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Treating Cat With Fleas
Dear Simba,
My 13 month old cat is 7 week pregnant, and has fleas. Any recommendations for safe flea control? Last time, I used a cheaper over the counter treatment, but its directions said that it is not to be used on pregnant cats. Cheers! Jane Dear Jane,
I believe that the best flea treatment for pregnant and nursing momma cats involves a flea comb, daily vacuuming and the frequent washing of bedding at a high temperatures. I am wary of applying chemicals or even 'natural' shampoos to treat fleas on young kittens. Using the flea comb might take a little longer, but your cat will love the extra attention of being combed. Be sure to keep her indoors so as to prevent re-infestation. Below is a picture of an affected cat with fleas. Note the little spots which are actually flea fecal matter (poo). If you see these on your cat, the fleas are still there. Simba
Help Simba, I just moved to flea-ridden California from the flea-free state of Colorado and my cat is having a terrible time with these fleas. I was slow to catch on and I cannot seem to get rid of the things. I did get Advantage and put it on him…however, do you know of a safe way to get the fleas out of the carpet? I am vacuuming like crazy, but it does not seem to be doing any good. I read about these chemical free light traps, such as the traps by Fleacor and HappyJack, do those work well? Sofia Dear Sofia, What a mess! As you may know, fleas are little wingless, bloodsucking insects. They are a common source of frustration for people and their cats. I believe that your best bet to kill those pesky fleas is to use a fogger. My reasoning is their high reproduction rate. For every adult flea found on the pet, there are 100-200 immature fleas in the environment. These will only grow and prosper if not killed and killed quickly. To give you an example, once grown, an adult flea can live on your cat for several weeks, taking a little bit of blood every one or two days. This means that a massive flea infestation can cause a small kitten to become anemic. Some products that work well are the Zodiac FleaTrol Fogger or Zodiac FleaTrol Carpet & Upholstery Pump Spray . Of course you can use these only if you and kitty are out of the area being fumigated. The spray time is perfect for a vet visit or a walk around the neighborhood. Just be sure to use the Cat-safe versions of a Flea & Tick Shampoo, 12oz and Flea and Tick Control for Cats & Kittens . Also, be sure to have kitty checked for tapeworm since fleas are a common host. Best of luck. Keep me posted. Simba Dear Simba, Our 7-week old kitten has fleas. Can I use a powder? When will I be able to use something like FrontlineThanks for helping, - Flea Bitten Dear Flea Bitten, I did some searching and I found several products that are advertised to rid young kittens of fleas. The following products claim to kill 95-99% of-* all fleas within 12 hours:
Dear Simba, I had a 4-month old kitten She had been outside all day. I then let her in my kitchen. When I sprayed it with Frontline she died very suddenly. What could the kitten have possibly died from? M.Y. Dear M.Y., How terrible this happened. My heart goes out to you. One of the more important things to know when using products like Frontline for Cats & Kittens is to ensure that you are apply only the recomended dose and that you use the appropriate type of product. Frontline comes in several versions, some made just for Dogs (Small,, Medium, Large and X-large) as well as others made for just Cats and kittens. My reading on the topic shows that Frontline for Cats & Kittens is advertised as being safe for kittens 12+ weeks of age. Many folks have had positive experiences with it. At the same time, regardless of the goodness of the product any medicine can be harmful to some creatures depending on their health, age or in the manner and frequency in which the product is applied. For example, Frontline should not be reapplied within 30 days of a cat's initial treatment. It is possible that your little one may have consumed something outside she should not have or might just have gotten the wrong type of Frontline. I wish you well. Keep me posted. Simba Dear Simba,
I have a friend with two cats and a small child. I recently noticed the little boy has a rash. The doctors cannot seem to figure out what it is. Could it be a flea bite? I know the kitties have not yet been treated for fleas? Adam Dear Adam, There are a couple of possibilities. If the kitties are outdoor/indoor cats it is possible that they may have brought in particles to which people are allergic. One suspect is ringworm, a fungal disease that can be transferred from cats to people. It is the most common skin disease in humans transmitted by cats (many cats are carriers of this condition and show no outward signs). As you mentioned, flea bites are another possibility. While many cat flea bites leave no marks on people, they can produce a small, red spot that is surrounded by a reddened halo on folks with sensitive skin (like children). It might be worthwhile to consult a dermatologist. He/she can let you know if it is a kitty thing or not. Should it be ringworm, your vet can treat kitty and help your friends avoid re-infection. And should it be a flea bite, there are plenty of products (see right hand bar) to help your friend's kid and the kitties. Keep me posted. Simba PS Indoor/Outdoor cats have been known to transmit poison ivy to people. The likelihood of this is dependent on time of year and geographic location. Dear Simba,
I bought some Flea Dip for Taz, my 5 month old kitten. l did not read the directions and used entirely too much. My wife and me had to rush Taz to an emergency hospital. They gave him a bath and a shot of ambathol (or something like that). They said he'd be fine, however he has changed dramatically. Today he has stayed under our bed and every effort of trying to love him has failed, he constantly has hissed, clawed, and deeply meowed at us every time we approach him. He has eaten and drank little. What has happened to our beloved kitten? - Wanting our kitten to love us again Dear Wanting, Poor little guy! The dips, the car ride, the hospital, the people poking at him, the shots, the noises have all given the little guy a scare. Give Taz time by himself. Be patient (don’t rush him) he should come around. Make sure the room is quiet and warm. Leave food and water near the bed (now might be a good time to feed him his favorite food…Tuna?)If Taz does not eat consider taking him to the vet, kittens cannot skip meals! Simba Cat with Lice
Hi Simba, We recently took in a very young kitten. Our vet told us she had lice and gave me a spray ("Adams") which we used to spray on her (except eyes and genital area). Our vet told us that cat lice are not spread to humans or dogs, only to other cats. Our kitten has the run of the house, and likes to sit on my lap in the evenings. I have started itching while sitting on the couch, and am wondering if the advice the vet gave me was true. Can cat lice be spread to humans and/or animals other than cats? What is the best source of information on cat lice and how to take care of the lice and nits? Should I fumigate my home? Nate Dear Nate, I think that your vet is right. Lice are generally host-specific and do not leave their preferred animal. Lice are transmitted from cat to cat or from infested materials to cats. Lice are easily killed with flea and tick products. The one good thing about lice is that unlike fleas / ticks, lice do not live in, nor can they travel in the environment. Once you have treated your kitty, you need to ensure that all grooming instruments and bedding are disinfected. While not always necessary, flea and tick foggers can eliminate lice from your home. Remember, of all the parasites in cats, lice are the easiest to eliminate, and they pose no threat to you and your family! Tapeworm Dear Simba, my 4-month old male kitty
has just been diagnosed with Tapeworm. he is being treated by the
vet. What is tapeworm? His 2 sisters and mom do not have it-is
there anything we can do to avoid them getting it? thank you!
Jane
Dear Jane, Tapeworm is an intestinal parasite. You can identify it by looking for small rice like particles in stools. These particles are egg cases that protect and release tapeworm eggs. The worms themselves are flat and have many segments. Tapeworms can be transmitted in several ways. One way is through flea larvae. Fleas eat the tapeworm and cats may ingest the flea while grooming. Because of this, a lot of times fleas = tapeworms. The other way of getting worms is through infected rodents (this affects outdoor cats). So what to do?
How contagious are Tapeworms? My kitten
has what appears to be small rice particles on his stools. My vet
will not be here for 5 days, I have other pets. Hi, Tapeworms are transmitted through the ingestion of infected fleas or feces. I recommend that you keep your kitten isolated consistent with the letters below, until he is treated. Simba Dear Simba,
I have found some tiny, white, hard, rice-shaped things on the chair where the kitten sleeps. I have checked his poop andHave not found worms. What could these be? He is a high-energy kitty and has a good appetite. Any advice you could give would be appreciated. - Thanks! Amy Dear Amy, It looks like Kitty has tapeworm. This condition is fairly common in kittens and those little grains of rice-like matter are egg cases that hold and release tapeworm eggs. FYI, watch out for fleas. Because your kitten is too young to hunt it is possible that he acquired tapeworms by eating flea larvae (flea larvae often eat tapeworm eggs). Best thing to do is to go to your vet and treat your kitten. In the meantime check him for fleas. Again, this is a common condition so do not worry, he'll be fine. Your Pal, Simba Dear Simba
We discovered worms that look like small white rice that moves in our cat's stool. Please advise what we need to do to rid the cat of worms, protect our other cat from getting worms too and whether or not worms can be transmitted to humans. Thank you for your assistance concerning this matter. Scooter Dear Scooter, It appears as though your cat has tapeworm. Tapeworms are very common and easily treated. They transmitted through the ingestion of flea larvae or infected rodents. Most indoor cats get tapeworm from fleas. So there is a risk that your other cat may already be infected. The risk to human adults is minimal so long as you wash your hands after interacting with your cat (be sure to keep any young children away until your cat completes treatment). Your best bet is to isolate the cat that has the worms and begin treatment with a wormer. You may also want to begin a preventive treatment for your other cat, in addition to taking them both for a check up and possible flea treatment. Tapeworms are an easy one to cure. Keep me posted. Simba Roundworms
Dear Simba,
I have 3 kittens, their mother and a small dog. One of the kittens threw up several, 3 1/2-inch worms. They were long, round and thin. They seemed to curl up when they hit the air. Do I have to get rid of these cats to make sure my children and dog do not get sick? If not please tell me what I should do. Hi You do not have to get rid of the cats, but you do have to treat them soon. It appears as though your kitten may have Roundworm (and it is likely that his siblings and mother may be similarly infected). Roundworms are 3-5" long, cream-colored, and live in the intestines and are amongst the most common of intestinal parasites. Roundworms can be transmitted to children if they have ingested larvae. The larvae can be found in dirt, kitty litter, feces or vomit. Transmission to humans is rare, but is possible. As for your kittens, Roundworms can be life threatening to kitties if left untreated. Cats are usually infected by ingesting eggs or by eating rodents that carry the roundworm larvae (kittens can become infected through their mother's milk). Your vet can provide effective treatment, so please take the kitties there ASAP (you may also want to have your dog tested as well). In the meantime, isolate the cats from your children and your pets. Clean out their litter box often, avoid feeding them raw meats, check them for fleas (see letters below) and begin worming them with similar to Erliworm. Be sure that any wormer you buy is marked as safe for nursing mothers, should momma cat be nursing. Also, clean your floors, carpets and furniture thoroughly since the eggs can survive for months in the environment. The risk of infection is lower now that you know. This is a treatable condition. Keep me posted. Simba HookWorm
Dear Simba,
Our cat has a worm periodically that is flat, approx. 1/2 inch long with an end resembling that of the hammer head shark (shape that is). It does not resemble the tapeworm everyone talks about and it is white in color, not translucent. It is definitely not segmented. Any ideas? We give her parantol for it but they seem to return. Baby Kitty's Family Dear Baby Kitty's Family, I suspect that your kitty may be suffering from Hookworms. Adult hookworms are 1/2 to 3/4 inches long live and very, very thin and hence hard to spot. They are called hookworms because their anterior end is curved dorsally, giving the worm a hook- like appearance. Hookworms attach themselves to the intestinal tract where they attach themselves to the walls and feed on the oxygen-carrying blood and can thus cause anemia (anemia symptoms: pale gums, weakness, sometimes black, tarry stools). Hookworms require treatment with a strong wormer like Pyrantel. Because the worms are ingested through contaminated food or water, moist surfaces, and feces it re-infection in cats is common. Therefore, you want to isolate kitty in a room while he is in treatment. Also, you will want to ensure that all areas of the home, including his isolation room are thoroughly clean. Be sure to wear shoes or other protective footgear when cleaning the litter box because the worms can be absorbed through the skin by people. Do not panic. This is a common and an easily treated condition. Kitty will be much the better after he is attended to. Keep me posted. Simba |
 Flea, Lice & Tick
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