Hi everyone, I was wondering if someone would be able to give me advice about my cats. For about a month or so now they have both been scratching a lot, and my parents have been getting bitten (though not me for some reason, and I'm the one that allows the cats on my bed!). Normally their flea collars seem to do the trick but they haven't been working for some bizarre reason. We've tried that "Spot On" stuff, and last week we covered them in flea powder, and we also covered the furniture in the main living room with some other kind of flea powder designed for that purpose. But alas, none of these means seem to have done the trick. Has anyone got any further suggestions? Would rather not go as far as taking them to the vet if possible, but obviously if there are no other possible solutions we'll have to.

Are you sure it's fleas? Have you seen them on the cats? What spot-on treatment are you using? It needs to be something like Frontline.

You will have to go to the vet if the cats are still scratching otherwise they'll scratch themselves bald and/or break the skin which can lead to infection.

If you put yourself in their position, it's very unpleasant to be constantly itching.

Frontline / Stronghold (which I think you can only get from the Vet?) should do it. But there's no need to take the cat. Just ring up and order / collect. (I prefer Stronghold as it worms them as well).

Fleas are generally more prevalent in the warmer months

Make sure you give all the carpets / rugs a good Vac to remove any eggs. (Skin crawling yet)?

Also get a flea comb - that way you can get an idea of numbers and give them instant temporary relief from any more bites. We had an outbreak earlier this year and after dusting with flea powder, vacuuming, replacing flea collars and bedding and combing daily, they seem to be OK.

Ah thanks, the main reason I'd rather it didn't come to physically taking them there is that we're likely to be moving in the next couple of months and I don't want to induce any more stress than necessary. Yeah the lady in the pet shop said it was strange for them to have fleas at this time of year (especially since it's not normally a problem). Is there another possibility then, like ticks, as I thought they were very salient?

Yes good call. Dont you hate the little buggers when you catch them. Always have a bowl of water handy to drop them in (shiver).

I would imagine they are fleas, probably spread from another moggie /creature.

i've been dealing with these blighters for years.
i don't bother with flea collars as i'm not sure they are very effective, i'd rather buy a good quality reflective collar.

When i see the first few in the house i'll usually give his lordship a good comb with a flea comb in the garden, this is usually good to get rid of the adults. then i use frontline. I also treat the house with this It really works by killing everything from larvae stage, after a while the fleas you do see are getting smaller and smaller, as they can't develop. It's very effective, although god knows what it does to you

Just thought I'd dig up this thread again and thank you all for your advice. We used the Frontline stuff and some furniture spray in the end and *fingers crossed* they seemed to have stopped scratching now

Erm, the Frontline stuff is for use on the cat, but pleased to hear you got rid of the infestation anyway.

Ur yeah, Frontline and some furniture stuff

I am actually quite lucky as my two cats have never had fleas but I used to have a pedigree cat that someone gave me and he was riddled with them (which is fun when its a long haired Persian)...I tried everything to get rid of them but to no avail. One evening I had to babysit a friends neighbours dog and it stayed over at my place for the night...I gave him back in the morning and low and behold all the fleas have gone....I guess they prefer dogs to cats

Our Vet sold us a particular spray to use on carpets etc that is meant to kill any eggs. Bloody awful smell though. The tin was about 20 quid!

We also use Frontline - on our cats that is - and most charge about £28.00 for 6 vials. We got exactly the same ones online for £16.00.

lol, pass them on to the dog, that's a great idea

I couldnt believe it at the time....I sat there in the afternoon thinking "why isnt he scratching anymore?" and then examined him and no flea in sight. I wonder how the dogs owner got rid of them

One house I moved into was 'furnished' and within a couple of days of moving in I was riddled with flea bites and a flea jumped on me off the settee whilst I was sitting having my brew ! I didn't have any pets at the time, but the owner of the property had two cats. I had to get the flea killer fella in -he said when cats leave their house the fleas stay where they are and they usually only jump on people when they have no cat to jump on.
The house was filthy before I moved in and I had to scrub it clean and de -flea everywhere. I ended up getting a cat because mice where running everywhere.
I didn't like cats at the time -but I absolutely adore my cat Zackie now !