does scratching always equal fleas?

Question

My cat has been scratching all the time lately so i figured that he had fleas. I bought some Frontline which is supposed to be the best stuff on the market and have applied it twice (about 4 days apart). I cant actually see any fleas on the cat but he's still scratching quite a lot. Any clue why that is?

Answer 1

Some cats get dry skin so it could be that. pop him along to the vets and they can check if its a skin condition or it may even be residual flea bites that the little critters left behind before you frontlined their bums! its the bites that its rather than the fleas themselves so it could well be that.

Answer 2

Frontline is the best stuff on the market for fleas and got rid of my cats right away, and he hasn't had them since.
Maybe your cat was allergic to the frontline stuff, or it could be to do with the fact you applied it twice within 4 days, when i thought (depending on how much you apply) you only need to put it on once.
I'd take your cats to the vets to put your mind at rest as it sounds like an allergy, or dry skin.
If it is fleas still did you also treat your floors, furniture etc as fleas get everywhere. Little buggers

Answer 3

yes frontline is one of the best on the market.. however if an animal has fleas, (i just went threw this with my 6 cats 2 dogs and13 goats and over 50 rabbits) the easiest thing to do to find out if it is fleas is to give the animal a bath i did this and you litteraly can see the fleas in the tub.. they are redish brown/black tiny bugs that jump or hop a long ways. however if you give your animal a bath wrap it up tighly but make sure it can breath and keep it warm until completely dry or it will get sick. secondly if you do have fleas jumping in the tub after giving animal a bath you will need to bomb the house and vaccuum (alot twice a day) because there is one stage i cant remember i believe the larva that will not hatch and there is nothing that will kill them unless they hatch.i purchased a can of flea and tick killer from fleet farm for 10.00 and it did the trick in the house. (this killer is for treating barns so please read the information on the can. i did it while me and family were gone allday and came home and opened all windows and left the house for another half an hour to air it out. lastly four days apart i was directed by my vet to do it every month on the same day. not four days later. i have added two websites that have flea information. if you have further questions please dont hesitate to email me at [e-mail]

Answer 4

Frontline is good (Stronghold is a better version but only available from your vet.)
If you have not seen any fleas the problem most likely is lice or mites.
I recommend seeing your vet.
You could also have one of these super modern cats with an allergy (I am sure that people and animals didn't get so many allergies years ago....)
Other factors could be: strange cats or animals in the neighbourhood causing stress or bringing in bacteria, skin rash or excema/dermatitis, some new cleaning product in the house, small scratches from fighting or previous scratching that are healing and therefore itching even more......
Go to the vet, pay the extortionate fees and get the cat medicated and you peace of mind.
Good Luck.

Answer 5

Scratching can be a symptom of many things aside from fleas!

Your cat could have a skin condition or even food allergies.

I would check in with your vet and see if you can find out what the problem is. Don't over-apply chemicals unless you are sure that is the problem.

If your cat has fleas, you can either see the fleas themselves, or you will see a black residue in places where the fleas were. You will probably even notice flea bites on the humans in the house as well.

Answer 6

Comb your cat and then place the combings on a piece of damp kitchen roll. If what looks like specks of dirt 'bleed' a reddish colour, that's flea droppings and so likely to be fleas. Let the Frontline do it's stuff and keep an eye on it via combing. If no droppings, probably an allergy/skin condition. But the above is the best way I know whether to figure if it's fleas or not...

Answer 7

First do not use anymore frontline!!

If an animal has flea allergies you could also hurt the cat with the frontline. We have had volunteers do this. with just one frontline application. Then we end up with a pet that has to wait to be adopted because its on antibiotics from the frontline aggravation.

Please remember frontline kills the flea when it bites and a pet could scratch for up to two weeks at one bite. Do not use anymore frontline.

Answer 8

I am dealing with the same issue with my chihuahua. A couple of things my vet told me, because she definantly does not have fleas. She could have dry skin, there could be an allergy to either food or the environment, or certian types of intestinal worms can cause itching. I found out my dog has hookworms. We are treating that, and also changing her food. I think it is helping. Just pay attention to whats going on when she scratches, try different things, and if all else fails, take her to the vet.

Answer 9

My daughter's cat had very bad eczema due to stress.It would flare up each time she had to go away on business and the cat was left to be cared for by neighbours.A few days after her return the scabs would heal and fall off, and the cat was as right as rain.
She must have thought she was being abandoned, and once her normal routine was re-established and she got petted, she stopped scratching.

Answer 10

DONT APPLY ANY MORE FRONTLINE YOU WILL OVERDOSE YOUR CAT AND COULD KILL HIM!!!!!!
did you ttreat your house with a spray, if not you NEED to do this as well,
the fleas that are alive will die once they bite the cat as u have applied frontline so u dont need to worry about them