We found a cat outside our house?

Question

that was out there for 4 days, I took him to the vet, he was given shots, checked for lukemeia, free of ear mites,and given a flea bath. The vet said he was now fine to bring indoors. So we decided to make him part of our family. Problem....later I saw a flea on him......we also have a puppy and kitten. Ok, so I used the flea medicine called frontline that I got from the vet. Now today, I saw another flea on him. Got all the animals and kids out of the house, scrubed the house and set off flea bombs. I dont know what else to do !!! This is grossing me out. The vet said not to use anymore flea medicine cause he can od on it, I hate to get rid of the poor cat, but I cannot handle fleas. Also, the cat has not ate in three days, I have tried dry and wet food. Any help anyone can offer would be great !! Why is he not eating? What do I do about the fleas? He does drink water, and uses the litter box, no poop yet tho.

Answer 1

Are you sure the fleas aren't dead that are on him? Could it be possible that the medicine takes a week or two to kick in? And about the eating thing, he/she might just be scared or stressed out. I would keep the cat in a nice size kennel for a few more days in a really quite area of the house where there isn't a lot of traffic, just let him get to use to his new surroundings. Put a litter box near him as well and just set out some wet food and water. If he doesn't start eating after that I would speak with your vet again about it.

Answer 2

The cat has been in a strange area, and although the frontline may have killed any fleas actually living on the cat, but if the cat was carrying flea EGGS, those would still be active. There is a product called Capstar which you apply as soon as u see a flea, and can be used safely in conjunction with the frontline, and that is according to my vets, here in South Africa.
The non-eating is a problem if you are sure the cat is not eating any of the kitten or puppy food when you're not looking. Try different brands of food, Cats are notoriously fussy animals, even if they have been strays. Hopefully this is just a period of adjustment. Try feeding him separate from the other animals, where he feels private perhaps. Obviously if this continues then he must be taken to the vet. If the cat has been suddenly confined, he might not poop.
Try taking the cats temperature, (stick the thermometer up its bum - yes, gross i know....) the temperature should be 101.5F or 38.6C.

Anyways, hope this helps! Good luck!

Answer 3

I, too, am concerned about the not eating and you must do something about this right now. I think you will need to have a vet look at the cat, tomorrow if possible.

Today, you can get a jar of baby food - meat at the supermarket. Be sure you get a jar that contains NO onion. Garlic isn't great either and it won't be as bad as the onion would be. Cats usually take to this food even when ill. Feed him from your finger and if you can mix in a little purified water with it that would be very beneficial.

Fleas will be a long-term issue for you. Not because of the cat. Your have other animals and your dog will pick up fleas when you start taking it for walks. Don't freak out about it -- you will get control. It would be very dangerous for you to start using products not prescribed by the vet to treat the problem. Over the counter "medications" are outdated products that vets no longer use because they can be harmful to animals or are not effective.

I don't know about Frontline as I don't have a problem with fleas on my cats. I had used Advantage on my cats when I lived in a place that backed up on the woods and had deer, raccoons, etc.

Answer 4

Oh dear, that's bad!

One thing that might help is treating the yard for fleas: After what you've done to the house, I doubt there are any live fleas in there from the first two batches. If you can't, get an exterminator to help.

Did the vet give the kitten a check-up? He sounds like he might have some kind of blockage. Meanwhile, try offering the kitten tuna water: That's what my kitties would drink for a treat- or when they couldn't eat anything else. It has to be water: My cats would turn their noses up at oil.

Good luck!

Answer 5

It may be that he ate something bad outside that has affected him. It could be an intestinal blockage. I'm much more concerned about that than the fleas. Cats can get liver disease after only 3 days without food.Take him to A DIFFERENT vet! Your vet doesn't sound like the greatest to me.
Is it possible that the fleas are coming from your other pets and not from his own original infestation? Have you had your puppy and kitten treated for fleas lately? Dogs are usually much more prone to fleas than cats, because they don't groom themselves in the same way, and they have to go outside to do their business. The only time I've ever had trouble with fleas was after we babysat for the neighbors dog...I like dogs but they usually do have fleas.

Answer 6

As for the fleas, buy a flea comb(probally about a buck or two) get a bowl of alcohol. Comb him and pick the remaining fleas off of the comb (shouldn't be that many if you already treated him) or put the comb in the alcohol. It will kill them. As far the eating, he might be a little stressed you know, new environment and all. For now keep trying to give him wet food. Put some on you finger and see if he'll eat that. If now go to Pet Smart or any pet store and buy some vitamins. It comes in a tube like toothpaste. put the recommended amount on ur finger and put it on his paw or his nose if he won't lick it off your finger. That will keep him hydrated until he starts eating. Make sure he's drinking water though. If none of that works, bring him to the vet...ANOTHER ONE! Go to the SPCA if you have one, they are very inexpensive. Hope that helped you some.

Answer 7

because he is not used to its surrondings it has probaly been set off and left alone so it has probaly not ate so give it time to get use to its new home and the new food. The Fleas are common for cats that have been left alone it has probaly been in the woods or on the side of the road so dont worry those are just contimperary and the poop if the cat doesnt eat and have a movement down there then the cat want poop but just try to give him diff types of foods and try to get it what it is used to try everything until u got a match. hope this helps.

Answer 8

The not eating and not pooping are problematic. Fleas can sap an animal's energy to the point of illness (it happened to a cat of ours years ago...had to take it to the vet for intravenous nutrition and to re-energize the blood). If you see little red specks around, like on the counter, floor, etc. it means the cat is losing blood due to the fleas. Take it to another vet. Don't give up on it if you truly want to keep the cat. And of course, don't abandon it. It's been through that once already!!

Answer 9

The spot flea treatment begins to work in 24 hours I would continue to comb the cat you may want to treat your yard and it may not be the fault of this poor cat the felas are probably in your yard. There may have been fleas brought in by your other animals you just need to relax and give everything you have done time to work.

Answer 10

Only the vet can really help you. But I would suggest getting a second opinion since this guy doesn't seem to be helping you out. Don't get rid of the kitty, you already went through so much trouble.