How to ensure a cat tower / scratching post if free of fleas?
I want to buy a good scratching post for my cat. Either from a pet shop or 2nd hand. My pet shop allows pets into the shop. I am worried that the scratching post might have fleas.
How can I ensure it is flea free – or at least de-flea once I buy it?
If any pets had fleas that came near the post, it could be contaminated. Pets with fleas are like salt shakers – the adult fleas don’t usually jump off them but they lay hundreds off eggs which roll off the pet constantly and scatter. So the post may have eggs, larva or pupa.
Eggs and larva die pretty easily with an application of flea spray or powder. But absolutely nothing kills pupa – that’s what makes home flea infestations so difficult to deal with if you use the wrong methods. Vacuuming helps (and I would recommend doing it), but it won’t be 100% efficient.
So what you really need to do in order to prevent a major flea problem in your house is to keep all your pets on a good monthly flea preventative like Frontline, Advantage, etc. Pet store brands will not be as effective. If your pet is on a good topical, the pupa will have nowhere to go when they emerge as adults and they will die within 4-5 days.
If you buy it used, you should also run a black light over it to make sure it doesn’t have any urine stains (they will glow green under UV light). And if I were in your shoes, I’d make sure all my cats and dogs were on a good flea product starting before the new post came into the house and I’d keep them on it for at least two months (it can take 8 weeks for eggs to develop into adults). I’d give it a good vacuuming, but I wouldn’t bother with sprays or powders since household treatments like that are more toxic to pets. The Frontline will be just as effective whether or not you spray the post.
May 21st, 2010 at 10:24 am
You can spray it with a spray that kills adult fleas and keeps the eggs from hatching. Just make sure it is completely dry before giving to your cat. If you are thinking about a carpeted one, vacumming it first then spraying would be best. Be sure to do this outside and don’t bring it in until is is treated.
References :
May 21st, 2010 at 10:50 am
the same like previous answer
and leave it outside in the cold overnight will probably take them out,
but normally post in pet-stores are clean since nobody brings in cats to sit on.
Use a flee collar on your cat ( outdoor-cat ? )
References :
May 21st, 2010 at 11:19 am
Second hand may have more of a problem with the scent of another cat on the post/tower. Then you run the risk of a territorial "anointing".
But in a pet shop, a flea if it is even on a cat brought into the store, is not going to jump from a nice warm cat to a cold scratching post that provides no meal for a flea.
But before you put out money for a post, do you know if your cat likes a vertical scratching surface? Not all cats do. Often a post that is part of a cat tree is a good purchase, as most cats like a cat tree, since they can get up high. And if they use the scratching posts that are usually on a cat tree, that is a bonus.
References :
May 21st, 2010 at 11:50 am
fleas are not a big issue in a pet store. pets are not in there very long with their owners. there will not be fleas on a scratcher.
References :
see profile
May 21st, 2010 at 12:05 pm
Apply orthoboric acid or boric acid. There are several brands that you can purchase, including Flea Stoppers. Follow the directions on the package. The product works by drying out the flea eggs and larvae that are present in carpet or upolstery. The dried out flea eggs will not be able to hatch, effectively cutting off the fleas’ ability to thrive. Apply it in your garage or outdoors so that the fleas do not get in to your house. Then vacuum the dust off. The residue will be sufficient to prevent fleas from surviving on the scratching post. For more tips on dealing with fleas in your home or on your pet see the attached article.
References :
http://www.ehow.com/how_5204428_rid-fleas-pet-home.html
May 21st, 2010 at 12:38 pm
If any pets had fleas that came near the post, it could be contaminated. Pets with fleas are like salt shakers – the adult fleas don’t usually jump off them but they lay hundreds off eggs which roll off the pet constantly and scatter. So the post may have eggs, larva or pupa.
Eggs and larva die pretty easily with an application of flea spray or powder. But absolutely nothing kills pupa – that’s what makes home flea infestations so difficult to deal with if you use the wrong methods. Vacuuming helps (and I would recommend doing it), but it won’t be 100% efficient.
So what you really need to do in order to prevent a major flea problem in your house is to keep all your pets on a good monthly flea preventative like Frontline, Advantage, etc. Pet store brands will not be as effective. If your pet is on a good topical, the pupa will have nowhere to go when they emerge as adults and they will die within 4-5 days.
If you buy it used, you should also run a black light over it to make sure it doesn’t have any urine stains (they will glow green under UV light). And if I were in your shoes, I’d make sure all my cats and dogs were on a good flea product starting before the new post came into the house and I’d keep them on it for at least two months (it can take 8 weeks for eggs to develop into adults). I’d give it a good vacuuming, but I wouldn’t bother with sprays or powders since household treatments like that are more toxic to pets. The Frontline will be just as effective whether or not you spray the post.
References :
May 21st, 2010 at 1:06 pm
I’ve been told by vets not to bother with flea sprays etc to remove fleas from objects. The only thing worth using is the "spot-on" applicators you put on the back of the cat’s neck. E.g. Revolution, Frontline, Advantage, etc. You need to use these to make sure your cat is protected from fleas at all times. Anything else is a waste of money.
References :
owner of three cats
June 2nd, 2010 at 9:36 pm
If you’re still on the fence: grab your favorite earphones, head down to a Best Buy and ask to plug them into a Zune then an iPod and see which one sounds better to you, and which interface makes you smile more. Then you’ll know which is right for you.
June 4th, 2010 at 10:40 pm
Great post, very thorough discussion of the topic. Does anybody know where can find additional info on this subject? Thanks for any input.
June 6th, 2010 at 6:24 am
Needless to say, what excellent website perfectly informative posts, I will add backlink – bookmark this web page? Regards, Reader.
June 6th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Hands down, Apple’s app store wins by a mile. It’s a huge selection of all sorts of apps vs a rather sad selection of a handful for Zune. Microsoft has plans, especially in the realm of games, but I’m not sure I’d want to bet on the future if this aspect is important to you. The iPod is a much better choice in that case.
June 6th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
The Zune concentrates on being a Portable Media Player. Not a web browser. Not a game machine. Maybe in the future it’ll do even better in those areas, but for now it’s a fantastic way to organize and listen to your music and videos, and is without peer in that regard. The iPod’s strengths are its web browsing and apps. If those sound more compelling, perhaps it is your best choice.
June 9th, 2010 at 10:02 am
Well, the post is actually the freshest on this laudable topic. I concur with your conclusions and will thirstily look forward to your future updates.
June 9th, 2010 at 10:08 am
Thank you for your article,It’s well written, in depth posts like these that have aided me in becoming a good forex trader.
June 10th, 2010 at 10:20 pm
Considerably, the post is actually the sweetest on this notable topic. I harmonize with your conclusions and will eagerly look forward to your future updates. Saying thanks will not just be adequate, for the extraordinary lucidity in your writing. I will at once grab your rss feed to stay privy of any updates.Gratifying work and much success in your business enterprise!Thanks.
June 13th, 2010 at 4:17 am
you two rally make a lovely couple.
June 14th, 2010 at 9:41 am
I truly appreciate you taking the time to post this. I really liked reading it and am looking forward to more posts from you! Keep ‘em coming.
June 14th, 2010 at 9:45 am
That’s great.very helpful,thanks a lot
June 14th, 2010 at 9:52 am
Excellent read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little homework on that. And he in fact bought me lunch because I found it for him
June 14th, 2010 at 9:56 am
Thank you for your article,It’s well written, in depth posts like these that have aided me in becoming a good forex trader.
June 15th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
] different channels reminded me of a mildly amusing website that made the rounds a few months ago: LOLTrek
June 15th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
I’ll gear this review to 2 types of people: current Zune owners who are considering an upgrade, and people trying to decide between a Zune and an iPod. (There are other players worth considering out there, like the Sony Walkman X, but I hope this gives you enough info to make an informed decision of the Zune vs players other than the iPod line as well.)
June 16th, 2010 at 10:58 am
LOL’s catchphrase is more truth than bluff
June 16th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
Hi, colleague! I like your blog, it’s so interesting! I think it’s pretty popular, isn’t it? I would like to invite you to review my onw blog wedding flower arrangement
June 19th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Great information that is much appreciated. Thank you for providing such interesting content in my quest to lose the flab.
June 19th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
That’s great.very helpful,thanks a lot
June 19th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Thank you for your article,It’s well written, in depth posts like these that have aided me in becoming a good forex trader.
June 20th, 2010 at 5:59 am
That’s great.very helpful,thanks a lot
June 20th, 2010 at 6:10 am
Very good text. I’ve found your site via Google and I’m really glad about the information you provide in your articles.
June 21st, 2010 at 6:47 am
Talking about the stock exchange is always interesting and enlightening. I’ll wait for the next posting. Thank you.
June 21st, 2010 at 6:59 am
Informative information and excellent posts you have!
June 23rd, 2010 at 6:21 am
Howdy, your site is on air in the radio! Good job mate. Your posts are truly great and bookmarked. Regards
June 23rd, 2010 at 11:15 am
I really like and appreciate your blog.Really thank you! Keep writing.
June 27th, 2010 at 3:58 am
Excellent read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little homework on that. And he in fact bought me lunch because I found it for him
June 27th, 2010 at 4:06 am
I truly appreciate you taking the time to post this. I really liked reading it and am looking forward to more posts from you! Keep ‘em coming.
June 28th, 2010 at 4:46 am
Now and then I’ll stumble across a post like this and I’ll recall that there really are still interesting pages on the web. ^_^. Thanks.
June 28th, 2010 at 4:53 am
That’s great.very helpful,thanks a lot
June 28th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
Talking about the stock exchange is always interesting and enlightening. I’ll wait for the next posting. Thank you.
June 28th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
Well, the post is actually the freshest on this laudable topic. I concur with your conclusions and will thirstily look forward to your future updates.
July 2nd, 2010 at 6:37 am
Very good text. I’ve found your site via Google and I’m really glad about the information you provide in your articles.
July 2nd, 2010 at 6:08 pm
I completely agree with the above comment, the internet is with a doubt growing into the most important medium of communication across the globe and its due to sites like this that ideas are spreading so quickly.
July 3rd, 2010 at 8:22 am
Informative information and excellent posts you have!
July 3rd, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Informative information and excellent posts you have!
July 3rd, 2010 at 4:42 pm
Zune and iPod: Most people compare the Zune to the Touch, but after seeing how slim and surprisingly small and light it is, I consider it to be a rather unique hybrid that combines qualities of both the Touch and the Nano. It’s very colorful and lovely OLED screen is slightly smaller than the touch screen, but the player itself feels quite a bit smaller and lighter. It weighs about 2/3 as much, and is noticeably smaller in width and height, while being just a hair thicker.
July 4th, 2010 at 8:30 am
Thanks for the share, I have been readin online all day and this was actully worth reading. Thanks
July 15th, 2010 at 10:12 am
Very good text. I’ve found your site via Google and I’m really glad about the information you provide in your articles.
July 15th, 2010 at 10:15 am
I was very pleased to find this site.I wanted to thank you for this great read I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post.
July 17th, 2010 at 9:44 am
Great information that is much appreciated. Thank you for providing such interesting content in my quest to lose the flab.
July 17th, 2010 at 9:44 am
Well, the post is actually the freshest on this laudable topic. I concur with your conclusions and will thirstily look forward to your future updates.
July 28th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
very good article,thans for your sharing
July 29th, 2010 at 4:29 am
Hi, admin, can I copy some information from the post?
August 12th, 2010 at 5:08 am
I added your place of duty to my blog!