Should I shave my cat??

Question

my cat has fleas ive givin her baths and the flea medicine given to me by a vet still nothing will shaving my cat help with getting rid of the fleas?

the stuff the vet gave me was the kind that you put on the nape of the neck...

now the bomb things that you set off we havent tried because im am pregnate and that even tough you leave the house that it still may effect me

i am not peeing on my cat that mean!

Answer 1

Ok, the problem with flees is they have such a long life cycle, and only a short amount of time in that cycle is actually spent on the cat.

1) I've found "Frontline" works very well for CONTROLLING fleas. Since my cats are both indoor and outdoor, there is no way to eliminate all fleas from their environment.

2) Daily vacuuming of all carpeted surfaces also helps to control the flees. Put a "flea collar" that kills the fleas into the vacuum bag, and that will help to eradicate the fleas as well.

3) If the house is "infested," that is the fleas have laid eggs in your furniture and carpeting, you'll just have to continue treatment for up to 90 days.

4) We've also used "FleaTrol," a white, powdery substance that is substantially boric acid to treat the carpets in our home. This kills the fleas while they are in the pupae stage, which they spend in the carpet before they develop into full blown "fleas." It's essentially harmless to humans and animals, as it sits down in the carpet fibers. FleaTrol is not vacuumed up very well, so the daily vacuuming doesn't tend to eliminate it from the flea's environment.

4) Flea-combing the cat regularly, and disposing of all the fleas you catch in a plastic baggie can also help get rid of them, but you'll never keep up with it if that's ALL you do (even if you pay the kids a penny a flea for all they find!)

Just treating the cat will cause the fleas to "jump ship" and then they'll start to feed on the alternate food source in the house - YOU.

Answer 2

Frankly, the "bomb thing" works really well. And it does not affect pregnant women as much as a flea bite can affect a cat or a human for that matter. Did you know that fleas can lay eggs under your skin.

Shaving the cat will be hard and uncomfortable for the kitty. Besides that does not take care of the fleas that could be in the house.

If you're so concerned ..go away for the weekend after letting the Bomb thing off. Take your cat with you, and bathe him/her with an anti-flea shampoo.

Answer 3

Check your local hardware store and see if they have something (believe it is called diamatious earth?) that is non toxic to both humans and animals. Would not recommend shaving the cat, unless it is a long hair breed, and then a short cut would be better to get the flea medicine down to their skin. Can also get capstar from the vet which is a 24 hour flea killer, but still need to treat the house and the pet after the 24 hour period. Good Luck and Congratulations!

Answer 4

First of all do _not_ shave your cat - the trauma could kill the poor thing.

If you have used the vet's treatment correctly, it is more likely that your house is the problem in that it is harbouring fleas and their eggs - usually along the edges of carpets.

One course of action is to thoroughly vacuum the rooms where your cat goes and then use proprietary fumigator to kill the fleas. Once the infestation is clear, make sure you use an effective treatment such as Frontline on your cat on a regular basis. Also, frequently comb its fur (particularly around the neck area) with a fine tooth comb to check if any fleas are present. If they are, then you must repeat the house treatment - maybe even calling in a professional to do the job properly.

You might also try to find out why your cat got infected (and probably brought the fles into the house) in the first place.

But don't shave your pet... please. Good luck!

Answer 5

Is your cat a long hair? I have 2 long haired cats who regularly get shaved. Your vet can give you a light sedative for the cat, which can be given before you shave him. (My cats are actually shaved at the vets office so they do it there, for me) Now my cats don't need the sedative, they love not having all that hair,and aren't bothered by being shaved anymore.

But like the others have said, the fleas are likely around your house and the cat keeps getting re-infested.

Answer 6

get some front line or advantage once a month flea treatments
you get a 3 month supply
dont shave her hair your using the wrong or cheap stuff!
what did the vet give you was it the treatment that comes in a tube and you put it from neck to tail????
thats the stuff thats works!

Answer 7

Never shave a cat!!

Ask your vet about a lime dip and a stronger prescription flea killer.
You also have to treat your house with flea spray. Fleas get into anything and everything including your rug so it may not be because the cat still has fleas but because it is continuing to get fleas.

Answer 8

No, you should not. Ask the vet again and I am sure he or she has some OTHER options. If you have fleas in the carpeting of your home (or the furniture) - not uncommon for pet owners - the cat will continue to pick them up.

Answer 9

the problem may not be the cat...
what i mean is the fleas may still be in the house, you wash them off (or kill them) the cat then the cat gets fleas again because you haven't gotten them out of your house.
fleas are very difficult to get out of your house once you have them. consult a professional.

Answer 10

umm let me think about that...no! has it been going outside?
if so keep it inside.
have you been rubbing the medicine/shampoo in really good?
if you have other cats that have fleas do the same to them.
and last of all try spraying flea poison all over your house because they will just keep going on your cat.