I bought flea collars for the cats and my pregnant wife is concerned

[commander bunnypants]

Should we be worried about the chemicals on the collars?

CB

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

1. If you're worried, there are natural flea collars that work.

I don't believe in putting poison on my pets. I use the Petguard Herbal Collars. They work really well. We've been using them for a few years and never had a flea problem even with two outdoor cats. They cost about the same as a regular flea collar too.

[commander bunnypants]

2. Really?

Cool

I will check into it

I was thinking of the the liquid you put on the skin

CB

[China_cat]

6. Advantage or Frontline

are your very BEST products for flea control. The others do only a half-assed job. Since these are safe for use on pregnant and lactating cats, I doubt that you'd have a problem with them for humans.

Fleas and the tapeworm eggs they carry are way more of a danger than the Advantage or Frontline.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

9. Actually, I know someone whose cat had seizures from Frontline.

If you want to apply something topical that works, Halo has a very effective natural flea concentrate. It also works for mosquito repellent on humans and doesn't smell gross. Even my vet (who is not holistic) doesn't recommend Frontline or Advantage because she's seen negative reactions to it.

[China_cat]

10. We are down to 5 cats now

from 13. And 3 dogs from 4. All of who have had either Frontline or Advantage since its inception as drops (Frontline used to be a spray) and not had one bad reaction from any of them. We still use it on our 21 year old cat.

I battled fleas for too many years before these products to ever want to do it again.

The problem with the 'herbal' drops and collars is that most of them are based on pennyroyal...an abortifacient. Something a pregnant woman does NOT want to be dealing with.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

12. Petguard's is based on eucalypus.

I've been using it for four years and never a problem. Two of the cats go outdoors and we live in a really wooded area.

[El Fuego]

3. I read that collars only keeps fleas off their neck

And it's not good for them to breathe the fumes all the time. You should get the once a month treatment that you put on which is absorbed into their bloodstream. It makes them unappetizing to fleas.

[Midlodemocrat]

4. Don't let her near the litter box.

You need to do that chore. Toxicplasmosis. Not good for baby bunnypants.

[commander bunnypants]

8. I always have.

she wont go near it

CB

[MadHound]

5. Get rid of those collars now!

I used to work in a vet's office, and we would have both dogs and cats coming in with chemical burns running down their chests due to flea collars. Get rid of them, and if you're worried about fleas, get some of the drops, Frontline, Advantage, etc.

[Southsideirish]

7. Do you let them outside? Cats don't live very long who go outside - too

many dangers (fights, poisons, etc.) and they will definitely bring fleas into your house. If you must do so (!) please be sure they are "belled" to save birds.

[Whoa_Nelly]

11. Pregnancy and pesticides (flea collars) are NOT a good thing

Should probably remove the collars and toss in garbage NOW

Consider using Frontline or Advantage...and ask the OB/GYN first!

<snip>
You Should Not Expose Yourself to Pesticides
Pesticides (including insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and so on) can have a variety of effects on your unborn baby depending on the type of chemical, the length and intensity of exposure and the age of the fetus. In general it is best to avoid exposure to all pesticides. The problem is that pesticide use is extremely widespread in the U.S. You can be exposed to pesticides in your home (ant and roach bait traps, no-pest strips, houshold pest control products and services, flea collars on dogs and cats...), in your yard (lawn care services, do-it-yourself herbicides and insecticides on the lawn or garden), in your neighborhood (especially in rural areas, but also from suburban neighbors spraying their yards), from various food sources... The most you can do is attempt to avoid these dangers as best you can. See this site, http://www.chem-tox.com/ , this page http://www.babybag.com/pest.htm .

The above is from http://www.bygpub.com/natural/pregnancy.htm which is titled "Things You Should and Should Not Do During Pregnancy".