oh NO ! Fleas !!!!

Interesting article on the nematods. The one thing they were very specific about was that I'd have to water them 3x a week. Since I use pond water I'm allowed to water 2x a week with my sprinklers.

 
That's why I posted the article.  Your lucky that you can water more than once a week.  You know we get very dry this time a year and mid-june when the rainy season usually seems to start is a long way away.
 
 

I don't know of any rescue group that has the funds to permanently house and feed a large cattery of feral cats.

 
Actually there are a couple here in Florida but they charge admission fees.  10th life in South Florida charges $400 per cat.
 

Actually there are a couple here in Florida but they charge admission fees.  10th life in South Florida charges $400 per cat.

 
[sm=eek.gif]  yikes !

How's your flea battle progressing?

I've been using nematodes, and I'm not really sure they're working.

4 days after seeing the first flea I saw no more inside.   I vacuumed the house three times in the first week - threw out the bag each time.   I believe the Frontline Plus did its job - just took longer than the advertised 24 hrs.
 
I'm having FleaBusters come tomorrow to do both inside (borate salt) and out (nematodes).  Believe it or not they were booked that far in advance and this was the first open date they had.    I've been doing the "white sock" test and I can see that I do still have some fleas in the yard (even tho we've cut down alot of the bushes to eliminate the cats hiding places and have kept the dog out of the yard all this time - I guess they remaining fleas are feeding on squirrels !).
 
How long ago did you have the nematodes done ?   They have to be kept "moist", so I assume you've been watering ?  I really DO hope they work !  I'm banking on it - I really don't want to use pesticides.

Good work!

I've applied nematodes twice, about 7 weeks ago and 3 weeks ago. Yes, I moisten the yard, but, like you I have flea toting critters - squirrels and racoons in my case.

What's the white sock test?

 

 I've also made the homemade flea collar out of the Critter Oil (essential oils), and have sprayed some of it around the doorways (another barrier).  

 
Just a note to anybody:
Be extremely careful with essential oils around cats as they can cause serious harm.  Most people who have cats will not use any essential oils at all.  Some might spray their dog only outside before a walk if there cat is indoors.  It must be something you are very careful with around cats.

"white sock test" = wear a pair of white socks and walk around the yard.  The fleas are attracted to the heat of your body and are easily seen on the white socks.  You can do the same inside.  Another indoor test involves sitting on the floor and reading a book - the fleas (if any) should land on the book.    I've not seen any fleas inside (HOORAY !). 
 
Remember that the nematodes only eat the larve.  You basically have to wait for the adults to die on their own or move off to other pastures (which they would do if critters they were feeding on weren't available any longer).   Adult fleas can live 2 - 3 months.   The nematods will control the population of new fleas,  reducing the chance of future infestations.    Since I'm fairly dead set against throwing pesticides down I made the choice to wait it out.   The good news is that the Frontline Plus really does seem to work;  the addition of the borate salts will also ensure that any fleas that do make it into the house will be short lived.

Very helpful! I hadn't realized the adult fleas out back would live for 2-3 months, duh! I'm encouraged.

I'll try that white sock test, too. Thanks![]

Forgot to mention that I love your new avatar - very cute !  How long did the mask last before it was pawed off ? LOL
 
A few other things I learned about fleas.  They like moist (but not wet) areas, and shade.  They won't stay in the sun.  They also LOVE piles of wood, leaves, etc.  If you can get more sunlight to hit the ground that will go a long way towards getting the adult fleas to go somewhere else.   Since we took down or trimmed back the bottoms of many of the shrubs I've definitely seen a decline in the number of fleas my socks attract.
 
Nematodes went down today.  Indoors I have to live in a house that looks like a baby powder factory exploded inside of it (they puff the borate salt powder into the baseboards in a wood / tile house - with carpeting they work it into the carpet).  I can't sweep / vacuum the stuff up until Friday.  It really looks awful in here, but I'm thinking of it as "insurance" against fleas for the next 6 months (another "downside" of wood floors - the guarantee is only 6 months as opposed to carpeted houses which get a years guarantee).

Meow! Heehee.
Ixa is surprisingly at ease with stuff on her face like masks and goggles - ordered her some doggles, even! But yeah, she did say "woof" to the bein' a kitty thing []

Funny thing about nematodes and fleas, they like the same environment!

Good luck with your "powder room"!! []

Thanks so much for the white sock trick! We do *not* have one single flea!
Now the arduous path to find out why Ixa still itches.

whoooooohooooooooo - congrats on getting rid of the fleas !   and all the best finding the source of Ixas' itching.   Hopefully it will be something as simple as dry skin - have you tried salmon oil ?

Yep, we do a salmon oil/brewer's yeast/garlic/vit e treat everyday, and she gets sardines, too.
Ixa had dandruff when I first got her, but no itching. I use oatmeal shampoo and don't bathe her often, so that part's ok, And, she responded well to prednizone, so it's definately an allergy of some sort to something in this environment. I've got her on benadryl now, and will do a food allergy test diet if she doesn't stop itching. If that doesn't work, we're off to the dermatologist.

Thanks for the woo hoo and your well wishes!