Deflea-ing the cat...

[mummy2be362]

I've posted a couple of times.. but bleh, need some advice.

We used everything we can do, and the flea's just won't go.
We can't afford to get him to the vets, and we've decided to give him a bath tonight as he has scabs on his back from scratching so much Its horrible to see him in such a state.

He is getting old too bless him, must be driving him insane.

Bathtime questions: If we just sort of soak him in the bath for a bit, then wash him with some human shampoo and conditioner then use a flea comb when the conditioner is in would this be okay to do?
We can't afford anything for him and feel so so horrible and bad to see him suffering because we can't afford it

Don't want to use any nasty chemicals as I'm pregnant, and honestly, just feel so sorry for him.

 

[pinklizzy]

To be honest, bathing him isn't going to do much good!
He'll more than likely hate it and unless you use a specific flea shampoo it isn't going to do anything. Using a flea comb will help but it won't solve the problem.
He needs a specific flea control product (frontline, advocate, stronghold etc) and you will need to treat your house to prevent him becoming re-infested. The fleas will lay eggs on is coat which will fall off onto your carpets, his bedding etc and hatch out and he'll pick them up again.
Ideally he should see a vet as if he's been scratching a lot, he will have caused irritation to the skin and there is a risk of introducing a skin infection etc. If money is a problem though, I've just done a quick google and you could get enough frontline to treat him for 3 months and a spray to treat your house (which lasts 12 months) for about £20?
Washing anything he sleeps on using a hot wash and hoovering all your carpets really well will help too.

 

[pinklizzy]

Just to add, have you seen fleas or checked for flea dirt? Just to make sure that is the problem. To check for flea dirt, comb him and put the bits you get out onto some damp kitchen roll, if it goes a reddish brown colour, it's flea dirt. Sounds gross but it's basically flea poo (digested blood)

 

[mummy2be362]

Thank you so much, just getting to the end of my tether with the things They're biting me too all over, even on my face and it sounds so disgusting, he's even banned from most rooms in the house now due to this but the flea's seem to love me too

We tried frontline and stronghold, as well as a variety of other brands which I couldn't tell you the name of. We've deflea'd everything in the house only for him to come in and flea it all up again. It seems the flea's are immune...
I hoover twice daily anyway (nesting... sighh... lol) and hoover the beds and also sometimes my clothes!

I am worried that when he scratches he'll get an infection due to lifting his scabs off, and feel terrible. He's mainly an outdoor cat and will only come in for food and the occasional nap, and he hangs around stray cats, still eats god knows what he can catch and I feel disgusting for having flea bites all over my body

 

[mummy2be362]

Just to add, have you seen fleas or checked for flea dirt? Just to make sure that is the problem. To check for flea dirt, comb him and put the bits you get out onto some damp kitchen roll, if it goes a reddish brown colour, it's flea dirt. Sounds gross but it's basically flea poo (digested blood)

Yes have done. When we've brushed him we see the flea's crawling, and then there is little tiny specks of blood in the brush too (white brush which we wash thoroughly after every usage)

 

[Ramen]

Last time I went to the vets for fleas I was only out $20.00 for a one month supply of flea medication which enabled me to bug bomb my apartment and get rid of the buggers for good. I'd keep calling the local vets the drops they gave me (revolution) worked like a charm. They may want you to pop down $80.00 for a dipping, but the prescription flea drops should work just fine ask for them instead.

I see you used frontline. I had bad results with that too.

 

[pinklizzy]

What did you use to treat the house hun? Something like Indorex or acclaim will help get rid of everything in the house-it might be if they're not being killed off in the house, he's picking up more even after the frontline. It's horrible when they're everywhere x