Flea problem

[NorthernAutumn]

Hi All;

My two kittehs have managed to pick up fleas over the last month; I know because the fleas are eating me!!!

I was stroking Slaty today, and felt this horrible lump on the back of his neck. He grumbled about it, but I dragged him out of his house, and got a closer look with my flashlight. It looks like a scab, about the size of a shirt button. I sent Slaty to hop around, and he immediately began to sit down and scratch the tar out of his neck with his hind feet.

Now, here's the challenge...

Are cat fleas transmissable to buns? Or could these be ticks? I thought I saw a tiny dark speck hop away on his neck when I blew on his fur.

What do I treat him with safely?

I need to get all the bunny blankets and wash in hot water.

What to do with the carpet? Can I rub diatomaceous earth into it to prevent further infestation without bugging Slaty?

For that matter, what would happen if I rubbed diatomaceous earth all over Slaty. The can is by Raid, and contains 90% earth, plus two food-grade substances (one to attract fleas, and one yummy thing for fleas to eat). Would that work, or is that a SUPER BAD IDEA?


[In the meantime, I will fumigate the rest of the house tomorrow. and pop the buns outside for the day (in their cages, so as not to get any more STUPID FLEAS on them from the dirt, or from the kittehs)]:grumpy:


Please write soon! The fleas are eating us alive!!!

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Sounds like you have a problem all right! Don't panick. Fleas go to dogs/cats first, so I've heard. When our cat had fleas, the buns didn't get them.

I would say firstly, treat the cats. Then, I would vacuum and keep a flea bag in the vacuum bag! A wonderful Mod, Naturestee, recommended that to me once in a thread I started. Awesomest Idea! Then, ditch the bag!

Shampoo furniture, etc.

You can treat the buns if/when they encounter fleas with Advantage for Kittens. Check the library here for other brands, there is one other you can use, but NOT FRONTLINE.

Here is the link from our library on: Fleas

 

[slavetoabunny]

Are you able to move the pets out for a few hours and bug bomb the house?

 

[NorthernAutumn]

Thanks for your quick responses.

I will be doing the whole joint with bugbombs today. Fishes' tanks will be covered with towels.

DO you think that the Kitties and rabbits would be OK in the washroom (towels stuffed under door) for 3 hours, or should I come up with some method to take them outside?

I can watch the kittehs run around A-OK for a while, but Stewart Bun has not ever been outside loose with me before...

How should I approach this???

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Did you do the bombing today? How did it go if so?

 

[NorthernAutumn]

Bombing went really well today, thanks for asking. The house has 4 levels, so I bombed the top three, and the buns, kittehs and I holed up in the basement, with a towel stuffed under the door. We stayed down there for about 3 1/2 hrs., and I did my wash and homework.

Couldn't smell anything whenI went back upstairs. Surprisingly, mymoth population came through theraid quite nicely, and were busy panicking on the ceiling.

I'm in the middle of washing all blankets andwhatnot. Tore out all of the carpeting and bedding out of the buns houses, andall stuffed toys.

Italked to mymother, and she said that in her experience, the bug-bombing should be done every 2 days for a 10 day cycle. So, we're good until Friday...

Placed diatomaceous earth in the cracks of Slaty's house; no car, so I couldn't get to the Vet's on time today (due to the bombing as well). Hopefully I'll have an opportunity tomorrow!!!

Slaty is not impressed; however, stuart was munching away happily in the basement. I've opened all the windows in the house in case of RAID remnants, and I think the fish will just have to stay covered up for the next while...



Thanks for asking... Btw, would diatomaceous earth work if I put it on the bunnies (yes it sounds bad, but the HRS indicated that no ill effects would result if it was rubed into bunny carpets and blankets...) What do you think?

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Glad to hear it went well and you actually got some things done in the meantime.

I've never heard of diatomaceous earth:?, if HRS says it'ssafe, it probably is and shouldn't be an issue, but I am notcertain.

 

[naturestee]

I've never heard of diatomaceous earth being put directly on the animals. I don't know how effective it would really be. Also, it might be irritating to the buns when they groom themselves. If you're going to the vet soon for flea meds for all the animals I'd just wait till then. The rabbit-safe meds are Revolution and Advantage. The shelter I volunteer at uses Advantage on rabbits and Frontline on cats and they seem to work really well.

 

[naturestee]

AngelnSnuffy- here's some info on Diatomaceous earth:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth

I love diatoms, my favorite part of microbiology class. Wierd little buggers.

NorthernAutumn, it does say that it's dangerous to breathe because it is dusty. So although the article does mention medical-grade stuff beingused on animals and humans, I'd err on the side of caution and not use it directly on your pets.