We just discovered that my cat has got fleas for the first time. All these years of letting waltz in and out of the house finally caught up with us.

Anyone have this issue with their cat/dog in the past? We've got a flea collar on him right now, and he's locked in the basement area so those little bastards don't get all over the house. Any other things I need to do? How long do fleas live? I know I've spot some that jumped off the cat and started jumping around the carpet. I've been vacuuming daily too. Little bastards can jump far too!

Dont delay! Goto the nearest pet store and buy flea dip shampoo made for cats and bathe it. Also, bug bomb the house.
Before you wash the cat, take some time to prepare. You will need heavy duty gloves, an apron, steel toe work boots, one welders mask, a baseball catchers uniform, elbow and knee pads, and several beers. Good luck!

BTW, we have had to wash our cat before. He did not like it, but cooperated.

Petco and petsmart both have a powder that you put on the carpet before you vacuum, that will kill the fleas. Also, depending on how bad the cat got it, you may want to check with local vets, about getting him "flea dipped", basically a bath in a special solvent that will kill off any fleas and eggs that may be living on the poor kitty... In addition to the collar, there is a treatment you can give once the cat is "defleaed". I forget the name off hand, but they can point you in the right direction at the pet store. It is a small tube that you apply to the cat, starting at the neck, and continuing down the spine. The treatment is usually good for 2-3 months, at which you just re-apply the stuff.

Hopefully you caught it quick enough, I have seen BAD flea infestations.

I would suggest, at the least, get the carpet treatment, and look into getting the treatment for the cat.

Here's a link for a little information from "Advantage"
http://www.nofleas.com/All-About-Fleas.asp

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL. good stuff!

I don't think Mike is joking here, could be worse, he could have to give it a pill

You do not want to know the steps involved in giving a cat a pill. Prepare to have a good cry.

This sound familiar Mike?

Anyone who has ever tried to give a cat a pill can relate to this one .
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HOW TO GIVE A CAT A PILL:

1) Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm like as if you were holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and
swallow.

2) Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.

3) Retrieve cat from bedroom, throw soggy pill away.

4) Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.

5) Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from yard.

6) Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore the low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.

7) Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep the shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set off to one side for gluing later.

8) Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.

9) Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink 1 beer to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

10) Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Open another beer. Place cat in cupboard and close the door onto cat's neck, leave head showing. Force mouth open with a desert spoon. Flick pill down throat with rubber band.

11) Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on the hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of scotch. Pour a shot, drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw t-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.

12) Call fire department to retrieve the freakin' cat from the tree across the road. Apologize to the neighbor who crashed into the fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take the last pill from the foil-wrap.
13) Tie the little x&*@#!'s front paws to rear paws with twine and bind tightly to the leg of dining room table, find heavy duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of steak. Be rough about it! Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to
wash pill down.

14) Consume remainder of Scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from your right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order a new table.

15) Arrange for Humane Society to come pick up the mutant cat from hell and call the local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.


HOW TO GIVE A DOG A PILL:

1) Wrap the pill in bacon.

2) Feed to dog.

LOL....that was funny. Did you make that up or is it a copy/paste?

An old copy/paste from a model car forum. I was lucky enough to get it before the off topic forum was shut down.

Giving cats pill sucks!!! I've recently had the pleasure of giving my cat medicine in liquid form though. Sooooo much easier. He can't spit out liquid (or hasn't figured it out yet).

If you're using pills, get him/her to open mouth, throw pill in there, hold mouth shut with hand give him a big blast of air in his face. When they flinch, they'll swallow. Easy as pie.

Wise man say...Flame Thrower work good to kill fleas

I remember hearing one story from the mother of a kid Mom used to babysit. The Mom was the nurse at Indian Knoll school and when they went on a "safari hunt" (lice) they found a little girl that had what the though was one. Well the nurse goes to look at it and discovers it doesn't look like it should, then it starts jumping around her desk She finaly gets it taped down to the desk and gets a good look at it and discovers it's a FLEA Turns out the family dog would sleep in the same bed as the girl and she got fleas from the dog!