gym). I can't live in places I consider "dirty" (that's not the right word, nor is "contaminated," but I don't know the right words to use),and I'm hoping, if I could get enough Social Security, I could afford to live in a clean, nice apartment. I am not trying to avoid other kinds of homes (like HUD) because I think they're "beneath" me; it's just what my OCD can live with. I figure, if I can get a free consultation, I won't lose anything, even though if it proceeds, it will cost money.

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[Maven]

Oh, and places associated with a church or religion, or a school, are not places in which I could live. My OCD is really bad when it comes to those sorts of things.

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[Yoda]

I had fleas a few years ago and had to keep reapplying Off several times per day. I wore long pants and long sleeve shirts. I had to bomb my house twice before I was rid of the fleas. Read the instructions on the flea bomb and see if it kills flea larvae as well as adult fleas. Flea larvae can live up to thirty days without eating. Not only will the fleas dine on blood but they also will feed in the litter box.

The med you got from your vet should work. FYI if you ever need to treat fleas again don't waste your money on the flea collars they sell in KMart and Walmart. The collars aren't effective and they can also be toxic to kitty kidneys.

If you can't get your itching under control you might ask your doctor for a Rx for Vistaril. It is often used as a sleep aid so take it in evenings. It is an antihistamine that reduced the itching for me (didn't make me sleepy though).

They also sell stuff to treat your yard for the indoor/outdoor kitties. I never used it though.

Fleas cannot swim so washing bed stuff and bathroom towels/rugs should help. I used to keep a glass of water beside me and pick the fleas off me and drown them in the water. I feel your pain. I hate fleas.

[kindachaotic]

We buy a pill for each of my 3 dogs from the vet.
Works really well. Supposed to work for a month but usually works several.
That way fleas don't get on us & in the house.
They're in & out via doggie door. Always sleep with us at night.
Really hope you get it under control, it's pure misery.

[lizardlady]

Originally Posted by kindachaotic

We buy a pill for each of my 3 dogs from the vet.
Works really well. Supposed to work for a month but usually works several.
That way fleas don't get on us & in the house.
They're in & out via doggie door. Always sleep with us at night.
Really hope you get it under control, it's pure misery.

There are some very good meds that can be fed to dogs to control parasites but are TOXIC to kitties. Be sure to check with your vet.

[kirby777]

Hi-

I am sorry about your flea infestation. In the past, before "frontline", types of items, I had flea bombed the house...I had to put all dishes & things away, in cabinets & drawers. I activate the bombs while no one was in the house for a few days.

Some holistic people use "neem oil" on their pets to repell the fleas.

Good Luck.