Not run of the mill flea solution please

[Milligelic]

A couple of years ago we rescued a number of kittens and although our intention was just to foster until new homes could be found, they have stayed on and are now family. They are enclosure-bound.

Because of their abusive kittenhood, some of them are very skittish, not very affectionate and don't like petting. This has only caused a huge problem once before; when they needed to be caught to be spayed. Until now... our outside dogs picked up fleas from somewhere in the neighbourhood and on the rare occasion they came inside, transferred these to the cats.

Now we have a huge problem - how do we get rid of the fleas on animals we can barely pet, let alone pin to apply flea-rid? We have purchased a number of items from the vet; back of the neck drops, pump spray and have ended up very badly scratched, with most of the product on the floor.

They also need worming. We had birds when I was a child and I remember there was a solution you could put in the water. Is such a thing available for cats? Is there any such or like treatment for fleas?