Conference misery::feline_v1

Taken from an article in Cat Fancy Magazine, author'd by W. Bradford Swift,
D.V.M.  (hee, hee - just got it last night and already using some of it's info
:-).  Reprinted without permission. 


    	"Use a high-quality flea collar (Vet-Kem or Escort are two of the 
    best) as the first line of defense.  Be sure to check the skin under the
    collar frequently during the first few days to be sure your cat is not
    having an allergic reaction.  I also suggest using a flea collar that
    has a safety feature that will allow the cat to slip out of the collar
    if it becomes snagged on a tree limb.  Be careful, though, that the
    collar fits snugly.  A collar left too loose can get caught on a cat's
    paw as it scratches or be pulled into the pet's mouth - both dangerous
    situations." 
	    "For most cats, a collar alone is not enough.  Use a quality 
    spray or powder once or twice a week, depending on the directions on the
    container. Always read the directions completely before using any flea
    control products, and be informed about the ingredients so you are sure
    the collar, spray and/or powder are compatible with each other.  If
    they are not compatible, the combination can be toxic to your cat." 

    Well, neither of my cats has ever had fleas, but one vet I used
    to go to thought they were good (but his very expensive one was
    better, of course!) while the other thought that all the different
    kinds of them were a waste of moeny - he likes flea powder, if fleas
    become a problem (ugh, what a mess!).  Anyhow, there are (apart
    from the "all-natural" ones made of garlic and stuff, which I am
    too sceptical of to try) two sorts of flea collars: ones that repel
    fleas (most of these seem to be white), and ones that have a systemic
    poison so that fleas that bite the cat die (usually brown).  The
    Fickle is allergic to the second kind (poor kitty! - you should
    have seen what a mess her skin was in under the collar - she is
    OK now, though).

    Some points to consider...
    
    Natural, nontoxic, actually good for your cat alternative to flea
    collars is brewers yeast and garlic (tablets or powder mixed with
    food).  This has not only worked for my cats but have heard good
    reports also from dog owners.  One noted that his dogs were so bad
    they had scratched off much of their fur.  He started giving them
    the tablets and within a short time no more flea problems.
    
    Another point to remember when collaring a cat, many a cat has lost
    his/her life by getting hung up, or actually hung, on a shrub branch,
    tree limb, fence post...etc.  If this occurs in a fight, bad news for
    your cat. If the cat is in a remote area and it gets hung up it could
    starve or dehydrate to death.  Not a pretty picture.
    

    I've used collars when I had a serious flea problem 2 years ago.
    They did little or nothing to help the problem.  
    
    I did see something new advertised on TV within the last week....don't
    remember what it was called, but it was supposed to repel the fleas.
    They showed a plate with one side treated and the other not, and
    the fleas jumped from the treated side to the non-treated side...anyone
    seen this yet??
    
    I like the garlic and brewers yeast idea the best, and if my cats
    do get fleas, I'll start giving them "Proban" again.
    
    cin
    

    Last summer, when we had our very first battle with zillions of
    fleas (they got out of control before I realized I had better be
    very aggressive), we used powders and lotions (according to which
    each cat minded least).  Then, when I thought/hoped that the fleas
    were gone, and a full week after the last treatment, each cat got
    a flea collar for about 2 months, just in case there were any
    fleas-in-hiding or unhatched eggs around.  Haven't seen any since.
    
    Oh yes, a handy trick:  besides spraying furniture, spray the
    flea spray INSIDE the vacuum cleaner bag:  that's where all the
    little buggers and eggs go, after all!  Get 'em while they're
    trapped.
    
    We were fortunate:  no one had any reaction to the collars, which
    we got from the vet.  Yes, they were a dollar or two more there,
    but I figure if it might be safer and/or work better, it is money
    *well spent*.  
    
    	P

    Also it is pretty important to powder the rugs and then vaccum them.
    The powder in the vaccum bag is a good idea so that they don't jump
    out of the bag. If you just powder the cats, the fleas jump off the
    cats and live in the rug until it is safe to jump back on the cat (or
    human). Of course, this is all hearsay; luckily I haven't run into
    this problem.
    
    Deb

    Could you fill me in more on brewer's yeast and garlic? How much
    how often? Does it need to be granular or do pills work ok? How
    good a repellant is it? Thanx,  nancy

    I've used both tablet and powder.  The brand is called 'Pet
    Guard'.  Bought it at both pet supply stores as well as health food
    stores.  I have stopped using the tablets since only one of my three
    would take it as a treat.  I mix a couple tablespoons of the powder
    every day with 1/3 cup of water and mix it in with their wet food.  
    
    They all chow it down.  They all seem to like it.
    
    As far as a repellent it seems to work fine.  In the past three
    years of using no flea problems to speak of where as
    previous to using it we did the flea bath and flea bomb the house
    routine several times a season.  It is worth the $10 to give it a try.
    
    $10 powder for the three cats lasts about 2 months.
    
    Hope this info helps.
    
    Joe
    

    Does this "Pet Guard" contain both the garlic and the yeast? If
    not, is regular Brewer's yeast useable?
    
    Both our cats wear flea collars and it seems to do little or no
    good (depending on whether it is a bad or good year for fleas).
    I started using the reflective flea collars just as an extra safety
    feature for afterdark.
    
    I would love to find something, other then the "water torture" of
    a flea bath (which doesn't end up killing the fleas anyway) and
    the powder battle (since both cats think that's almost as bad as
    the water)!
    
    I've also heard that ceder chips/shavings are a good repellent for
    bedding.... anyone know about that?
    
    janet b.

    The only thing I know about cedar chips/shavings is that they are
    almost impossible to get out of you cats fur!  Unless of course
    you just leave it in there and it falls off by itself all over your
    carpets. ;^)
    
    Jo

    I've used pillowcase covers (the kind with the zippers) filled with
    polyester and cedar shavings....they did smell good....for a while
    anyway... ;-) ... They didn't get rid of the fleas I had, but maybe
    they might discourage them if you didn't have them already....
    
    cin
    

    RE .9
    
    Pet Guard and some other products contain both garlic and yeast.  Just
    check the label.  By the way, you will not notice any garlic smell
    from your cats.  It is not that strong.
    
    We have two Persians and another cat that is medium length fur.
    We've use cedar chips (really not chips, more like saw dust) and
    have not had any problem with the saw dust sticking to them and
    getting all over the place.  Granted, a little gets on the floor
    for a distance of 15 feet or so away from the box, but it certainly
    does not get scattered all over the house.  I think the cedar has
    also helped to keep fleas away.
    

    In the UK you can get some wonderful stuff called DOOM.  It is a
    spray that you use on carpets bedding chairs etc. You do not spary
    it on the cat!.  It keeps you clear of fleas for up to twelve weeks.
     It seems to kill flea eggs somehow.  I would recommend it - but
    I don't know if you can get it or its equivalent in the US.

	As an extension to the previous note ....

	Here in the UK we have a wide variety of sprays which can be
	used on both the animal (dogs and cats) and on the furniture,
	carpets, bedding etc.  Their effectiveness ranges from 3-12 weeks
	depending on the brand, and are usually a general pest control
	ticks as well as fleas.  There has recently been a noiseless spray
	introduced, as many cats seem to be unable to tolerate the hiss,
	I haven't tried this one yet so I don't know how effective it is,
	since all our animals will tolerate the normal spray without 
	fuss, since they have all realised that spray is better than fleas !!
	My last cat even used to ask to be sprayed when she had managed to
	inherit some (from hedgehogs, rabbits etc), even though she hated
	the noise, but then she was a very unusual cat anyway !!
	
	The process of de-fleaing with a spray only takes a couple of seconds
	and is non-toxic to the cat (unlike powder which has to be brushed out)
	and lasts for weeks.

	CJA

	PS If you haven't got it in the States, maybe some of you should
	start making noises to wholesalers and they could import the stuff ?!?!

    How old is old enough to put a flea collar on a kitten?  I have
    read the notes about whether or not to use the collars vs.
    powder/spray.  All the cats I have had have worn collars and I have
    never had a problem with fleas, so I am a believer.
    
    I have a 10 yr old cat, Creepy, that goes outside (she wears a collar) and
    a 2 month old kitten who doesn't go out (yet).  The kitten, Fido,
    seems to be scratching quite a bit, but I don't want to put a collar
    on him if he's too young...
    
    				Thanks, 
    				Donna

I believe most vets will concur that it is inadvisable to put a flea collar
on a cat until 8 months or so.  I know my husband had a very upsetting
episode with one of his kittens, who died from an infection developed from
wearing a flea collar too soon.  

Check on the flea powder cans to see what the precautions about age are.  That
might be a better idea.

Regards,
J.