Dear Ms. Kitty,
My poor Xander is suffering with an itch from fleas! He has these horrible bumps all over him and he just can't relax. His fur is always "crawling" and he can't sit still for looking around as though he's thinking about scratching! We just gave him a squeeze-on flea treatment (which didn't seem to work!). He has an appetite but isn't as playful as he could be. All he does all day is sleep (which I know cats do a lot of!) but I feel like he's doing it just so he won't have to deal with the itch! I hope I'm wrong but I know his "happy-healthy" behavior and this isn't it!
I thought I might use a solution of water and peroxide to wash him with.
I'm not sure he'd be okay with a bath...if that's an option!! I'd have quite a fight on my hands! But I will do whatever is necessary!
I love the little guy.
Thanks for your help,
Skip Purvis
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Dear Skip,
I think a bath is a good idea... fleas can be drowned, but it's not easy. They will migrate toward his head if his body is immersed, so you'd want to have something on his neck to kill or deter them as they arrive. Maybe a temporary flea collar. Or start the flea shampoo at the neck first, them bathe the rest of him and the fleas will jump off as they crawl to the top to get out of the water. Just be careful not to get any soap or water in his eyes or ears.
If you have any fleas in the house, sprinkle some DE (diatomaceous earth) around the perimeter of the room and under his bedding, and especially under the couch cushions, etc.
You can sprinkle it on him, too. It's like talcum powder, so you can sprinkle it on then rub it in. If he licks it, it's safe, and might even help "clean out the pipes" if he has swallowed any of the little buggers.
Just be sure the DE is the safe kind..."food grade," not for gardening or yards. I'm glad to know that your Xander is an inside kitty, so picking them up by being outside won't be an issue. But it's no guarantee. Fleas are perfectly capable of hopping into your house on their own!
Not sure the peroxide would do anything. Probably get better results with a good flea shampoo, as that clogs up the respiratory spiracles of the fleas. Ask your vet which one is best.
Here's a link to a book about flea control from a friend who knows more about it than I do:
Flea Control Secrets
Here's another link with free info:
When I have to bathe a cat, I use a bucket. It seems to help with keeping them under control. Not so easy to jump out and those hind legs are contained. Still have to watch for the front claws, though!
You can also try brushing him often with a stiff bristle brush to help with the itching and removing particles and loose fur.
If he's having a skin reaction, he may be allergic to the fleas.
Here are some remedies for the "hot spots" on his skin:
First, be sure his itchy spots are clean. You may have to shave or clip his hair down to the skin at those locations. Wash with a gentle, unscented, pure soap, and rinse well.
Tea: Brew a cup of strong tea and dissolve an aspirin in it. Soak a small cloth or cotton ball and place that on the itchy, sore spots for several minutes, 4 times a day.
Vinegar: Soak a cloth or cotton ball and place on the itchy spots as above, 4 times a day. Use apple cider vinegar. It's also safe to drink, so don't worry if your cat licks it off. It might even help "detox" him, too.
Good luck!
Follow-up:
Dear Ms. Kitty,
Y'know, I really wasn't expecting much from the whole apple cider vinegar thing but I'm here to tell ya...Awesome! On his first day of application (spraying it on his brush and brushing him), he already seems more comfortable!!
I'm just so happy! Hard to believe that we'd see such "immediate" results. And maybe it's just wishful thinking, but he really seems more comfortable. He's not twitching constantly...AND his coat is soft and smooth!! However, he is getting wise to my "put it on his brush" trick and it's getting harder to corner him for the brushing...the odor is quite intense, but he's been tolerating it!
Finally this evening he's become more like his ol' self! More playful, eating more and generally BETTER!
Thanks again for the tip! How exciting! Just had to let you know right away. I know you understand having a "sick" baby...it's like your own child sick! When we finally find how to love them, it's real! I love this little guy so much! When he hurts, I hurt and when he feels better...
Anyway, YAHOO!!! He's been laying on my chest loving on me since he started feeling more comfortable today....it feels so nice.
Skip
