Diatonaceous Earth

My cat Syd has a couple fleas this week as he has been going outside for an hour or so since it has gotten cooler.  I have the high bid on some Frontline on eBay right now.  Still it will be at least two more days till the auction ends and economy shipping just might hold it up for a few more days.  I was talking to my friend Deb last night on the phone and she recommended Diatonaceous Earth as an alternative to Frontline which is poison.  Syd hides after I administer Frontline, so I know it is not completely harmless in spite of what is on the label.  How could something be safe for cats, but not to be handled by humans?  So this morning I looked up Diatonaceous Earth and found that it kills bugs by getting in between their exoskeletons and cutting them up rather than poisoning them.  It is a mineral that is fossilized algae.  It works on cockroaches, fleas, bed bugs, and slugs.  So it definitely seems like a great alternative to poison.  I am gonna try it and it it works as well as Wikipedia says it does, then all the cats in Stubby's Cat Colony will get a dose.  Here is a link to this book on the subject.

Frontline Plus

I have to score some Frontline today.  Syd finally has fleas, and I can't wait the 4 days for an eBay auction to end and snail mail.  My new bank is not posting my monthly check on the 1st of the month, so I was not able to get it for him yesterday.  I have found that Frontline is the only flea medicine that is reliable.  There isn't any Frontline over on this side of town (so far), so I will need to travel in order to get it.  It is unfortunate that I can't buy a single dose as I am trying to save money toward my upcoming move.  It is a trade off like most things.  A single dose on eBay would cost $12.95.  3 doses over $30.  If I go to a PetPeople type place, it may be even more but I can get it today.  If I were staying, I would try to get a big bottle that I could use on Stubby and his cat colony.  They don't seem to have fleas though.  Syd is late in getting them this year.  I think that is due to the brewers yeast tablets he chews every day and that he doesn't go outside much.  I brush him everyday.  I am sure that helps. 

Stubby's Progress

Many of you have asked about Stubby the cat. Stubby is healing rapidly from his surgery and ailments. Stubby is a sort of guardian of this property and I confess I am gonna miss him when I move. He greets me each time I return from an errand no matter how long or brief I am gone. He does his best to try to keep cats that do not belong here off the property. Even though I was going to purchase flea medication (Frontline) this month, I am holding off as I have not seen even one flea on him or any of the other cats. My neighbor feeds the cats a oatmeal tuna combo and I am thinking a spoonful of brewers yeast might be in the mix. At any rate, they all seem happy and healthy. I do have a Stubby the cat donate button on my blog. But right now we have everything we need.