My cat has been scratching non-stop lately. He never used to go to my room but now, the only thing he does is just lay there, on my bed, all day or sits up to scratch/clean himself. He is more irratable than normal and has a place on his back that should have fur but is just bloody pores. I'm positive it's fleas, I just need to know what is the best treatment for him and what I can do for him at this moment to make him feel better. Should I use Frontline? Advantage? or is there something else out there? I care about my cat a lot! Please give me some solidly good advice and I'll choose yours as the best advice, as soon as I find you.
2006-10-21 09:47:27 · 16 answers · asked by beachbumluver79 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
My cat is the only animal we have and is an INDOOR cat. So he didn't get fleas from taking a trip around town. Indeed, I love him, he's not just a cat to me. And, yes, my heading rhymes, I didn't mean to do that. OH, and choosing the best is getting pretty tough. Thank you all for the effort, I deeply appreciate it.
2006-10-21 11:06:12 · update #1
AND! we already did take him to the vet. They gave him a shot, and us pills to feed him, a flea collar, and hertz flea powder. He gets very angry when we give him the pills, wears the collar all the time, and we didn't put any powder on him. And since Hartz sounds like a hazard, We Won't start.
2006-10-21 11:14:14 · update #2
Advantage is great. Don't use the cheap over-the-counter stuff like Hartz... I'm serious, my friend gave that to her cat and it almost died. It is very important to get the fleas taken care of, because they contain parasite eggs. Keep an eye out for tapeworms (the little ones that come out of his butt) after the fleas are gone. Your poor baby is miserable, please help him. Good luck!
2006-10-21 09:52:07 · answer #1 · answered by Heidi 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My 14-year-old Persian is terribly allergic to fleas. Although her name is Samantha, I called her "bald ***". Use Advantage or Frontline. Both work. Your house is now the cause of infestation. Advantage and Frontline do not immediately kill the fleas like an insect spray, but they interrupt the life cycle of a flea. Be patient. Here is what I did to stop the cycle. I vacuumed the carpets (then threw the bag in the trash), sprayed the woodwork with insect spray, gave Sam a flea bath, and after she dried I applied Advantage. Within 8 weeks there was a tremendous difference in her coat and disposition. And I no longer had a flea problem in my house. Apply the medication as indicated. Once a month should do it - but you have to be vigilant.
2006-10-21 10:31:00 · answer #2 · answered by Linda R 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Frontline and Advantage are both excellent products. I personally use Advantage. These products both kill existing fleas and prevent future infestastations. I recommend you give your cat a flea bath using a shampoo like Mycodex (you can get it at the vets or Petco). Once he is bathed and dry, apply either Frontline or Advantage. Fleas can also carry tapeworms. Take a fecal sample from your cat down to your vet. They can check it for internal parasites and give you any medication needed.
2006-10-21 09:57:52 · answer #3 · answered by Carole 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hartz - stay away from it, my cat had a toxic reaction to the stuff. Flea collars are ineffective.
Call you vet for proper advice. The entire environment will be contaminated with fleas - they're very hardy.
This is a good site that I got from someone else here:
http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/flea-control.html
2006-10-21 13:45:36 · answer #4 · answered by Lake Lover 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't suggest frontline. I used it on myne and it did not work at all! It only kills ADULT fleas and sometimes the fleas get immune to it. I have herd great things about advantage!
There are some other soultions becides things like that. I just discoverd flea spray that you spray on the animal. I rub it in my hands and then put it all over my cat and wrap her up in a towel so the fleas can't get off. It has been working good so far! It has killed a lot of them! Flea collers are great too!
If your cat will stand a bath (I know myne won't ) flea baths work well also.
Good Luck and I hope I helped some!
~Froggie
2006-10-21 10:11:31 · answer #5 · answered by Froggie 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Take him to the vet, first, to make sure it's just fleas. Sometimes they get an allergic reaction to flea bites (flea-bite dermatitis) in which they actually scratch and chew off their fur, it itches so bad. That usually takes a shot to clear up. If it is just fleas, Revolution is the best, as it protects from more than just fleas - did you know cats can get heartworm too? Like dogs do...only they're usually smaller, so it gets them faster. Revolution helps protect against that, and other parasites, ear mites, ticks, whatever. It's not much more expensive - if any - than the other two you named, but it does soooo much more.
2006-10-21 09:53:26 · answer #6 · answered by Baby'sMom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Advantage or Frontline will work. See your vet to get the proper dosage. My cat brought fleas into the house as a kitten and we used advantage on him and the dogs. All the scratching was gone in 24 hours. Works great. If you have both cats and dogs, do NOT use advantix on your dogs. It can kill your cat just by being exposed to it on the dog. (vet told me this)
2006-10-21 10:54:17 · answer #7 · answered by madevali 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest a product called BasicH2 and Basic G it is safe and Natural Put 1/2Tsp of BasicH2 and 2-3 drops of Basic g into a gallon of water. Then put the mixture into a squeeze bottle..go around the neck soak that area first, then the back, and the rest of body.Use in shower area or with a hand shower .Rinse well. If any open sores swab area with cloth or Q-tip.Also I would suggest a vitamin supplement Called Vita-Lea. You must order this product on line go to shaklee.ca
2006-10-22 10:54:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
what i would do is bathe him first and sometimes this is all that a cat needs to get rid of fleas because the fleas will drown in the bath...but what worries me is the sore he has on his back try some neosporin for that area and see if it helps it may need applied twice a day because he will lick some of it off...and if the bath doesnt get rid of the fleas go to the vet and ask for some advantage its not expensive and it works and its not poision whatever you do dont buy or use any hartz products they are pure poision...one of my cats almost died from using hartz products
2006-10-21 10:13:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your 1st answer is the best. Advantage and a vet check for anything else. Fleas will give her worms if when she licks she gets any of the eggs
in her.
2006-10-28 12:08:57 · answer #10 · answered by pj 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋