Conference misery::feline_v1

      I was wondering there for a minute whether this was a "Declaration"
    or what???  
    
      For my cats I've had really good results using "Zodiac" flea powder.
    One little thing that I learned aobut the "dog" and "cat" flea powders
    is that they are EXACTLY the sam in the Zodiac brand, and the cat
    powder is usually sold for more money. Only thing about this stuff
    that's not too pleasant is applying it... A couple of my kids try to
    imitate "cat rugs" when I powder them...all four legs splayed out and
    stretched out like they're hanging onto the floor for dear life. 
    
      It's a REAL PANIC when we have a "powder-party" in OUR house...the 10
    (Yeah..right...TEN) dogs go first..and the last two or three are pretty
    difficult to round-up cause they don't exactly "relish" the powdering.
    Then it's a real panic trying to even FIND the cats.... I have a couple
    that can hide better'n anything... Cookie is adept at getting up inside
    the cloth on the bottom of a box-spring on a bed..she made a little
    bitsy hole in the corner and squeezed herself up inside the cloth,
    where there's nothing inside...
      "Stormy" found the ultimate hiding place...where NOBODY'D ever think
    to look.....in a cardboard cat carrier!! And she got it so the top came
    together and it LOOKED like it was closed up tight...
    
      Once they're all powdered, Dad 'n Mom probably are as well powdered
    as the kids are...and the darned stuff stays in the taste-buds for
    hours!! But it's better'n the da***d fleas!!
    
     JMcD

    Last year (November) when I was visiting the vet (me + the girls); I
    had a good laugh at the advertisement cards on his desk "FLEABUSTERS".
    We had tried everything; baths, powders, collars, carpet treatment,
    bombs; with no succes, the fleas definately in the lead.  When we
    added up all the money we spend just over the summer, we were amazed
    and then very depressed.  Well I decided to call this "FLEABUSTERS" and
    see what method of treatment they used.
    
    We live in Laguna Hills, CA.; about 6 miles from the beach, which
    always make for great breeding ground, because there is so much
    moisture in the air.  We have a two bedroom condo, approx. 900 square
    feet.  All my girls (3) are indoor cats, but the fleas breed at such
    a rapid rate that we need no help bringing in extra recruiters from the
    outside.
    
    FLEABUSTERS quoted a price of $160 to "POWDER" are home, and that was
    guaranteed for one year.  The treatment, which I will explain in a
    minute, would take effect in 5 weeks.  The cats could go outside and
    still bring fleas in and they guaranteed their work.  Just mentioning
    this for outdoor kitty/doggy owners.
    
    The TREATMENT: Well I can give you the basics and then also pick up a 
    card with their number.  I don't know if they have any shops in the
    east coast, but they have a large operation in Orange County.  Also,
    if you call they can explain the process and maybe there is someone
    on the east coast that uses a similar method.  They take a powder which
    I am told consists mainly of a salt compound.  They rake this powder
    into every inch of your carpet, the end effect is like a major baby
    powder bomb exploded in your house.  Its not that tough to clean up,
    just takes a little dusting, and you are allowed to vacuum in 48 hours.
    
    The theory is that if you remove all the moisture from the carpets that
    the fleas are unable to breed.  You are not suppose to have your
    carpets cleaned by another vendor, but contact them if you decide to
    get them cleaned within the year you have the waranty.
    
    Well we are half way thru summer here, and since November 1989, no flea
    has raised its ugly little head in our house.  NOT ONE.  Glenn and I
    are still stunned, because this is the first year we have ever
    experienced a flea-free home.
    
    I bathed the girls last week for the first time this summer and it was
    such a pleasure to pop each one of them in the sink and not see those
    miserable little critters creeping over their face.  Just a dab of 
    shampoo, scrub them around, rinse them off, and toss them in a towel,
    and throw them in the living room.  They were quite pleased at not
    having to soak in a solution for 5 or 10 minutes.  Also its been great
    not having to use a collar, or a flea spray or powder, no flea
    shampoos.  This process is total safe for people and babies and pets,
    non toxic.....check it out and good luck!
    

    It's Monday and my brain is full of hair balls or something.
    
    Can't write a note and forget to sign off.......
    
    FLEABUSTERS info. kindly provided by,
    
    Lori, Sausha, Misty Rae, Freeway.... (+ Glenn *.)
    

    Jo has mentioned this several times in here and my new issue of Cats
    has confirmed it:
    
    20 Mule Team Borax is a cheap and effective way to beat fleas! 
    Sprinkle a generous amount on the carpet and leave on for 2 weeks (now,
    I know that I could NEVER go two weeks without vacuuming!!), then
    vacuum.  The Borax removes the moisture from the carpeting and the eggs
    are unable to hatch.
    
    The article did not say, but I wonder if it is safe to assume that the
    Borax in the carpet will not harm the cats in any way for the two weeks
    it is left on?  That is the only part that wasn't clear.
    
    
    --Roberta
    

    
    	Question...
    
    	We are getting the house exterminated today and the cats
    	are being dipped. (I never thought I'd see today)  My question
    	is, because the stuff they're using is only going to be sprayed
    	on the carpets, floors and sofa and chair, should we use a couple
    	of bombs within the next couple of days too?  The woman on the
    	phone told me that it's guaranteed for something like 3 months
    	to kill any others that might be brought into the house.  Does
    	that (hopefully) mean that any of these buggers that may be in
    	the curtains etc will also die?
    
    	I'm going to ask the exterminators when they come this afternoon
    	but thought I'd ask here too.
    
    	JJ (who has almost as many flea bites as Chloe!)
    

    re:  4
    
    Roberta, the Borax DOES sound interesting - but, I also wonder
    how I could go for 2 weeks without vaccing - lordy, I die in a
    sea of cat hair.  Maybe put it down, and leave it for one or two
    days, vac, then reapply it.  Might use more borax, but there
    will be less hair on the carpet.
    
    I'm going to try it in my basement area.
    
    E.

    for a simple and cheap solution try the following:
    
    apply a mixture of brewers yeast,gralic and fish oil(for taste) in
    with one of the cats daily meals(assuming the cats eat at least twice 
    a day).  Use about a teaspoon per serving per animal.  This changes the
    cats chemistry enough to repulse all fleas indoors and out.  For damp
    areas in your house (such as your basement) try running a
    dehumidifier(sp) to dry up the area.   Total cost to be flea
    free..about $20 a year.

    
    
    	Ugh!
    
    	Just talked to Diane. (the woman at the vets who washes the
    	animals)  She said she has never seen a flea infestation as
    	bad as the one we have.  She washed Chloe 3 times and Sasha
    	twice and then dipped both of them. But she says she can't
    	guarantee that all the fleas are dead.  Poor Chloe...there
    	wasn't one spot on her body that didn't have a bite.  We
    	had the house sprayed today too but Diane says she wouldn't
    	be surprised if we have to do the whole process over again
    	shortly.  To have the two cats dipped (and Chloe was given
    	a cortisone shot for the bites) and have the house sprayed
    	cost over $150.  I can't afford that again!  Not to mention
    	that Brandi still hasn't come home =(  so if and when she
    	does we have to immediately cart her off to the vet to be
    	washed and de-fleaed.
    
    	sigh.....
    
    	I think it's time to dig out the Brewers yeast.  Hopefully if
    	I feed that to the cats, the fleas will jump off them and then
    	die from the chemicals that were sprayed.
    

    Another tip is to VACUUM, VACUUM, VACUUM every day if possible.
    If you vacuum continuously, you will vac up the eggs on left on
    the carpets and furniture.  It helps.  
    
    When you change your vacuum cleaner bag, before you attach it,
    put about 2 tablespoons of flea powder in to the new bag.
    
    If you can't afford a dehumidifier, run one or two fans down in
    your basement.  This helps dry the area.
    
    When you comb your cat, take a paper plate and a sponge soaked with
    flea spray on the plate.  When the comb is loaded with the hair you
    comb, lay it on the sponge, to wet the hair you removed - this soaks
    any fleas that have come off on the comb with the hair.  Then spray
    the comb before you start combing again so there is spray on the comb.
    You can then pile up the hair that is removed, spray the pile and kill
    what ever you have removed.
    
    Also make sure your pants and shoes don't have any little black specks
    on them when you come in the house!  The little buggers will come in
    on your pants and shoes !!
    
    If your cat has to go to the vet in July, Aug, or Sept., comb the cat
    BEFORE you bring it into the house in case the cat picked up any
    strange critters in the vet's office!!
    
    If you cat is afraid of the spray, soak a face cloth in spray, and 
    wipe down the cat with the cloth.  You can do the head, face, neck, &
    ears with the face cloth also.  
    
    It sounds like it's going to be a banner year !  I also heard a bit
    of discouraging news about the 'other F word' (fungus).  It seems that
    we will have less destruction from gypsy moths because there is a
    fungus epidemic!  
    
    Hope this helps a bit!
    
    E.T.
    

NOTE ON THE BREWERS YEAST AND GARLIC:

we bought that stuff for YEARS and fed it to the dogs and cats RELIGEOUSLY..
and we had fleas all the time.  I am, I'm afraid, skeptical as to the
effectiveness of this solution.  We even checked with a holistic vet for
quantities to feed and what yeast and garlic to use...it simply
DID NOT WORK FOR US. Jake, a long-haired mutt, was our source of flea
transport into the house - we found that out after he died....now, by
treating the yard (and having indoor-only cats, I will add), we don't
get fleas indoors.

The BORAX is NOT harmful to your pets or children and it makes sense...I'd
try it if I had a problem.  Currently, we do not have one, but with 4
cats, I'm braced for it....besides, I've got my name on a list of Corgi
puppies, so I expect we will soon have a "flea transport" underfoot again...

    No one listens to me!  Move to the far north - we're flea free -
    tons of mosquitos but no fleas - very few ticks - it's too da..
    cold for anything squishy to survive in winter!
    
    Seriously, -1. if you are interested in corgis I have a friend
    who breeds them and has them available now.  The puppies bloodlines
    are impeccable.  Contact me off line if you are at all interested.
    
    Linda                                        
    
    

    The Borax is safe for the cats.  My vet called the manufacturers
    and confirmed this for me before we decided to do it.  A call to
    Fleabusters in our area revealed that they do indeed use 20 Mule
    Team, with a 5% mix of a flea powder (exact ingredient is written
    down at home).  I decided to do my own fleabusting, and it seems
    to be working.  I found only 1 flea on Moody when I bathed him for
    the show this weekend, and that is a major accomplishment.  Soon
    we will be flea free.
    
    I dusted the rugs, drapes, and furniture with Borax, and let stand
    for 48 hours.  Then, I vacuumed it up and threw out the bag.  After
    vacuuming, I dusted with Borax again, and let stand for 24 hours.
    I continued applying, then vacumming, then applying for 2 weeks.
    Now, we just vacuum and throw out the bag every other day.
    
    I treated the cats with DeFlea.  This product is safe for kittens,
    cats, puppies, dogs, pregnant animals, and even those on Proban.
    It kills fleas immediately.  I buy it from Karen Johnson of KJS
    Persians.  I will try to remember to bring in her number and post
    it here.
    
    Jo

    Remember Judy, that you got a 90 day guarantee from the exterminator
    company....so, if the fleas come back, just call them, and they'll do
    it again for free.  The only expense will be treating the cats again!
    
    cin
    

    
    	Cin,
    
    	I hope so.  I called the one you had posted but they wouldn't
    	come to Nashua.  So he recommended someone for me.  To do the
    	four rooms, bathroom and basement, it cost $75.  He told me
    	that if we were still having a major problem after a week, to
    	call back and he'd come spray again.  It seems to have calmed
    	down a little but since he said it'll take a couple days I'll
    	have to have patience.  But I don't think my kitties or my
    	legs can stand this much longer! 
    
    	BTW- Chloe and Sasha are fine...they smell great! =)  They had
    	to sedate Chloe but she was fine this morning.  Poor things.
    

    I have a friend who just had a terrible experience with her cats and
    flea baths - She gave all 5 of them baths with a "non-toxic" flea bath
    that she found at a health food store (sorry, I don't know what
    specifically she used) and let them sit for 5-10 minutes with the 
    stuff on, then rinsed it off.  She noticed later that all of her
    cats were having difficulties breathing and were seeming listless.
    This got worse and worse, prompting a 2am rush to the vets.  He found
    an awful lot of fluid in their lungs and it was touch and go for a bit.
    
    The kitties stayed overnight and ultimately are now fine, but both the
    vet and my friend have no idea what caused this.  Seems almost as if
    all of the cats inhaled the water while they were being bathed.  My
    friend called the health food store and was assured that the stuff
    she used was non-toxic, and that they had never heard of this before.
    So, my question is, was it the stuff she used, did she perhaps get
    a little overzealous in getting them clean, or what?  Has anyone heard
    of anything like this before?  This strikes me as very strange.
    Luckily, my kitties have never had much of a problem with fleas, so
    I've never had to resort to this type of solution, but this episode
    has me pretty leary of ever trying it if I needed to?  Comments?

    
    
    	Most flea products warn to watch the animal for x hours after
    	applying, and if any reaction occurs, to re-bathe the animal
    	immediately to remove the flea `stuff'. My guess is that the
    	cats reacted to the shampoo. They say it's non toxic because
    	the toxin in it is only supposed to affect fleas, but this is
    	not always the case.( ever have a reaction to cold medication,
    	for example? I have...)
    

    Re .15 - I can't use flea powder because it gave one of my guys
    a chronic cough.  Non-toxic doesn't mean they won't have a reaction
    to it.
    
    The dips, collars, bombs, etc. didn't do a thing the first time
    we used them.  The next time, we just used the Adams flea
    shampoo, followed by Adams spray after cats dryed, and got the 
    majority of the fleas off the "kids".   They were banished to the
    car to sit in the carriers.
    Then the house was vacuumed & cleaned thoroughly, and sprayed with
    a house flea spray, top to bottom.  Vacuum bag was thrown outside
    in the trashbarrel so there would be not re-infestation from it.
    All these sprays & stuff are the same used by the vets and companies
    but are purchased directly through a vet supply catalog.  Saves
    $$$$, especially at $150 for spraying or vet visits.
    The house spray has these little microcapsules that get the fleas
    in the carpet & furniture.  It can be sprayed directly onto furniture
    BUT NOT onto the pet.  Tough Stuff.  They also have a house spray
    & flea spray by Vet-kem that prohibits the growth and breeding of fleas.
    This I'm using tonight. 
    
    This is so much fun! :-)
    
    L- 

re: .11

love to talk about the dogs, but I cannot reach your node....CGOO01 doesn't
work for me.

				D

    Cats can get fluid in their lungs without inhaling it.  The body
    can generate fluids, it doesn't have to come from the outside. 
    The cat's bodies probably reacted badly to the dip, and that is
    why the fluid developed.  Also, some vapors can cause fluid to
    accumulate in the lungs. 
    
    Hope that the dip was made for cats.  Lots of flea products are
    safe for dogs but fatal for cats.  It is always a good idea to
    read the label carefully.
    
    Jo

    re Judy,, Is that Diane Running at Merrimack Vet, Hospital..
    if it is she is just great.  My Groomer.. er um I mean HRH'S
    personal Hairdresser has closed.. and She will be doing the 
    "kids" from now on,, or at least until Dr Eric brings in
    a groomer.. she had Happy a couple of weeks ago.. for her
    bath etc,, and she said that Happy did very well,, after
    they had a "chat".. it was funny:
          Happy.. HEY BLONDIE.. DIANE I  DO NOT want to
    take a bath.. AND HEY . LEAVE MY EARS ALONE.."..
           Diane: EXCUSE ME  HAPPY.. But you are going to
    have a nice bath, then we will have some "treats"..
          Happy: HEY DIANE.. I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE
              A BATH..But I will take you up on your
    offer for TREATS, though..
           Diane:..EXCUSE ME...?..
     Happy:.. OH OK.. Lets get this over with..
    heh-heh..
     When I picked Happy up.. she looked so good.. Diane
     was busy  so Avis brought her out.. It was soo
    funny to see this Blue cream  FLUFFY FURBALL..  buried
    in my arms.. 
          Mommy being "mushy".. Happy: JUST PAY THE BILL MOM..
    and lets get out of here,,, HEY..I STILL HAVE some treats left..
    PUT THEM AND ME in my carrier.. OH NO.. there she is..
      Diane: HEY Happy...bye you are such a pretty girl.. I will
    see you in 8 weeks.. Ok..
     Mommy: Diane , was she good for you?..
      Diane:.. YES, well after we had a "chat" , she was fine..
     Happy  mummbling in her carrier.. YEA sure,, I missed 
    all my programs on T.V... Wheel of fortune, THE SOAPS,
        Donahue.. and SHE RATIONED MY TREATS..
    Kate 

    RE: .18
    
    Try poor man routing, i.e., send to VAXWRK::CGOO01::usename
    
    Deb

    
    	re: Kate
    
    	Yep...it's the same Diane.  She was really super.
    
    

    Thanks for all this information.  We are still doing battle. 
    I have a little game I play at nighttime.  I go in the bathroom, 
    and see how many little fleas I can catch and flush.  Yesterday, 
    I broke a record at 30.  You see, we're keeping the cats out of 
    certain rooms, and us humans provide a great food substitute.  
    Yes, I am losing my mind over all of this.
    
    I washed my sheets and blankets in Borax when my Mom told me about it.
    I didn't realize it was good to put in the carpets too.  Actually,
    she mentioned putting it "on" the sheets.  I thought she meant
    through washing.  This is a must try.
    
    Enjoy!  You're all among FELINER friends...
    
    Paula
    

    
    	Cary told me a trick that someone had told him....and we
    	may try it soon. ( I called the exterminators and they told
    	me to give it till the weekend and if by Monday it wasn't
    	better they'd come back)
    
    	Take a dish of water and put a little soap in it.  Put this
    	right under a light.  The fleas jump at the light, fall in
    	the water and can't get out because of the soap.  I guess they
    	can 'bounce' off just plain water but the soap makes it more
    	difficult.
    
    	JJ
    

    soap reduces the surface tension of water - that's why it makes
    water "wetter".  With the reduced surface tension the fleas go
    through the surface of the water rather than bouncing off of it.
    

    
    
    	Yup!  It was amazing!  So sooner had I put the dish under
    	the light last night then they were jumping in it.   Had
    	a dish full this morning when we got up....now we just have
    	to do it again in the living room and definitely in the 
    	cellar!  I will beat these things!!
    
    	JJ
    

You need to set these up in each room of the house with a light on all night,
every night....to really get any semblance of control of the fleas this way.
It can help control the problem once you have a start at control thru the
use of a service.  You can also control flea infestation by using the borax 
on the floors, furniture, and carpet, vacuuming every day, and throwing 
out the vacuum bag each time you vacuum.  If you use this technique, though,
be sure and throw out the vacuum bag every time....if you don't I think you
just irritate the fleas...and then they get even.  8^}

    .26 - The light method:  What type of light do you use, and 
     how do you position it with respect to the bowl???
    
    The soapy water definitely does work to contain the fleas.  However,
    I didn't catch many with the light method.  
    
    HORRORS!  Last night we came home from a two day camping trip.  I 
    stepped in my kitchen and had at last twenty fleas jumping on me 
    immediately.  I think our situation is the sequel to Arachnophobia.
    I screamed!
    
    We walked around all our downstairs rooms attracting fleas and flicking
    them into sudsy water.  Then we vacuumed and sprayed the bag.  Then
    we put out the lights/bowls.  This morning the situation was somewhat 
    better, but not great.  Tonight, more vacuuming and Borax.
    
    The cats were down in the basement all weekend.  The two that were
    dipped on Wednesday were doing grand.  However, since Rici wasn't being
    bothered last week, I was stupid enough not to dip him.  Well, we
    dipped him last night, and I was astounded by the number of fleas 
    dying on him.  
    
    Things are awful.  My husband is one of those do-it-yourselfers,
    and doesn't take kindly to the mention of a service.  I'm beginning
    to think it's the only way.  HELP!

    After reading many of these notes on the war against fleas...I guess
    I should consider myself very LUCKY!  In total we have 6 cats living
    in our two family and all of these cats are outdoor cats....we live
    on a dead end road with woods all behind the house.  My cats spend
    alot of time outside during the day, but do come in at night.  We
    have not had a sign of any fleas nor ticks!  At this time we brush
    them alot but have not had to use any flea killers...How can this
    be??  Are some areas worse then others?  So far...we have been very
    lucky?  Knock-knock on wood!!
    
    Living in Fitchburg...flealess!!
    
    Sandy (Tamba, Poco, and Barkley who are very happy without them)

    Sandy,
    
    I really do think the area has a lot to do with it.  We have lived in
    Grafton for almost 3 years, and I have never found a flea either in my
    house or on my cats.  I brush and comb them everyday.  I found 2 ticks
    on Nikki about a month ago but nothing since then.  Knock wood!  I sure
    hope this good luck streak continues!!
    
    --Roberta
    

    I just found out some interesting information.  Certain exterminators
    will sell you the chemicals they use with complete instructions.  
    The difference is they sell you premixed chemicals for safety reasons.
    If the technician came to your house, he/she would probably mix them
    there.  
    
    My husband called a place in RI that sells the chemicals at
    $12.60/gallon.  Obviously, the job is not guaranteed, since you do it 
    yourself.  But it's a good $80-$90 savings.  The chemicals are 
    totally safe for the animals.  They do not even have to leave the
    house.  (I may take them out anyway as a precaution.)
    
    You need to vacuum first.  Believe it or not, the vibration of the 
    vacuum (super Kirby!) changes the larvae to a non-dormant state...
    (most will hatch early).  The flea spray will not work if the fleas
    are in the dormant state.  Then you spray a mist covering all 
    floors.  (You do not need to do the furniture, since most fleas
    "hang out" in the carpets, or eventually jump to the floor and die.)
    
    Tonight we have more fun.  I will, of course, let you know the results.
    
                                                                        

    
    
    	Well we're going to have to have the place sprayed again.
    	We're still using the light and soap and water trick.  it
    	seems to be working pretty well.
    
    	And the hands of fate were with us yesterday.  I stayed home
    	yesterday....and at about noon time Brandi came home!!  I 
    	called the vet, tossed her in a kitty carrier and brought her
    	to the vet to be dipped and have shots and stuff....she was
    	NOT happy with me yesterday.  But at least she's home.
    
    	Good luck to all those others who are fighting the fleas...
    
    	JJ
    

    Judi,
    
    Glad to hear Brandi is home.  You sure must be relieved.  
    
    cin
    

    Thank goodness, Brandi is home.  Did you ask her where she's been?
      Nancy

    
    	Nancy,
    
    	You don't know (or maybe you do =)  ) how much I wish she
    	could talk!  I would love to know where she takes off to.
    	I picked her up from the vets at lunch...defleaed, and had
    	a rabies, Leuk, and distemper shots....  Now she's secluded
    	in the bathroom!  Eesh!  I wish the exterminator would call
    	back so I can get them back at my apt. ASAP.
    
    	JJ
    

    
    	Oh and Cary and I are going to look at a duplex for rent...
    	if we take it, Brandi becomes an indoor only kitty and then
    	can't run off again!
    

    Well, we tried the chemicals from the Exterminator, and we're keeping
    our fingers crossed.  Our basement has never looked so neat!  (We had
    to clean up and vacuum completely prior to spraying.)  We also did the
    bedroom and upstairs hall.  The other bedrooms are flea free.  Tonight
    we do the living area.  Oh what fun!  
    
    My husband is also bringing home 100 pounds of Borax!!!  This should go
    a long way.  
    
    Vacuum, spray, borax, vacuum...and "Whistle while you Work"...
    

    re: borax - did he find it somewhere in bulk and if so, where?

Forwarded by a co-worker who hears my daily flea stories:
    
    Inspired by a children's rhyme about a fly and a flea stuck in a
    chimney:
    
    Said the fly, "Let us flee,"
    Said the flea, "Let us fly,"
    So they flew through a flaw in the flue.
    

    I think we all needed that  ;-)

    
    	I wish I had a flue so they could fly through it!
    	The exterminator is coming again tomorrow.  This time it
    	had better work!  The cats are still secluded.  We went
    	away for the weekend and when we got back Brandi had knocked
    	the curtains down in the bathroom, knocked all of the shampoo
    	bottles and stuff into the tub and her food was scattered
    	all over the floor.
    
    	They're starting to go as nuts as mom...
    

    Are there any problems with using Dursban Dip?  I can not seem 
    to locate the Pyrethrin Dips.  I heard that there might be...
    
    I know Malathion is for Dogs only.
    
    I hate playing with all these chemicals!
    

    I just bought 2 cats of Ovitral, the insect growth regulator promoted
    by Dr. Migday during an episode of Dogs and Cats.  I had to go to her
    office in Framingham to get it, since none of the vets in the
    Fitchburg/Leominster/Gardner area carry it.
    
    I'm hoping it works.  We've had a battle on our hands for a while now
    ...and the fleas are winning!  Poor Sophocles is very allergic to the
    bites and is quickly becoming bald.  We've tried the standard chemicals
    and they really wipe Sophi out...although the other 3 cats are fine.
    I hope he doesn't have a problem with the Ovitral.
    
    I hadn't heard about the Borax nor the light/water treatment and will
    try them.   Will also weigh in with the Brewer's yeast...which the cats
    love.
    
    Wish me luck...this is getting ridiculous!
    
    
    Elaine

    For future reference, Foster & Smith carries Ovitrol plus many other
    flea preparations.  Their prices are less than a vet would charge.
    Their number is 1-800-826-7206.  Give them a call and request a
    catalog.
      Nancy DC