Bad enough that you thought it was okay to give me a kitten that was crawling with dog fleas without telling me. But, lying about it afterwards and saying you were going to give me some product to deal with them and then not following through on your promise is unforgivable. One of the most stressful things I’ve ever been through in my life, totally unnecessary and not fair to the animal either. —LG
This article appears in Feb 17-23, 2011.
your cat getting fleas is near the top of the most stressful things in your life time?
I was thinking the same thing neville.
Also if I had a kitten with fleas I wouldn’t wait for someone to give me product…I’d drive my ass to the vet’s and get wash and all that good stuff right away!
First – fleas are fleas. Not dog fleas. Not cat fleas. Fleas. Most importantly though, most de-fleaing products are for adult animals which can poison kittens and could kill them or severely mess them up.
And don’t forget people- pets are only for the rich now. Right Vets? Right Vets who charge $1000 dollars to hydrate a sick cat? Right Vets who charge $700 to clean your pets teeth?
Neville- believe me…. having any pet, let alone a cat, become stricken with any kind of parasite involves a long and frustrating process of having to get rid of them. It drives said animal crazy and, in turn, the owner. And once they enter the home on one animal……. let just hope OP doesn’t have other pets or the frustration becomes exponential.
Personally I’d rather sit through an outage a day for a whole year at work than deal with a cat who brought fleas into my home. It’s even worse for people that don’t know what they are doing……
Step one: weigh your kitten
Step two: go to the vet and ask for revolution
Step three: tell them how much your kitten weighs
Step four: put revolution on kitten
There, you’re done.
Fleas suck. Keep you cat inside.
I’d say the death of a family member ranks higher on the list then some fleas.
This is absolutely true….. but not everyone has experienced such tragedies. My ex-wife only learned what it was like to lose someone close to her only 3 years ago- in her mid-thirties. And said person wasn’t even related by blood.
The death of my cat was harder than the death of my paternal grandfather, truth be told.
All depends.
Anyway, I remember when I was little one of our cat got fleas. My mom realized it one day when she got in the car and saw a flea jump off her leg. This was before all that advantage/revolution stuff for fleas and the only thing we could do is give the little fucker a flea bath (that was fun!) and a flea collar. And we had the house fumigated. That took care of the fleas in the house and the bath got rid of the fleas, but it’s traumatizing having a bug infestation. I still remember it and it still makes my skin crawl.
hollah’s right: keep your kitties indoors. There’s absolutely NO reason for ANY cat to be let outdoors. I wouldn’t even thinking of letting mine out. Someone would steal them or they’d get beaten up 🙁
especially in the city ^^
i know some pretty well accomplished cats out in the country.
It’s probably best to get those fleas under control asap because once they infest your home you are looking at anywhere from $300 to $1200 for extermination fees. Friends who rent their home were on the high end of that bill between tenants after the cat owners moved out.
Amen Snubiz! Veterinarian’s, like dentists need to actually learn the definition of the hippocratic oath. Depriving animals or people health services because of lack of money does serious harm. More like the hypocritic oath, isn’ t it?
Snubiz. You go to the wrong vet. Porcupine quill surgery, an infection surgery, teeth cleaning, pain killers and antibiotics for 10 days; less than $1,000 in Tantallon.
Could be worse if you had bedbugs to go with those fleas. Try calling up that coffeeshop camp for the winter games….they have plenty to spare.
I have a sad question. When do you know it`s time to put a cat down – I`m really not being mean or an asshole. I`m a dog person and I knew when it was time with my dog after 17 years and he couldn`t move anymore. But I have a cat that I think is about 13+ years old. It`s not using the litter box all the time now…and it cries at the bottom of the stairs for awhile…like it`s too painful to climb them….the box is always clean. And he can`t clean himself…like he just keeps getting matted hair all over his back…he`s pretty chubby so I`m sure it`s hard to reach back there. I just don`t know what to do.
Aww RC that’s so sad 🙁 there might be something you can give him for pain – half a baby asprin or something. I know people who have had cats who lived like that for quite awhile, but I don’t know if it’s really humane to let that go on.
By not using the litterbox do you mean he’s going on the floor or he’s not going at all?
In either case it’s a pretty good indication that he needs to at least be checked out by a vet…and if he’s not peeing he likely has kidney issues and should be put down.
I’m sorry to hear about your kitty 🙁
Sounds like arthritis, RC. Very treatable. -or- Kidney problems, not so treatable 🙁
Ours was 15 when he started to rapidly decline. We maybe could have spent a lot of money for 1 or 2 more years but it was pretty clear that the physical quality of his life was rapidly deteriorating. It’s the owner’s call but things like blindness, incontinence, lameness and discomfort are pretty good indicators. One of the hardest decisions you will ever have to make; and one of the hardest things to ever go through. It’s the last act of kindness for a beloved companion.
Rooooo.>: (
Hugo – That is my vet! I’m talking about every other vet! Real Chick, there’s no single answer but my general rule is when they stop eating. I lost one just yesterday: (
RC, if he’s still going close to the litter box he might find it painful to jump in, but wants to. Hopefully it’s something that some mild painkillers could help him with.
My mama’s cat’s hair gets gross where she can’t reach it, mom brushes her once a day and sometimes uses a damp facecloth just to wash those areas for her to keep it from matting. She’s still fairly mobile, just stiff and fat, so it works for her.
He’s going to bathroom no problem…just sometimes goes on the floor next to it. And he’s peeing…and he just cries at the bottom of the stairs…so maybe I’ll try the aspirin thing…cause he moves pretty good. Also he eats all the time! no problems there. Can I shave a cat? He’s indoor cat? I just know I can’t brush through all that matted hair. I asked the vet and they said they would have to sedate him first. But he’s really a tame cat….I could sit on him and he wouldn’t really do much.
He’s really afraid to go in the car – it’s the only place he freaks out…..pees poops…you name it…so I cannot take him in the car until his final ride to the vet …that’s why I want to shave him…I’m not being cheep here.
The crying could just be a bit of dementia which could also explain missing the litter from time to time. I wouldn’t give a cat aspirin without asking a vet! I’m pretty sure that’s a no no! Also be extremely careful removing the mats! Their skin is paper thin when they’re old. Tiny nail scissors or something like that would be better. And only work on it for a little while at a time.
Thanks Snubiz. I’ll try a little bit tonight. I’m allergic to him so I can’t really pet him at all…but I’m sure he’ll love the attention if I pet him and carefully clip away (while wearing gloves). I was afraid the sound of the clippers would freak him out.
Your welcome and good luck!
SNUBIZ…
STOP taking pictures of my kitty!
or at the very least stop posting them without my consent.
Her name is Clara. Everyone should have a gray kitty! And an orange one. And…
I had an arthritic lab, we treated him with half a low dose aspirin and glucosamine supplements and it made him more mobile and happier. If your vet says it’s alright, they’ll be able to help with dosage.
Cats and dogs metabolize things differently. I’m pretty sure aspirin for cats can be toxic.
Snubiz, you’re right about aspirin in cats, but there are other drugs available. Glucosamine/chondroidin are fine for either cats or dogs.
Absolutely!
it’s a tough road mamabear, but it doesn’t sound very good…i’m sure you’ll make the right decision http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.…
you people are sick !
I can’t even begin to imagine spending a dollar on a cat.
Some of you say vets cost hundreds even thousands of dollars ! ! ! !
You’re obviously all deluded & must have been dropped on your heads as babies !
Well, More, you asked for it.
http://images.intomobile.com/wp-content/up…
You just don’t get it More and I don’t expect you to, just like how I will never understand why you prefer the country to the city. Good luck with your mau RC :(! It does sound like it might be arthritis or something. My little guy for the longest time would only sometimes use his litter box. He would use the floor next to it. I tried a few different things like moving the box, getting a whole new, bigger box and have finally found the right thing just perfect for the King. I had to get a massive, hooded litter box meant for multiple cats. But with my guy, it was just a behavioral thing. It just may be that your cat is in pain or something and finds it difficult to use his current box and needs a different one or something.
sorry o.p., but dog and cat fleas are just a tad different. though they might look the same, they are not. cat fleas tend to be more aggressive and bite more.
though usually only the female does this, the male will slao, when hungry enough. check your vet, but they will tell you the best stuff to use is advantage. it is in a little plastic tube, that you queeze on the back, between the shoulders or you dog or cat. it usually lasts for about 3 months, after being absorbed into their skin.
stay away from the powdery shit like hartz mountain crap, all that does, is cause the pet to scratch itself to pieces. been there, tried it. you can also pick the same type of stuff up at sobeys, 3 for 10 bucks. works just as well. i use for my guys all the time.
and chicky, take a look at puss’s eyes. see if they have a faded spot in the center. sometimes a pet will get white spots there. and it can really fuck up their balance and daily routine.
these things are not uncommon in animals over the age of 3 or so.
when they get cataracts, they lose all real sense, miss box, meow, and even get testy, because they really can’t see you plainly. the one poodle i had years ago,ebony, a little black guy, was only 2 years old, when he first got them, his mate ivory used to lead him around, and i devised a harness, for them, that left ebony fairly mobile with his mate in the daytinme.
i took it off at night of course. but he went completely blind, by the time he was 4, and vet told me, it would cost about 5 grand, to remove cataracts, at that time, probly a lot more now.
i had to have him put to sleep, and it was the toughest thing i ever did. and that’s just one more reason why,LIFE SUCKS.
Thanks for all the great advice.