Fleas!!!!!

[mines]

OK - I know you are a broad minded lot (witness various threads re kinky sex, bikini waxing etc)so here goes.

I've just found a flea on my ds. Probably bought in by our cat, I guess, since none of us are being bitten and I know cat fleas don't like humans. But that isn't going to convince the nursery when he starts there next week

So, I have a new flea collar for the cat and will need to delouse (or whatever the technical term is) the soft furnishings to kill all the eggs. But what can I use with a 4 month old in the house? All the stuff I have seen used before appears to be the equivalent of agent orange, so I'm not keen on it.

Any help, please?

[sniksnak]

Flea collars are pretty useless - the only stuff that really works is 'Program', from the vets. You get it either as a drop applied to the back of the cats' neck or injected by the vet.

In the meantime just hoover every day to catch fleas, eggs and larvae - carpets and soft furnishings.

I really wouldn't bother mentioning it to the nursery, I'm sure everyone who has a cat has experienced something similar (haven't they??!)

[helenmc]

We get stuff from the vets - on lot is drops which you put on the cat's neck and gets absorbed into the bloodstream and kill the fleas, another lot you put on the cat food and I think makes the fleas sterile (but my cats won't eat the food).It works but takes a few weeks to kill then all off.
When we de-fleaed our house we went away for a long weekend as the Novankill spray had 25 different health warnings on it, but it did work (also killed the ants coming into the kitchen) Remember fleas like dark warm places like between the carpet andskirting boards under radiators, so you need to thoroughly hoover.

[Jaybee]

We had a similar experience when we first moved into our house, previous owners took cat with them but left his little buddies behind. If you think you have alot, it may be worth talking to your local council and being properly fumigated - I am scratching whilst typing this - why does just talking about fleas or nits make you scratch so!!!!! - we explained to the council that we had a young child in the house, basically, you had to vacate the house for a few hours while it was done and it cost about £25 quid - really thorough though and no problems since.

[bundle]

our cats drop their fleas into the few bits of carpet we have left, so we all get bitten if I forget to de-flea them with the dropper from the vets (expensive but worth it). dd had chickenpox last yr which me & the GP both mis-diagnosed as flea bites as the first few were on her legs!

[Alibubbles]

I have three Burmese cats that live in the fields at the back of our house all available hours hunting for all sorts of flea infested vermin. I have them vaccinated every six months by the vet - Program, far easier that the drops which can be a nightmare with small children about, plus they try and lick it off and it leaves the coat looking geasy for 24 hours. The vet also gives me 10%discount for 3 and sends a reminder every six months.