shazam@mhuxn.UUCP (Tom Marsden) (03/08/85)
My wife has in the last couple of days broken out with a bunch of inflamed bites of some sort that, according to her physician, are probably the result of mites or fleas carried indoors by our cats. We own two indoor cats, who only go outside for short periods of time. It seems that one or both of them must have brought in the insects, and now we must get rid of them. The doctor recommends cleaning all bedding, rugs, towels, blankets and anything else that has come in contact with the cats. Also, the cats themselves have to be treated for any insects remaining on their bodies. (We have a good flea and mite powder that we have used successfully on them in the past). I would like to hear from anyone else who has managed to get rid of these annoying insects, particularly from things like rugs, blankets, etc. I guess what I am looking for is a product, like one of those roach "bombs," but which won't pose any health risk for either us or our pets. Thanks in advance. Tom Marsden AT&T Bell Laboratories mhuxn!shazam CORNET 231-6202
jeff@rtech.ARPA (Jeff Lichtman) (03/10/85)
> My wife has in the last couple of days broken out with a bunch > of inflamed bites of some sort that, according to her physician, > are probably the result of mites or fleas carried indoors by our cats. > We own two indoor cats, who only go outside for short periods of time. > ... > I would like to hear from anyone else who has managed to get rid > of these annoying insects, particularly from things like rugs, blankets, > etc. > > Tom Marsden I have had success with "Strike Flea-Enders" spray. This product not only kills the existing fleas, but prevents their eggs from maturing. Normal bug bombs kill the fleas, but the eggs that they have already lain in the carpet will hatch in a short time. If you use a normal flea spray on your cat at the same time you use "Flea-Enders" on your house, your flea problems should go away for at least several months. -- Jeff Lichtman at rtech (Relational Technology, Inc.) aka Swazoo Koolak
ericksen@unc.UUCP (James P. Ericksen) (03/11/85)
fleas We've had the same problem with fleas and our three cats. I'm allergic to flea bites, and we've had limited success in ridding our cats of fleas in this part of the country (the warm weather is conducive to flea propagation, I guess). Anyway, there's a product on the market called "75 day carpet spray" put out by Zodiac. Last spring, we used it on our carpets, sheets and blankets (the fleas were hopping all over the bed) and found that it kept the fleas at bay for a couple of months per application. Apparently this spray contains a synthetic hormone that acts as a growth regulator and keeps young fleas from reproducing. The can does list some warnings about contact with skin, but the pet store salesman where we bought the spray assured me that the warnings applied only to the wet product, before it dried from exposure to the air. As long as normal precautions are followed (removing food from the area to be treated, keeping pets away from the treated area until the spray has dried, etc.) it seems that the spray is harmless. The only drawback that I know of is the cost--about $11.00 or so for one can, which will treat a medium-sized apartment. DON'T USE THIS SPRAY ON YOUR PETS! While I'm on the subject, we've tried several methods of flea control on our cats and have yet to be satisfied. In North Carolina, the flea season is more or less year-round and flea collars (or tags) are of little value. We've used 5% carbaryl powder (standard flea powder or purchased more cheaply as Sevin dust) with some success, but it requires two treatments a week to be successful. The spray we purchased at the vet (Sectrol) only needs to be applied once a week, but the cats HATE it! It takes two of us to apply the spray, and I don't blame the cats for objecting to the smell or the wetness. I'd like to find something better. Yes, we've tried Mother Nature's flea preventative, brewer's yeast. One cat loves it, the other two won't take it. It seems to help a little (the cat that happens to love it also is allergic to flea bites and we have to be extra conscientious in controlling his fleas) but it certainly isn't the preventative it's reputed to be. Any sure-fire solutions? Thanks for any suggestions . . .