Evening star., 1946-07-26
This and That
BIZ Charles E. TrdceUeH.
"BETHFSDA M,

BETHESDA, Md.
Dear Sir:
Can you tell me whether it is advis
able to use the DOT sprays in home
where there are house cats?
And do you think this material will
harm birds?
Il have heard so much about this, and
all the insect sprays and powders I can
find are filled with it, but do not like
TO use them without knowing the an
swers to these questions.
Sincerely, M. G."
No spray or powder using DDT should
be used on or around house cat.
Several reports Of death of favorite
pets have come to this column.
In our own experience We have noticed
Ill effects from its use.
While there can be no question that
more common sense is being used now
in making up this insect killer in popu-
lar sprays, etc, than during the days
when it first came on the market, the
nature lover will go very slowly in
using it.
Reports that sprays using oils and
various solvents have not caused injury
to birds and other wild life must be
taken with a grain of salt, because the
users have been much more interested
in killing insects than in saving birds
and animals.
Nor have they taken into account the
ultimate effect when birds, in particu-
lar. eat the killed insects.
The long time effect is what counts,
1t is impossible to look over a field,
shortly after spraying, and say that no
birds are hurt Just because no dead ones
are seen at that time.
We believe that DDT is always in
furious to house cats. These animals
are great deal more sensitive than
dogs.
They even cannot stand very much
more than per cent of rotenone.
Even this percentage sometimes will
make them i'll, if care Is not used in ap-
plying the powder.
Owners of cats should take every pre-
caution in using the flea powders avail
able Read the labels, and even when
a suitable one is found, use it cautiously
at first, merely placing 'one spot" of
it close to the skin between the shoul-
ders.
Then watch the animal, and for at
least half an hour prevent it from trying
to lick, or wash it's paws back over the
selected spot.
If this is tolerated, little more of the
powder may be used next time, carrying
it back along the spine to the root of
the tail. When this is done, however,
watch must be kept after use for at
least an hour, and every attempt of the
animal to lick himself should be re-
pulsed.
After the hour is up, comb the animal
with a fine tooth comb, preferably of
aluminium. Before the war, the best of
these came from England. They enable
the fieas to be seen, SO that they may be
nipped between thumb and forefnger
and placed in jar of hot water.
After the combing it is a good thing
to use the vacuum cleaner tube on the
fur, If the creature will stand for this
indignity.
Use of insect sprays on the carpets,
rugs and bare floors is good thing, but
none containing DDT should be used in
a home where cats are honored friends.
The vacuum sweeper is a great flea
control. Perhaps 1t is not always real
lied that flea eggs fall down into the
smallest cracks, in even the best hard
wood floors, and that nothing but sue
ton will get them out.
Each mother flea supplies the world
with thousands of eggs. These falling
into the floor cracks. will hatch out in
time Some of the eggs are dormant,
that is, they are not intended to hatch
until next year. They lie all through
the summer and winter, and even
spring, waiting for the hot days of next
July, not the present one
1t is in this way that Immediately
clean homes have epidemics of fieas,
despite heroic labors put on dog and cat.
Use the vacuum cleaner more, day
after day, and rely less on powders and
sprays, If you want to have f1ea-free
house, and also less infested and happier
pets.