How to treat flea allergies in cats
Category: Allergies
How do I treat a flea allergy in my cat?I have a 6 y/o 8 pound tabby stripped cat who is allergic to fleas. I am currently treating her for fleas using Frontline flea drops. I would take her to the vet if it was not an extremely stressfull event for her.
She has been bitten by a flea. She is currently experiencing an allergic reaction to it (hot spots, hair loss, itching). Is there anything I can do short of taking her to the vet?
She will allow me to give her baths and give her medications. However, the actual car trip to the vet stresses her (she was a feral. Got her when she was a kitten).
Thank you!
II believe that the treatment you give it with drops is correct.If the cat is allergic it maybe needs an ointment.Why should you go alone to the vet and explain to him the situation.He will give you advice
Is a breeder liable for vet bills if our puppy has a serious flea problem/allergy?We just bought a Cocker Spaniel puppy on Thursday night. I had specifically asked the breeder if the dog had fleas BEFORE I decided to buy him and he, of course, said "no." When we got the puppy, I noticed he was scratching his ears and he pointed out that dogs always get itchy. I didn't think anything of it because our cockers always had ear problems. However, the dog has been scratching non-stop because he has fleas. We have 2 cats and have NEVER had fleas in our house or yard. Now I have to put all the animals on frontline, wash everything, shampoo the carpets, treat the puppy for some sort of dermatitis reaction to the flea bites, and spray the house and yard. The vet bill was $235!
I called the breeder on Saturday about the fleas and said how mad I was about the fleas. I asked for him to call me back. I've left 2 more messages since and he hasn't returned my calls! Can he be held liable for all these expenses? Please help! Thanks!
The answer is YES! He lied to you about the flea infestation. I would hold him liable. The other problem is, you will have to prove your case in court. You will have to have all the documents, the bill of sale with date, the vets invoices with dates of treatment and possibly a witness besides yourself. This must have been a serious problem to have a vet bill of $235. Have a friend call this breeder, pretend to be a potential buyer, make an appointment to see the parents and other puppies. Then check for fleas on the parents and puppies, use a digital camera to take some photos for court. Make sure this person is willing to go to court with you to testify on your behalf. This breeder should be put out of business. Responsible breeders don't let their animals live in these conditions. At the very best he is a liar, at the very worst, a irresponsible back yard breeder, who only cares about the money not the animals.
So what do you do if you win....well, you now have a judgment and are left to collect the money on your own. You must know where the person works, has bank accounts, etc. If they own property, you can put a mechanic's lien on his property. You won't get paid any money until the property gets sold. If you're lucky, People's Court will call you and if you win there, they will pay you immediately.
I would also put an ad on Craigslist documenting the problem you had with the puppy from this breeder. Buyer beware!
Good luck to you.
Quiz - Feline Health?1. Your cat has recently briefly been in contact with a sick cat and you check its temperature just to be on the safe side. You are getting a reading of 102?F. On this information alone, with no outward symptoms of sickness, what would be the correct thing to do?
Give the cat an aspirin and take temperature again in an hour.
Wrap the cat in a warming blanket.
Immediately take the cat to your veterinarian.
Nothing - this is normal.
2. Which of the following is a hereditary disease having a high prevalence among Maine Coon cats?
cytauxzoonosis
toxoplasmosis
feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
feline panleukopenia
3. Which of the following statements about feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is false?
FIV is usually transmitted through bites.
FIV is diagnosed through a blood test.
FIV infected cats should not be adopted into a family with uninfected cats.
FIV can be successfully treated with antiviral medications.
4. The holidays often present special hazards to our feline friends. Many decorative plants common to Christmas, for example, are toxic to cats. Which of the following is the least toxic?
holly
amaryllis
mistletoe
poinsettia
5. Which one of the following is not a possible symptom of feline cancer?
lameness and stiffness
high activity and restlessness
abdominal swelling
weight loss and appetite loss
6. How do you treat a cat with frostbite?
firmly massage the area
dab the area with a sponge dipped in warm water
warm the area with warm, moist towels
give the cat a hot bath
7. Cats are carnivores. When selecting food for your cat it is important to make sure the main ingredient is:
carbohydrates
protein and carbohydrates from both plant and animal sources
protein from plant sources
protein from animal sources
8. What is the safest way to administer cortisone medication to an asthmatic cat?
monthly injections
inhaler
daily pills or syrups
not at all - asthmatic cats do not need cortisone
9. In a senior cat, what could be a symptom of arthritis?
enthusiastically playing with a fishing pole toy
reluctance to jump up or off of a couch or bed
restlessly racing up and down the stairs
obsessively licking the "poopy pants" region to clean
10. What is the most common type of allergy in cats?
Flea allergy
Food allergy
Inhalant allergy
Contact allergy
1) Nothing - this is normal
2)feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
3)FIV can be successfully treated with antiviral medications
4)poinsettia
5)high activity and restlessness
6)warm the area with warm, moist towels
7)protein from animal sources
8)inhaler
9)reluctance to jump up or off of a couch or bed
10)Flea allergy
Neighbor with Flea Problem Need advice.?OK any pet owner knows that fleas suck! I live in a house with 4 units 2 bottom 2 top floor, I am on the bottom & My neighbor has 3 cats who she lets go in & out but does not flea treat her pets. She had a Ferret who wouldnt gain weight and eventually died I tried to tell her it was the fleas and that she Needs to take care of the problem but she will not listen. NOW the fleas are coming over into our house and getting on our indoor only cat. I bought flea meds for her but my husband has an allergy to fleas and he is still getting bit because they are in here. How do I convince her she needs 2 take care of them.
She is an older woman who is retired. She says she cannot afford 2get them flea treated yet she just bought a new HD TV and a new very expensive washer/dryer, also 1 of her cats was shot with a BB gun and limps around. she "cant afford" to take it to the vet but will not give it up.
We R afraid 2 report her because we dont want the building 2B condemed 4 fleas.
Any Advice?
Boric Acid or Moth Balls can be purchased at any grocery store and they are not harmful to you or your pets. Boric Acid does not have the odor like Moth Balls. At least if you put some around the cracks and edges outside it should help the problem...may have to refresh every few days until you notice a difference. Also the Raid For Fleas in the purple can DOES work and does kill eggs.....again, maybe every few days until gone.
As for the pet itself, there is am inexpensive natural liquid that can be put into their water. When they drink it the fleas will no longer stay on the pet. (I forget what it's called but it has vinegar & citrus juice in it) Your local vet or pet store probably knows what it is. I bought some before at a flea market pet store for about $10....and it lasted for 3-4 months for 3 dogs and 16 cats!!
Brewers Yeast tablets also work and are not expensive....they come in tablet form and one a day the animal will usually eat it like it's a treat.....although a little harder sometimes for cats.
Last of all, I would try these inexepensive but effective remedies and tell her that some of the tenants have been talking and she needs to take proper care of her pets in the future or animal rescue officers may be informed by someone.
Fleas, Allergies, and the Indoor Cat?Somehow someway even with brushing him everyday and never letting him outside my year old orange tabby got fleas.
I was gone for awhile and my neighbors watched him and when I got back he was completely covered. Being that he is my first cat and this is my first flea problem I'm completely lost.
Since he is strictly indoor do I need to treat my yard?
Also, what are the best approaches to getting rid of them completely both in the house and on the cat?
Lastly, ever since I got back near my cat I've been sneezing and wheezing. I've never had an allergy problem with him before but this is to the point that my eyes are swollen and I can barley breathe. Is it really possible to be gone for such a short period and develop a serious allergy to your pet?
Please I need serious help here I don't know how much more of this I can take. I hate to keep my baby away from me, but I have to in order to breathe! And if I get bit by another flea I'm gonna go insane!
Even indoor pets get fleas. Fleas will actually travel in on people and then if they find a pet in the house, they stay. I found a really great spray for my carpets and furniture. It is made by RAID and it is for fleas. Be sure to get the one that actually says "fleas" on it because raid makes several kinds for several different bugs. (there is a generic brand called hotshots that is almost as good also.) Use that on all the carpeted areas of your home and on your furniture. Then get some flea shampoo for the cat and give the cat a bath to kill most of the fleas. Then get some of the monthly drops for killing fleas. You could get the expensive kind from the vet, or you can go to Walmart or a pet store and pick up either Hartz brand or Sergeants brand flea drops. I have had good luck with both and they are about half the price of the stuff from the vet. The fleas will disappear completely within about a month, but be sure to continue the flea drops once a month so they never return. As for your allergy problems, try using Benadryl until the fleas are gone. It works great for both pet allergies and bug allergies.
Can i use antihistamines long term for my cat?i got them off the vet, but forgot to ask if they were a long term solution for flea allergy dermatitis and what side effects they may have, i dont wanna phone cause im sure he thinks im a rite pain in the back side any other suggestions on how to help it would be mst welcome also.
1.using promeris spot on
2.flea treat house and her bedding regular
3.now also using tavegil antihistamines
Getting rid of the fleas in the environment and keeping a flea treatment on your cat is the real cure for flea allergy issues. The antihistamines are to get rid of the itches she has now. Some vets prescribe steroids - the idea is to reduce the inflammation and itchiness until the fleas are gone and then controlled. They aren't a long term solution - but it may take a while until the itchiness is gone.
Why is my cat losing hair?Can someone please advise me what can cause hair loss over most of the lower portion of the cat's body...basically from the neck down, and sores that resemble mosquito bites? He is healthy otherwise. Good color, good eating habits, gets good food, playful, and his stools are fine. He doesn't have worms either.
Yes, he's been "vetted" and I fear that's how we wound up in this mess. I had this previously healthy cat neutered, and since three days afterward he's been in THIS condition. Three vets later now, $1600, they're still telling me it's a flea allergy. I DON'T HAVE FLEAS!!! I have seven cats. I have taken ALL of them to these three vets. One of said cats even has a documented history of flea allergy, yet she shows NO symptoms of hair loss. Now I'm broke and he's STILL almost naked. I use Revolution on the dogs. Frontline on the cats, and my house AND my entire yard are treated faithfully because of my older cat's flea allergy. Way back when, she went bald...no sores, just bald. Since then we've had no flea's.
Can someone give me ANY ideas? I believe I now have what appears to be cat number two coming down with same symptoms. They've had skin tests and the whole nine yards...NOTHING! I don't know where to turn and it's getting cold. My cat is an insider but he's freezing to death and I've resorted to putting a sweater on him. I need help and obviously something is seriously lacking in the vet department in my area. Surely this can't be the first case of sores and hair loss from something besides a flea allergy on the planet?!?!
I can add pics if it could help......
I am not a vet, but in my area, many pets are starting to be diagnosed with MRSA. Many here do not know how to treat it. I am hoping and praying that this is not the case with your cats! Good luck to you and your kitties!
Anyone had a cat with food allergies, and if so, how did you resolve it?We have a young female kitty - almost 2 years old. Symptoms include itching without obvious cause (meaning no mites, fleas, or mange), mild hair loss around eyes (due to excessive itching and grooming), and fur that appears greasy at times. Bloodwork came back all good except for some elevation in cholesterol.
Itching was treated with depo-medrol (30-day steroid), which stopped the itching for a few weeks, but potentially caused other, more serious issues. (Hyper-excitability, suppressed immune system - shortly afterwards she contracted a virus with high fever, etc.)
I don't want to just suppress symptoms....we want to attack the source of the problem. If you have any experience or advice in this area - especially what brands or types of foods you used to overcome this, your input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
I found an excellent article on food allergies and what to do about it.
Little Big Cat is a fabulous site!
Why is my cat pooping and peeing on the couch?And how to get her to stop?
We are taking her to the vet Monday and will be getting her spayed as well. She is one year old.. I am having difficulty figuring out why she is continually peeing and having solid poops on our couch in the same two spots. There are a few things that it could be.
1) We have a 2 1/2 month old baby now.
2) a new cat litter...but I'm not positive here because I think we may have used it before.
3) flea allergy - I recently treated her with frontline. She was losing hair due to the fleas that our outdoor cat had brought in. I don't know if this would be a factor or not.
Anyhow I'm trying my best to clean our leather couch but at this point, I'm so frustrated because it just keeps happening and Monday can't come soon enough. Any insight is much appreciated.
She could possibly have a urinary or kidney problem. But my guess is she's reacting to #1 & #2 in your question.
Cats are very jealous and she might feel that she's getting less attention since the arrival of the baby.
Cats hate change. Changing her litter and bringing in the baby are 2 changes that have probably upset her.
Having her spayed might help. Females in heat will mark territory to get attention from available males. When she recovers from her surgery, find ways to give her more attention and play time.
