Natural Flea Control

Back when we had both carpets and cats, I put a short piece of flea collar in the vacuum cleaner bag. It seemed to help. At least, it stopped me thinking that we were only helping the little varmints breed faster by putting them all together in a warm, dry place with lots to eat.

 

you can also make a flea trap for a while to kills some off. What you do is take a large plate (like a serving plate) and fill it with like 1/4" water then add a little dish soap to it.

Place it on the floor in a dark room and put a light over it. I use to use one of those crane-like desk lamps, had it positioned so that the light was maybe a foot over the plate.

The fleas are attracted to bright light and heat so they will move towards the light. When they jump into the plate they will sink due to the soap changing the tension of the water and they will die.

When I really got infested and did this I would catch 50-60 a night!

 

I recommend Permethrin and IGR. The Permethrin will knock down the adult fleas, while the IGR will break the cycle.

Tom

 

That's basically what advantix is for dogs: K9 Advantix kills dog and puppy parasites

I've been washing my dogs with tea tree shampoo and for some reason it seems to reduce the flea problem (along with a heavy vacuum schedule).

John Paul Mitchell Pet Tea Tree Treatment Dog Shampoo 16oz

 

Diatomaceous Earth...


I use in in food storage (in my bomb shelter food bins of grains and noodles), around the house in carpets (for most crawly critters that get around in the floors), and it is totally non-toxic (because I used too care for foster kids as well as my own, and the pets)...


It isn't the only method that should be employed when you have a bad infestation, but if you are using it, you generally wont get another one.

 

Diatomaceous earth is indeed nontoxic, but it's not good to breathe. Some grades are worse than others, but all present the risk of silicosis, which is not something with which to trifle. Wear a good dust mask anytime you work with the stuff, or otherwise stir it up.

Tom

 

I thought Advantage was for dogs? We use Frontline on our outdoor cat, never see a flea or tick.

 

I don't know if resorting to biological control fits within the parameters you are looking for, but you might try Interrupt. Interrupt is a commercial brand name for a specific species of nematode (S. Carpcapsae) that basically kills the fleas by disrupting their intestines.

 

I would use a big old nasty flea bomb.
I have used them in my ceiling to control ants and it seemed to work a treat.

I drop a flea bomb in my 40 x 12 shed every 2 years to thin the spider population. OK, I'm braced, tell me I'm doing a bad thing. Before you get stuck into me though, please read about redback spiders.

This from the Mortein web site.
In heavy infestation situations, where the product is used on a first time basis, it may take 2 to 3 weeks to achieve a complete break in the breeding cycle and you may continue to see adult biting fleas before the IGR takes effect on the life cycle.

MSDS here

 

But the fleas that your kitty is infested with are coming from somewhere.... There isn't a flea form of immaculate conception.

My experience with Interrupt was about 14 years ago. One application eradicated fleas from my yard (and by extension, the house).

 

we're going to nyc for a weekend in october. anything for bedbugs?

 

Vacuuming the fleas could be argued to be killing them. The biological approach is more in line with giving the nematodes an opportunity to get a meal.... :angel: The fact that after the nematodes have been given the opportunity to get a meal, there are no more fleas, is more of a collateral event....

 

I'll second the soapy water and light flea trap. We bought a bunch of nightlights, and used lasagna trays with water and a drop of detergent in the bottom. We caught hundreds the first night, and it decreased each night.

It took about a week before we were only catching one or two fleas per night, and eventually we stopped catching them at all. That was several years ago, and we haven't had a problem since. No poisons or chemicals necessary at all.