On the subject of Sand Fleas and Cats.

Ok, about a month or so, my poor kitty had to be rushed to the veterinarian. He was really very sick.. even though he didn't show it a whole lot. he had a weebilly walk, his jump had apparently headed for the cat Olympics without him. and he had totally gone off his food. Turned out he was seriously anemic to what the vet called "horrible sand fleas'. (still gives me the shivers). Those little buggers were literally sucking all the life blood out of him! so the vet gave him vitamins, a collar and a pill. Of the pill it was said you could see them vacating the kitty all in a flood. I saw nothing leaving at all. neither did anyone else. but it did seem to make the meow look a bit more comfy after a bit. He no longer had the flea party going on across his bod.

Now, we knew about the usual fleas, the place we chose to live in, had been/is infested with them since move-in. Sometimes they got really bad and other times they gave it a rest. other then the ongoing combat though they were kept in some check. These fleas, we grew to learn, were of a 'soldier' variety. some of them, when they bit you, seemingly took a chunk out and sent you squealing in pain and slapping the suddenly pained area to get it to quit. They were also very resistant... to just about anything we threw at them. Flea bombs, sprays, diatomaceous earth, and household nonsense.. it didn't seem to matter. but I knew next to nothing of sand fleas. What are they? I took to the net to find out and... I'm still not sure. There seems to be a great deal of confusion as to just what these things are and what it is they do or don't do.

The fleas in my place are both large nearly black critters about the size of a small mosquito, with compact bodies and a jump that could have them on your shins and knees in no time at all. Others are smaller and lighter colored with the same sort of jump. they either bite you one here, one there... like the usual flea sort, orr when they get really bad, they cluster. they are quick lil buggers too and they disperse from before your very eyesight like the flow and speed of the scarab beetles in the mummy movies. A flea comb and a bit of soapy water will catch some of them, but they will replace what you took away very quickly. and I was getting close to considering shaving the poor kittycat just to maybe even the playing field a bit and have a better chance of getting them off of him. (I'm still considering it)

So the net insists that these sand fleas live at the beach and have an issue with salt. -.- comeon now, does this make sense to you, really? They habitually live on an ocean's sandy beachside, which is naturally salty, and they cant handle salt? the net also seems to think they are not a flea but a good-sized crab... that they tunnel under the skin and leave marks at their location. that they arn't to be confused with sand hoppers and flies. and that they don't live in people's houses. ok, so if all that is true, what are the tiny little buggers in my carpet and on my cat?!

I can tell you they are not flies, crabs, or chiggers. Nor are they your 'usual' fleas. they are far more resistant... and persistent. I know that soapy water will clear off some of them for a time. I know that baking soda seems to decrease at least, their activity for a time as well. I know fleas can be caught between your fingers... but I have difficulty trying catch one of these tiny speed demons and when I do, they look just like a little flea... an adolescent flea? they will bite and flee more often then do the bigger ones as well.

So what works on these teensy tiny hopping vampires? good question. I'll have to get back to you on this one.
Any good ideas? ... please?