Rats and fleas

Question
QUESTION: Dear Janell, I have a number of rats and also have cats. One of my cats is an inside/outside cat who insists in sleeping on top of my rat cages if I don't catch her first. I found something fast and black moving on one of my rats and wonder if this could be a flea from the cat sleeping on top of her cage. I tried using a flea comb, but whatever it was kept getting away due to the length and fine hair on the rat. I was reading another response which said that cat fleas and rat fleas are not the same. This is not the first time I have seen this, and there is no infestation of fleas on my rats (I have 21 in various cages). Do you have any suggestions as to how I can rid my baby of this menace? She is not itching, but I do not like seeing something running in her fur. Thanks for your input,
Dorothy

ANSWER: There are two type of fleas (or so I've been told.. not sure how true that is.. I've been emersed in the pet industry for 20-someodd years however so I'd imagine its probably pretty close to the truth) -- anyway, two types, cat fleas and dog fleas.

In my understanding, there are a billion times as many cat fleas as there are dog fleas. What differentiates them, I have no idea. Of course, this means absolutely nothing to me -- in my opinion if its a flea it needs to go away, and fast. I have both cats and dogs, and I've had their fleas (whichever type they may be) wind up on my ferrets and my rats.

You can bathe your rats in a melafix and baby shampoo solution to kill the fleas currently alive on them. If it doesn't happen to be a flea, it won't hurt your rat, either. Melafix is a fish medication, but it's 100% natural and made of essential oils. Use one tablespoon melafix with two tablespoons baby shampoo and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water (dilute it as you want to.. I like my stuff a little thinner, some people want more suds to feel like it works better). Suds your ratties up and let them sit for at least 3 minutes and then rinse well. I know, a pain in the butt, I know!

The alternative is that you can also dose them with advantage or frontline, but to be honest, I haven't the foggiest idea what the amount is and I'd be worried of ODing them. You can also use Sevin dust powder and rub gently, generating as little dust as possible. Sevin dust can be found at most hardware stores, in the Garden center.

Good luck!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Janell, thanks for your response. I am well acquainted with Melafix as I work for a major pet supply chain and am certified in the aquatics department. Having received your answer in relation to my rats, my question is could I use this same recipe of Melafix and baby shampoo to rid my cat of the fleas (I was really surprised to find out that this remedy could be applied in other circumstances)? I used to have her on Frontline, but because of the fact that she is in close proximity to my rats I do hesitate to treat her. Ratties can be very sensitive to outside influences and it worries me to introduce any type of chemicals around them. Thanks for any input that you can give me. P.S. I am afraid to use Frontline or Advantage on something as small as my rats, and Sevin dust, which I have used for bugs, scares me also.

ANSWER: It will work on cats, just let her sit longer in it rather than just the few minutes for the rats (I suggest 10 to 15 minutes -- or 5 to 10 with a stronger solution). Since it smothers the flea, you just have to give it adequate time to work. I've also heard (but never tried) Dawn dish soap kills fleas and it's pretty safe for everything. I was told to use that on my ferrets when they had fleas.. I ended up using a flea bath instead.

I'm sure you know this; but the main problem with fleas is not only treating the animal but also the environment. Fleas jump on the animal to feed, jump off to lay eggs. Re-treatment every 10 to 14 days for at least 3 cycles should break the life cycle and give you a break in the fleas. This year was the positively WORST for fleas I've ever seen.

(Incidentally, I, too, worked for a major pet supply chain -- PIJAC certified for birds, small mammals and aquatics -- for 4 years. Most fun I ever had in a retail situation :))

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Janell, I have a female rat who I noticed tonight is having a clear discharge from one of her eyes. It is not in both, and it is not red, but it is excessive like tears. She is currently on meds for breathing problems but has been very active and only has two more days of treatment. Is this something that I should be concerned about? She is a VERY aggressive rat so handling her is very difficult and cannot be accomplished without using gloves and if this a minor irritation would really love not to upset her. Thanks for any insight you can give me.

Answer
Unless her eye is bulging, red-rimmed, and the discharge is beginning to look green or yellow I wouldn't worry about it, especially given her disposition. It's probably just some minor discharge that will clear up in a few days on its own.. especially if she's already been on medication for a respiratory problem.. if she had an eye infection those antibiotics would have gone to town on that, too.