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Cypress
10-2-14, 2:19pm
My two cats need help with flea treatment. Gigi is 18 years old and at 8 lbs in good health. Sweetie is 6 years old and at 10 lbs in good health. Both are allowed outdoors during mild weather. Both are female and calico's.

I was using Advantage Flea treatment on both cats. Advantage is sold to the cats weight for dosage. The cost is too high. Although I think it was fairly reliable and not irritating to the stomach. I tried BioSpot which advertised as the same ingredient as the leading brand Frontline. Well, the savings was considerable but after treatment, within a few days, both cats started scratching. And, it upset their tummy. Both cats ate quite a bit of grass several days after the treatment and vomited to clear the stomach.

So, the generic brand did not work. I have two tubes left which I may send back to the company I bought them from. Are there any non-chemical treatments for cats? Something like an essential oil that when put on the skin does not harm the cat but expels the fleas? I am not using the powders as that will rub off onto furniture and not sure if it will irritate their tummies. I think calico's have sensitive digestions, at least Sweetie does more than Gigi. She has a hard time tolerating anything new in her diet, although she gets bored with her food.
Packy
10-4-14, 10:27pm
I can't offer the home remedy alternative you are seeking, but I've been using a veterinary product that is highly effective. It's a topical, similar to advantix, but it's called "Revolution". , made by Pfizer. Then, since flea control requires multiple measures, I also get everyone out, and fumigate the house with an aerosol, specifically for fleas. I might even sprinkle Borax(the laundry additive) around, then vacuum it up. This keeps fleas waay down to a manageable level, no small job in your case,with multiple outdoor-indoor cats. By the end of the summer, you may need to administer droncit orally to any or all cats. This is for tapeworm control; you probably know that cats frequently ingest fleas grooming themselves, and fleas actually transmit the tapeworm in the cats digestive tract. . Hope that helps you some.
rodeosweetheart
10-5-14, 5:17am
I think Packy's advice is really good, focusing on the environment and removing fleas from the environment. Another thing you can do in that vein is to put out bowls of soapy water at night under a nightlight=-- fleas will drown themselves.

You can also bath the cats--my vet told me to try this-- an in SC where fleas are horrid, people swear by Palmolive green dish detergent.
thinkgreen
10-7-14, 11:59am
Cypress, I have some advantage II which I can mail if you'd like it. My kitty passed in June so I won't use it. It is good for kitties weighing from 5 to 9 pounds. I have 8 doses left. You can PM me if you like.
Sad Eyed Lady
10-7-14, 4:40pm
I would like to add that essential oils can be very toxic to cats. Please do not use them to treat with. http://cats.about.com/od/housekeeping/a/aromatherapy.htm Borax is good to treat the environment, I have used it several times and found it to be very effective. Also, brewers yeast is a supplement you can give your cats that is supposed to help. It sounds like you will have to treat with chemicals however to get rid of the ones on the cats now.
Cypress
10-10-14, 10:50am
That's a very generous thing to say. I did send a PM to your mail box. I am sorry it took so long for me to look back. Packies advise was right on, the thought of all those chemicals is uncomfortable. But, I have to be a good Mom to my cats and keep the fleas outside.


Cypress, I have some advantage II which I can mail if you'd like it. My kitty passed in June so I won't use it. It is good for kitties weighing from 5 to 9 pounds. I have 8 doses left. You can PM me if you like.
Packy
10-10-14, 11:05am
If you've got a cat that is either very old or has been at large awahile, they may have such a severe flea infestation that time is of the essense in removing them. The washing with dishwashing liquid/water is the way to go for kittens and cats that are cooperative; the other way is that a veterinarian can give kitty an injection that will quickly kill fleas. That is the expensive way, but if your cat is not easy to wash and has gotten ill from fleas, then go with that.
thinkgreen
10-10-14, 12:47pm
Cypress, I sent you a PM.

Packy, I also resisted using the flea control product. My kitty was indoor only but the dog brought them home. Kitty never had any side effects and the fleas disappeared. Did you work work at a vet's?
Packy
10-10-14, 2:09pm
Cypress, I sent you a PM.

Packy, I also resisted using the flea control product. My kitty was indoor only but the dog brought them home. Kitty never had any side effects and the fleas disappeared. Did you work work at a vet's?Working at a Vets doesn't pay jack squat, so I could not afford to. I've had a lotta kitties around here over the last 25 years, probably more than most vets have at home, so I've by necessity had to develop effective strategies for dealing with pet care problems such as parasites. Otherwise, we'd be scratching ourselves constantly during the summer, and my kitties would be very sick from fleas and tapeworms. Practical experience is the best teacher. Thanks. Good Luck.