I realized about a month ago that my cat has fleas. I had treated him with a topical and the next morning my son’s socks were covered with fleas. Anyway, I spent that day cleaning up then went to the vet and bought spray and Capstar pills. I gave my cat a pill then I sprayed all my carpets and under everything in the house. I then brought my cat home and washed him. I was told not to put more topical on him. I waited a week to vacuum as advised. I was still finding fleas so the next weekend I bombed my home. It didn’t seem to help either so I went to the vet. I was told I could wash my cat again and use another topical treatment since I washed the first off 48 hours after application (and there being zero relief from fleas). Its been two weeks and I am still finding up to ten fleas on my cat per day. I have vacuumed every day (I have put a piece of flea collar in it, or sprayed it with the stuff I used to treat my home. I also throw the bag away every couple days), used a flea comb on my cat at least once a day. I have even used borax on my carpets and around the edges of the carpeting and linoleum. Nothing seems to be working. He got worms(I treated those two weeks ago). Now he has a sore that appears to be getting worse. He keeps licking it. I put a veterinary grade neosporine on it, but he licked it off. I hope it isn’t ring worm. I have spent about $200 dollars on this and I literally have nothing left to spend. Any advice? I’m exhausted…and broke!! Will getting rid of the cat help or will the bugs just bite me and my son (I’ve only gotten a couple of what I think may have been bites and he hasn’t gotten any).
Alyssa E- I know getting rid of him would be terrible…I don’t want to and I figure the buggers will just turn on my son and me. My freezer is too small so I’ve bought lots of vacuum bags. I’ve never heard of seven dust but will look it up for sure. I have considered the exterminator. They Want $125 dollars that I don’t have right now and they said that what I have already done should get rid of the problem. They also said vacuuming along with it would get rid of the bugs…As for ring worm, I’m going to keep an eye on it for a couple days, I think it may be irritation from the fleas, but I just don’t know. I never thought of the vet keeping him, my guess is that it would cost money, but I may ask. As for me and my son, I don’t have anywhere to stay, we just leave the apartment with the cat each time we treat the home. We don’t have a yard and are on the second floor, but he is strictly an indoor cat. I did treat my car, may do it again too.
Wow, I didn’t expect this many responses. Thanks to all!!
MandaBear-I did wash everything in the apartment that I could remove. $30 bucks at the laundromat. I treated his bedding a couple extra times. I wash his perch weekly as well. I also vacuum the couch…not daily because it takes me about 20-30 minutes to run the vacuum hose over every cushion and the couch itself.
I don’t really want to get rid of the cat he’s such a good boy. I lost my job last April, have been on unemployment, and going to college instead of work, this flea infestation has really hurt my funds, and I can’t afford to take him to the vet. I am a foster for the local animal shelter but they are closing it down so I don’t know if they are going to be able to help me right now.
Cptokay- my vet suggested calling the manufacturers of the products I used and ask why they aren’t working. I have to wait until Monday since they are closed. He couldn’t tell me anything else…I’m doing all the things they told me and more
Sticki Chick-Yeah I don’t let him outside. We had a racoon problem in the wooded area next to the apartment, I can’t imagine him getting into it with one of those guys. I’m not supposed to wash the cat because I treated him recently, but before the next treatment, I will definitely wash him as you suggest. I’ve thought about the water bowls, but I think my son would forget about them and make a mess. Never heard of the oral treatment, will check into that. As for the topical, it goes on the scruff of his neck, I’m not sure he could reach it while it was wet.
Miranda-no we can’t figure out where the bugs came from. We’re on the second floor. Maybe the maintenance man who works outside a lot. No other people or animals in the apartment recently. I’ve heard of the diatomaceous earth…may try that too.
Lotstquestions…-All the product I bought except the collar and shampoo I got from my vet ( I also tried dawn), I heard the department store stuff has a high concentration of the chemicals that kill fleas, but it tends to be too much for the animal.
This was my first question…thanks to all for your advice, I really appreciate it!!