Floor/Carpet treatments around the house:

Flea Busters appears to have changed their formula, but they used to use just plain ole Borax - sodium tetraborate (Na2B4O7), which is the same thing as 20 Mule borax from Target or a grocery store.

The best results have been if Borax is worked into the carpets one room at a time, then vacuumed up after a minimum of 24 hours keeping cats away from that room in the meantime. Might need to repeat depending on extent of infestation, and timing of flea life cycle.

Diatomaceous earth (DE) does work but be *extremely* careful about its use especially if you're an asthmatic like me. I always use masks when handling anything powdery, and this is no exception. DE can be cut with salt and powdered herbs like neem and lavender but even so, it's not safe for a cat to inhale it. Use DE only if a cat will be nowhere near the area treated or can be removed from the treated area for that period of time.

DE's mechanism is physical in nature as opposed to chemical so as long as one takes care not to inhale it, in some ways its safer for cats than a dangerous topical or those foggers sold at stores but if cautions cannot be followed, it's best to avoid it and Boric Acid as well.

DE works by cutting/puncturing fleas and others insects' exoskeletons dessicating them (by absorbing their body fluids). So it is not supposed to be harmful to warm-blooded creatures with endoskeletons like cats, dogs, and people. For that reason, it won't cut your cat's paw pads or anything like that but the big issue with DE is that it's very fine and powdery and has a tendency to fly all over the place if not handled with deliberation and great care. Since we don't have a lot of other choices with cats, I'm hesitantly putting it out there, but I can't overstate the precaution.

You can make up a mix of 1/3 salt, 1/3 DE, and 1/3 powdered herbs (dried lavender, fennel, neem ground up) and put some in the vacuum bag/compartment as well as work it carefully into the carpets, upholstery, bedding, etc. Vacuum up in 12 - 24 hours.

Handle DE very gently and deliberately when scooping out to mix with salt, and apply in a controlled and careful manner somewhat like this (same cautions apply for Boric acid).

DE, BE, and/or powdered herbs can also be sprinkled on hardood, tile, or vinyl floors, and vacuumed up. Even better is to follow this with a good mopping using a 25% concentration of citronella or neem hydrosol and water.

I'll leave you with an entreaty to give natural options a chance before resorting to nerve agents such as Frontline, Advantage etc. That said, these topical applications are preferable to foggers, bombs, powders, sprays, and collars. Beware essential oils in so-called "natural" flea collars. For more information on how dangerous essential oils are for cats, read our article here by a an aromatherapist.

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