Posted: 8/7/2015 3:05:57 PM EDT
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We have a 1 year old indoor only kitty that has developed a rather tenacious flea problem. We know where the fleas are coming from (the yard, riding in on the dog) and are treating that, but my real concern is why the flea control medication we are using on our cat simply isn't working. We are now using both Revolution and Advantage, alternating every two weeks. I.E. week 1 we give Revolution and week 3 we give Advantage. In theory, even if the fleas get on her and bite her, they should die in short order.
But they aren't. Salem the Doberman doesn't have these issues at all. She gets Advantix II once a month, and we have no problems with her. Not a flea in sight on her. So I'm curious as to why the flea control products aren't working on our cat. Are there animals that simply don't absorb/process/metabolize the chemicals? Is there an alternative to use that might be more effective? Any ideas as to why Rose's meds aren't working even though Salem's are? Pic of Offender 
And Innocent Bystander 
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Oops, misread your post.
Anyway, the fleas are in your house now, I don't think the dog is bringing them in if what you say is true. You need to treat the pets sleeping areas and really, anywhere they hang out. Fleas and flea eggs can live anywhere for quite some time. Until you kill all the fleas and all their eggs, this will keep happening. |
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Our vet told us that fleas can become resistant to certain treatments over time. Advantix stopped working for us completely. We use Trifexis now.
Like a post above said, capstar will kill all of the fleas on your animal now. Switching treatments will help keep them under control. Spreading diatomaceous earth under cushions and anywhere our dogs would hang out helped clear the lingering fleas out fast. Just vacuum and repeat if necessary. We were able to get a pretty bad flea problem under control a lot faster than we thought we would. We never had to spray anything. My son has pet frogs so any bug spray that is not a stream really isn't an option for us. |
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If you would care for an Asperger riddled, sociopathic, assholes advice, we're using these on our dogs: Seresto Collars and they have worked fantastic, for two collies that walk around in fields, play in grassy back yard, etc...
Of course, I wouldn't blame you if you ignored it, or me... 
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Make sure you get food grade stuff. You can find it on Amazon as well as little bulb type sprayers for it. Quoted:
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Sounds like a ton of DE is in my future.  Make sure you get food grade stuff. You can find it on Amazon as well as little bulb type sprayers for it. I just ordered 100 lbs of it. I have a pretty big yard, plus it sounds like it's going to be a regular use item on my cat. I've had critters all my life, and never once had a flea control issue. This is just bizarre. The Advantage/Revolution/Advantix has always worked wonders until this cat. |
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Sounds like a ton of DE is in my future. Avoid the gimmicks. We've seen a major decline in effectiveness. I've tried everything in the last two years. The fleas have either adapted or become less affected by frontline, and all the similar products. The only thing that has stopped the fleas has been a combination of 'roach spray' which is a spray form of permethrin (check the label) on the bedding and general sleeping areas for the dog(s)/Cat(s). This kills any fleas that get in contact with the bedding or go off the reservation. Secondly, boric acid (also for fleas, but at the co-op as roach powder) on ALL carpeted areas. This kills the eggs and any other fleas that are roaming around. Before you allow kids back on it (9mo here) vacuum THREE times. Permethrin crumbles (not diatomaceous Earth) in the yard (see my garden thread...Ortho Bug-B-Gone 10.99 at wal mart) will kill everything that crawls in the yard. Avoid the hype, kill shit. Kill 'em. The whole 'the diatomes cut the bug's shells and kills them' is a gimmick when compared to actual clinical trials against permethrin. Better living through Modern Chemistry FTW. TRG |
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Avoid the gimmicks. We've seen a major decline in effectiveness. I've tried everything in the last two years. The fleas have either adapted or become less affected by frontline, and all the similar products. The only thing that has stopped the fleas has been a combination of 'roach spray' which is a spray form of permethrin (check the label) on the bedding and general sleeping areas for the dog(s)/Cat(s). This kills any fleas that get in contact with the bedding or go off the reservation. Secondly, boric acid (also for fleas, but at the co-op as roach powder) on ALL carpeted areas. This kills the eggs and any other fleas that are roaming around. Before you allow kids back on it (9mo here) vacuum THREE times. Permethrin crumbles (not diatomaceous Earth) in the yard (see my garden thread...Ortho Bug-B-Gone 10.99 at wal mart) will kill everything that crawls in the yard. Avoid the hype, kill shit. Kill 'em. The whole 'the diatomes cut the bug's shells and kills them' is a gimmick when compared to actual clinical trials against permethrin. Better living through Modern Chemistry FTW. TRG Quoted:
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Sounds like a ton of DE is in my future. Avoid the gimmicks. We've seen a major decline in effectiveness. I've tried everything in the last two years. The fleas have either adapted or become less affected by frontline, and all the similar products. The only thing that has stopped the fleas has been a combination of 'roach spray' which is a spray form of permethrin (check the label) on the bedding and general sleeping areas for the dog(s)/Cat(s). This kills any fleas that get in contact with the bedding or go off the reservation. Secondly, boric acid (also for fleas, but at the co-op as roach powder) on ALL carpeted areas. This kills the eggs and any other fleas that are roaming around. Before you allow kids back on it (9mo here) vacuum THREE times. Permethrin crumbles (not diatomaceous Earth) in the yard (see my garden thread...Ortho Bug-B-Gone 10.99 at wal mart) will kill everything that crawls in the yard. Avoid the hype, kill shit. Kill 'em. The whole 'the diatomes cut the bug's shells and kills them' is a gimmick when compared to actual clinical trials against permethrin. Better living through Modern Chemistry FTW. TRG Gimmick? Have you ever read how diatomaceous earth actually works? Cutting is not the mechanism that actually kills the bugs. The abrasiveness of the powder just speeds up the process. Food grade diatomaceous earth is very effective. I'm pretty sure it has been used in the storage of food to prevent pests for a long time. It's pretty common around here. It may not be effective if the wrong type is used, of course. |
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Gimmick? Have you ever read how diatomaceous earth actually works? Cutting is not the mechanism that actually kills the bugs. The abrasiveness of the powder just speeds up the process. Food grade diatomaceous earth is very effective. I'm pretty sure it has been used in the storage of food to prevent pests for a long time. It's pretty common around here. It may not be effective if the wrong type is used, of course. Quoted:
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Sounds like a ton of DE is in my future. Avoid the gimmicks. We've seen a major decline in effectiveness. I've tried everything in the last two years. The fleas have either adapted or become less affected by frontline, and all the similar products. The only thing that has stopped the fleas has been a combination of 'roach spray' which is a spray form of permethrin (check the label) on the bedding and general sleeping areas for the dog(s)/Cat(s). This kills any fleas that get in contact with the bedding or go off the reservation. Secondly, boric acid (also for fleas, but at the co-op as roach powder) on ALL carpeted areas. This kills the eggs and any other fleas that are roaming around. Before you allow kids back on it (9mo here) vacuum THREE times. Permethrin crumbles (not diatomaceous Earth) in the yard (see my garden thread...Ortho Bug-B-Gone 10.99 at wal mart) will kill everything that crawls in the yard. Avoid the hype, kill shit. Kill 'em. The whole 'the diatomes cut the bug's shells and kills them' is a gimmick when compared to actual clinical trials against permethrin. Better living through Modern Chemistry FTW. TRG Gimmick? Have you ever read how diatomaceous earth actually works? Cutting is not the mechanism that actually kills the bugs. The abrasiveness of the powder just speeds up the process. Food grade diatomaceous earth is very effective. I'm pretty sure it has been used in the storage of food to prevent pests for a long time. It's pretty common around here. It may not be effective if the wrong type is used, of course. Yes, gimmick. Permethrin will kill 10,000 different bugs. From cutworms to fleas, ticks to spiders. Deads 'em. I was looking to buy some property about two decades ago. The agent really hyped the fact that it had 'diatomaceous Earth', so I spent some time looking in to it. TRG |
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To me the greatest advantage of using DE over permethrin or any other chemical is that it won't harm anything but bugs. Got a body of water close by? Permethrin washing off the lawn and into the water will harm fish, frogs, etc. While there might be a chance for some of it to wash away, it is known to break down and soak in to the soil after a rain. And, it remains effective against burrowing bugs even after a 30 days. TRG |
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To me the greatest advantage of using DE over permethrin or any other chemical is that it won't harm anything but bugs. Got a body of water close by? Permethrin washing off the lawn and into the water will harm fish, frogs, etc. We're just up the road from the river. |
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We're just up the road from the river. Quoted:
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To me the greatest advantage of using DE over permethrin or any other chemical is that it won't harm anything but bugs. Got a body of water close by? Permethrin washing off the lawn and into the water will harm fish, frogs, etc. We're just up the road from the river. I use permethrin and have multiple creeks and springs on my property. My road is still a scene from "FROGGER" at night. TRG |
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Yes, gimmick. Permethrin will kill 10,000 different bugs. From cutworms to fleas, ticks to spiders. Deads 'em. I was looking to buy some property about two decades ago. The agent really hyped the fact that it had 'diatomaceous Earth', so I spent some time looking in to it. TRG Quoted:
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Sounds like a ton of DE is in my future. Avoid the gimmicks. We've seen a major decline in effectiveness. I've tried everything in the last two years. The fleas have either adapted or become less affected by frontline, and all the similar products. The only thing that has stopped the fleas has been a combination of 'roach spray' which is a spray form of permethrin (check the label) on the bedding and general sleeping areas for the dog(s)/Cat(s). This kills any fleas that get in contact with the bedding or go off the reservation. Secondly, boric acid (also for fleas, but at the co-op as roach powder) on ALL carpeted areas. This kills the eggs and any other fleas that are roaming around. Before you allow kids back on it (9mo here) vacuum THREE times. Permethrin crumbles (not diatomaceous Earth) in the yard (see my garden thread...Ortho Bug-B-Gone 10.99 at wal mart) will kill everything that crawls in the yard. Avoid the hype, kill shit. Kill 'em. The whole 'the diatomes cut the bug's shells and kills them' is a gimmick when compared to actual clinical trials against permethrin. Better living through Modern Chemistry FTW. TRG Gimmick? Have you ever read how diatomaceous earth actually works? Cutting is not the mechanism that actually kills the bugs. The abrasiveness of the powder just speeds up the process. Food grade diatomaceous earth is very effective. I'm pretty sure it has been used in the storage of food to prevent pests for a long time. It's pretty common around here. It may not be effective if the wrong type is used, of course. Yes, gimmick. Permethrin will kill 10,000 different bugs. From cutworms to fleas, ticks to spiders. Deads 'em. I was looking to buy some property about two decades ago. The agent really hyped the fact that it had 'diatomaceous Earth', so I spent some time looking in to it. TRG Well you were suggesting that cutting the insect is what killed it.... That is incorrect. The property had diatomaceous earth? You mean naturally? I am sure lots of property does. Diatoms are fairly common in the fossil record. The agent was probably incorrect also. It really needs to be food grade DE to be effective. As I said, it has been used for years in food storage to keep bugs much bigger than fleas away. A lot of people also use it when storing feed. In many parts of southern Oklahoma the ground is light colored, chalky, rich in diatoms... They still have to buy their DE though. lol |
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Np but comfortisn't can be used. A few months of it and I'm sure the problem will go away. Quoted:
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Do they make Trifexis for cats? Np but comfortisn't can be used. A few months of it and I'm sure the problem will go away. This. I've had great luck with Comfortis. I've also used Talstar on the grass since finding that Madison is allergic to wasps. Doesn't seem to harm frogs, but sure kept the pests away. |
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Well you were suggesting that cutting the insect is what killed it.... That is incorrect. The property had diatomaceous earth? You mean naturally? I am sure lots of property does. Diatoms are fairly common in the fossil record. The agent was probably incorrect also. It really needs to be food grade DE to be effective. As I said, it has been used for years in food storage to keep bugs much bigger than fleas away. A lot of people also use it when storing feed. In many parts of southern Oklahoma the ground is light colored, chalky, rich in diatoms... They still have to buy their DE though. lol Quoted:
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Avoid the gimmicks. We've seen a major decline in effectiveness. I've tried everything in the last two years. The fleas have either adapted or become less affected by frontline, and all the similar products. The only thing that has stopped the fleas has been a combination of 'roach spray' which is a spray form of permethrin (check the label) on the bedding and general sleeping areas for the dog(s)/Cat(s). This kills any fleas that get in contact with the bedding or go off the reservation. Secondly, boric acid (also for fleas, but at the co-op as roach powder) on ALL carpeted areas. This kills the eggs and any other fleas that are roaming around. Before you allow kids back on it (9mo here) vacuum THREE times. Permethrin crumbles (not diatomaceous Earth) in the yard (see my garden thread...Ortho Bug-B-Gone 10.99 at wal mart) will kill everything that crawls in the yard. Avoid the hype, kill shit. Kill 'em. The whole 'the diatomes cut the bug's shells and kills them' is a gimmick when compared to actual clinical trials against permethrin. Better living through Modern Chemistry FTW. TRG Gimmick? Have you ever read how diatomaceous earth actually works? Cutting is not the mechanism that actually kills the bugs. The abrasiveness of the powder just speeds up the process. Food grade diatomaceous earth is very effective. I'm pretty sure it has been used in the storage of food to prevent pests for a long time. It's pretty common around here. It may not be effective if the wrong type is used, of course. Yes, gimmick. Permethrin will kill 10,000 different bugs. From cutworms to fleas, ticks to spiders. Deads 'em. I was looking to buy some property about two decades ago. The agent really hyped the fact that it had 'diatomaceous Earth', so I spent some time looking in to it. TRG Well you were suggesting that cutting the insect is what killed it.... That is incorrect. The property had diatomaceous earth? You mean naturally? I am sure lots of property does. Diatoms are fairly common in the fossil record. The agent was probably incorrect also. It really needs to be food grade DE to be effective. As I said, it has been used for years in food storage to keep bugs much bigger than fleas away. A lot of people also use it when storing feed. In many parts of southern Oklahoma the ground is light colored, chalky, rich in diatoms... They still have to buy their DE though. lol No, it was a mineable outcrop of the diatomes. TRG |
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