Fleas

[mintymow]

Does regular combing and brushing help keep fleas at bay on cats?

[bednobs]

not really - they live in your furniture and just jump back on i reckon

[sandyRoe]

I doubt it. The cat would probably pick up fleas that other cats had scratched off.

http://www.fleafree.c...ut_fleas/en/egg.shtml

[wildwood]

Depending on your pet's coat, there are flea combs available for that but although they help, they are never very effective.

Why not use some spoton or similar, it is so easy to apply.

[lcg]

my puddy tats love being brushed, tho...

[SpikeyBush]

As a form of flea control, combing is like closing the stable door after the old nag has done one. You may catch the odd flea but the eggs are left behind so the life cycle continues.

I can't fault the stuff you dab on the back of their neck (the cat, not the flea). And if your mog liked the comb treatment, why not keep that up too?

NB avoid petting your cat for at least 24 hours after applying the spot-on treatment. Some people can take rather a funny turn on contact with this pesticide. It will normally warn you about this in the accompanying literature.

[bigglez]

fleas live in fir not bays

[utepoot]

No, you need to use Frontline or something similar. Fleas lay eggs in your house too, so bedding must be treated with a spray for fleas, as well as any soft furnishings and carpets. Fleas are a d**n nightmare if you have an infestation, been there! You can also buy "foggers" that when set off send a "fog" of poison throughout the room it's in. Please note, though, you and all animals and plants and fish must NOT be in the room when you do it, and for a while afterwards. Also, cover all electronics like tv, stereo etc with sheets before doing using a fogger. The best thing is to use the flea drops before you end up in that situation!

[Prudie]

No, as said, unless you kill any that come out with a comb then they will just jump back on. I doubt a brush would even disturb them. They're blighters to kill too.

[Nibble]

We'll normally treat all our cats with Stronghold every 4 weeks, which breaks the life cycle of the flea, (which lasts 42 days). If you don't then the fleas will hop off the cat, stay on your soft furnishings until a passing warm body, (you/your cat) passes by then jumps to reinfest them. This also controls roundworm in the cat at the same time.