Conference misery::feline_v1

    This article is reprinted without permission from the Sacred Cat
    of Burma Fanciers newsletter.
    
    The Use of D-Limonene Insecticides In The Cat 
                                            by Gayla Geering VMD
    
    D-Limonene, the major component of citrus peel oil is highly toxic
    to all life stages of the cat flea, and is also toxic to ticks and
    mites.1  It is very fast acting, within minutes, is volatile, and
    thus biodegradable.  A recent study in shorthaired cats using a
    commercially available insecticidal dip containing d-limonene found
    no toxic signs or lesions associated when used according to the
    recommended instructions.2  Toxic signs from skin absorption (ranging
    from hypersalivation to ataxia, muscle tremors and shivering) were
    noted when doses 15 times recommended were used, but no deaths were
    reported.
    
    Insecticidal dips in longhaired cats, even when used at the
    manufacturers concentration may have results ranging from non-toxic
    to death.3
    
    D-Limonene products, I feel, can be safely used in longhaired cats
    with modifications of the manufacturers directions.  Since rapid
    parasite kill is the hallmark of d-limonene, rinsing the dip off
    after 2-3 minutes in longhaired cats is probably safer.  Shampoos
    are available, but should be used with caution in longhairs, i.e.
    don't leave them on too long.
    
    The pet sprays containing d-limonene should be a boon to spraying
    carpets, bedding, etc, because it kills the eggs as well as the
    adults.  D-limonene products should be highly sought after by pet
    owners and environmentalists alike, due to the lack of toxic residues
    (volatile) and relative non-toxicity to cats, and highly effective
    results.
    
    1.  Hink,W.F. and B.J. Free.  Toxicity of D-Limonene, the major
    component of citrus peel oil, to all stages of the cat flea,
    _Ctenocephalades_Felis_ (Sphonoptera;Pulicidae) J. Med Entomol.
    Vol 23 No. 4 400-404.1986
    
    2.  Hover, S.B., V.R. Beaseley, and J.I. Everitt.  Effects of an
    insecticidal dip containing D-limonene.  JAVMA. Vol 189 No.8
    905-908,1986
    
    3.  Personal observation and communication with longhaired cat breeders.
       
    

    Hi Jo,
    
    I have only had a problem using a flea product once, and that was
    a product I got from Dr Pet.  Yes....before I knew any better!!!
    
    
    Unfortunately I had to learn the hard way.  I gave my 12 week old
    kitten a bath in the stuff and 2 hours later she died.  The bottle
    said it was safe to use on kittens and cats over 8 weeks. 
    
    
    I have never used a flea dip and have been extra careful using flea
    products.  They say that persians and himalayans are more sensitive
    to flea products than other breeds.  I don't know if I believe this
    or not, but many of the flea products sold will say specifically
    not for use on Persians.
    
    cin
    

    re:.2
    
    Cin - I imagine it was some time ago the poor kitten got that flea
    bath but the thought of it hurt me a lot as I read your note. 
    Must have hurt terribly at the time it happened.
    

    My sympathy, also.
    
    My only experience with flea-dip on my cats came last year (or was
    it the year before?) when the fleas were so bad. Several bouts of
    home-remedies did nothing, so I asked the vet to dip the cats. They
    had to be anesthetized so they wouldn't struggle and/or swallow
    the stuff, I suppose; whatever the reason, I picked up two groggy,
    stinking, *very* sick cats. When they finally came out of it, they
    were so ill from the dip and so depressed about having this awful
    stuff on them and being unable to wash without *tasting* it - well,
    all of us were thoroughly miserable for days, and I swore I'd never
    do it to them again. 

    It did kill the fleas, though...

    -b

    Cat's Magazine or Cat Fancy had a short note about 2-3 months ago
    about a product that is intended for DOGS and is rapidly fatal to
    cats -- the story was about how one cat was saved thru heroic
    vet efforts, I believe.
    
    ANYONE REMEMBER THE *POTION*????

    I cannot iimagine a flea so powerful that it couldn't be killed
    by a proper _bath_ with an approved flea soap.  The idea here is
    that you bathe the cat, putting a ring of soap around the neck first
    so that the fleas won't migrate to the head/ears, then shampoo as
    normal.  After the appriopriate time, you _rinse_ the cat, removing
    excess hair, dead fleas, etc.  Dry and love to death.
    
    There's another note on bathing the beasties, but I would be more
    than hesitant to put anything on my cats that they could lick off
    and (as a consequence) ingest.                         
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.
    

    Flea shampoo is poison too.  I decided to switch to flea dip when
    I did find live fleas after a bath.  Not only that but the shampoo's
    did not have any type of residual effect.  As soon as the cat was
    dry, he would pick up more fleas.  Out here in California, fleas
    are a year round problem.  Plus one of my cats is allergic to fleas
    and had lost all of his fur and had a bad skin rash.  I chose the
    D-limonene dip because it was citrus peel oil and not insecticide.
    It seemed the best choice at the time.
    
    What I would like to know is does anyone have any specific information
    linking d-limonene flea dip to increased hair loss or more serious
    problems?                                                
    
    Jo Ann

    I didn't know anything about the citrus peel stuff before I read
    this note, but there is something that I use that is NOT a poisonous
    insecticide.  The insecticides that are dangerous to cats are of
    a variety known as organo phosphates.  Many of the cat flea dip
    contain these along with pyrethrins, but have a low concentration
    and a "safe" when used as directed.  This is typically the same
    stuff you find in dog dips, but it will be in much higher
    concentrations (since dogs don't lick, etc.).  I know of someone
    who accidently treated all their cats with a dog dip, and lost most
    of the cats within a few short days.  Be very careful!!!  Do not
    dip, AND powder, or dip AND put a collar on right away. Could be
    very dangerous.
    	I have been using a product called lime sulphur.  It is widely
    used as a dip for all kinds of animals.  It kills mites AND fleas,
    and is non-toxic.  It can be obtained through your vet, through
    a pet supplier, through a pharmacist, or (believe it or not) a garden
    supplier (ortho has a brand called ORTHORIX).  It smells terrible
    (rotten eggs) but the cat doesn't smell after dried off, especially
    if you rinse it off first.  It is very effective, and the sulphur
    is an excellent skin conditioner, and helps correct for dermatitis.
    
    Good luck in your quest.
    Molly (a fellow californian flea fighter)
    

    .6
    >I cannot iimagine a flea so powerful that it couldn't be killed
    >by a prper _bath_ with an approved flea soap.
    
    
    I don't know about the fleas you have, but the fleas we have in
    Maryland don't die that easy. Last summer I went through the bath
    ordeal  several times (with two cats) and followed the directions
    of the shampoo to the letter, including leaving the foam on for
    5 minutes (....and wasn't that fun....) only to have live fleas
    still on the cats when we finished.  We resorted to picking the
    fleas off (they were moving slower, but were still living) with
    tweezers and killing them by hand.  Some fleas were killed by the
    shampoo, but certainly not all of them.
    
    I find myself feeling guilty enough giving the kitties baths when
    they obviously don't like it.... and then have it not work!
    
    My sister bathed her kitten last year during the summer and found
    out that Ivory hand soap killed the fleas. Anyone know if that contains
    anything that might hurt cats? She bathed hers several times and
    the little creature is as much of a monster as ever, so had no ill
    effects from it....
    
    janet b.