Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat General => General Cat Chat => Topic started by: Rachel(Rachette) on October 07, 2008, 09:50:53 AM

Title: can you please end this debate we're having...please...please
Post by: Rachel(Rachette) on October 07, 2008, 09:50:53 AM
hey all...how are you?

could someone please end an argument that me & my OH are having...

Are the black bits on a cat 1. flea pooh...(sorry!)
                                      2. dried blood from where the flea has bitten the cat
                                  or 3. flea eggs

Cheers peeps ;D ;D
Title: Re: can you please end this debate we're having...please...please
Post by: clarenmax on October 07, 2008, 10:20:45 AM
Think its called flea 'dirt', and if you brush it onto a damp piece of white paper, it will go red as I think its dried blood?

I could of course be wrong though  :doh: :evillaugh:
Title: Re: can you please end this debate we're having...please...please
Post by: Tiggy's Mum on October 07, 2008, 10:26:46 AM
Number two  :sick:
Title: Re: can you please end this debate we're having...please...please
Post by: tigerbaby on October 07, 2008, 10:30:27 AM
What Helen said and Clare said.

As Clare pointed out, put it on damp white paper and if it turns red it means your cat has fleas.

We learned it the hard way, from using Bob Martin stuff. Now we use Advantage only as not even Frontline is as good.

Title: Re: can you please end this debate we're having...please...please
Post by: Dawn F on October 07, 2008, 11:00:59 AM
I always thought it was pooh that turned red because blood is what they ate - you learn something new every day!
Title: Re: can you please end this debate we're having...please...please
Post by: Christine (Blip) on October 07, 2008, 11:34:22 AM
I always thought it was pooh that turned red because blood is what they ate - you learn something new every day!

I thought that too, Dawn  :shify:  I guess it's dried blood whichever end of the flea it comes out of...
Title: Re: can you please end this debate we're having...please...please
Post by: Tiggy's Mum on October 07, 2008, 11:42:28 AM
I guess it's a combo of one and two then, it's definitely dried blood hence the redness when water is added but I suppose it's flea poo too.
Title: Re: can you please end this debate we're having...please...please
Post by: Michelle (furbabystar) on October 07, 2008, 11:44:34 AM
I always thought it was pooh that turned red because blood is what they ate - you learn something new every day!

Me too !!

the black bits are called flea dirty though
Title: Re: can you please end this debate we're having...please...please
Post by: Michelle (furbabystar) on October 07, 2008, 11:53:18 AM
Ok been and looked it up

"Flea dirt is made of bits of dried blood excreted by feeding fleas. Flea dirt accumulates in the fur and bedding of a flea-infested animal and its presence is a sure sign of an infestation. If you are not sure whether or not you have real flea dirt, drop the bits into water. If the bits dissolve, turning the water red, it's flea dirt"
Title: Re: can you please end this debate we're having...please...please
Post by: Rachel(Rachette) on October 08, 2008, 16:40:44 PM
Thank you...i was right.. :cheer: :cheer:

Snooch is frontlined regulary so that means that fleas are biting her & then dying...right?
Title: Re: can you please end this debate we're having...please...please
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on October 08, 2008, 20:12:38 PM
Now I thought that frontline like stronghold and did not need the fleas to bite to die? Thats why when last discussing this, frontline was OK for cats with flea allergies, thats an allergy to the bite.

I think your cat has fleas if you have found flea dirt.
Title: Re: can you please end this debate we're having...please...please
Post by: koscha (Ruth M) on October 08, 2008, 20:55:43 PM
As far my experience has lead me to believe, frontline does kill fleas without them biting, but the flea senses it's unwell, and instinctivly bites (more savagley than usual) and this then speeds it's death.

As my poor Keli has flea allergies i'm looking at the other topical flea treatments....currently investigating Program as an alternative as it specifically mentions it is useful as a treatment in flea related dermatitis..

Frontline is ok, but not the best out there.....
Title: Re: can you please end this debate we're having...please...please
Post by: Rachel(Rachette) on October 08, 2008, 22:48:41 PM
Now I thought that frontline like stronghold and did not need the fleas to bite to die? Thats why when last discussing this, frontline was OK for cats with flea allergies, thats an allergy to the bite.

I think your cat has fleas if you have found flea dirt.
OMG really...i didn't realise as i've used a flea comb & no fleas have been found :scared:...maybe i'll try another flea product then
As far my experience has lead me to believe, frontline does kill fleas without them biting, but the flea senses it's unwell, and instinctivly bites (more savagley than usual) and this then speeds it's death.

As my poor Keli has flea allergies i'm looking at the other topical flea treatments....currently investigating Program as an alternative as it specifically mentions it is useful as a treatment in flea related dermatitis..

Frontline is ok, but not the best out there.....

Would you mind letting me know how you get on with this one please ;D
Title: Re: can you please end this debate we're having...please...please
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on October 08, 2008, 23:37:57 PM
I use stronghold but I am starting to wonder if fleas are becoming resistant to some of the medications

I belive with program the fleas have to bite and cant remember about advantage
Title: Re: can you please end this debate we're having...please...please
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on October 09, 2008, 08:20:30 AM
Program injection sterilises the fleas so they can't reproduce, but doesn't kill, so if you had fleas, you would need to use Program in conjunction with something like Frontline. I dont know what the new Program on VetUK is, I have never heard of it.