Need Immediate Help, Please.

HI Toomany

First I just wanted to say I think what you are doing is amazing, bless you. I am sending {{{{{vibes}}}}} your way that kitty gets better and gain the strength to deal with all of this. I know its tough.

I wish I had some advice for you but Idon't have any expieriance in the area of a senior cat and their issues. So far it seems you have gotton some wonderful advice.

For the fleas, I do have some advice. The spray bottle unfortunately will not work, since you will need to rince it off after applying it. You need to rince it well. Also when we had fleas last year we learned that 20 Mule Borax works well in the carpet. You want to sprinkle it on the rugs and the take a broom and sweep it in so the powder goes to the bace of the rug and does not stay on the surface. Wait 3 hours and vacumm it up. If you can try to put all the cats in a different room while you are doing it. The more borax you use the better. Also chance the vacumm bag everytime you vacumm. Flea eggs hatch with vibration. When the eggs hatch the first thing tey breath in is the borax and sufficate. You can use borax on the furniture too. Just make sure the powder is pushed into the fabric so the kitties do not come in contact with it. Wash everything in hot water too. You can cut up a flea coller and put the peices into the vacumm bag to that will help kill them. Fleas spend only 10% of the time on your cat so you need to treat the enviroment as well as the cats.

I hope this is helpfull.

Bless you for all that you are doing. You really are an angel. Sending you hugs.

Karmasmom

I know right! Ever read that "How to Bathe a Cat" article? Super funny.
You never know, a spray bottle might work. It certainly can't hurt I wouldn't think, just really dilute the dawn liquid.
So it's just the one cat with fleas? Or all the cats have fleas and only he has the diarhea? It may be, because he's an older guy that he's just more sensitive to worms. Are they indoor/outdoor? I've heard that fleas have been getting worse each year even on indoor only pets. I haven't had a flea outbreak since last fall when I took in a 3 day old bottle baby. He went to another home for a weekend and came home infested. Then he gave all the other cats fleas. I tried an OTC remedy and it was horrible. All my kitties had bald spots and weird reactions. Never again!!! Thank you Hertz for making such a S#!tty product. :/
We got rid of the fleas with the use of a flea comb and dawn liquid. It's time consuming but safe at least. The last think any of us need is an emergency run to the vet because of a reaction to a product that's SUPPOSED to be safe. Grr. Or the other kitty who started foaming at the mouth when I used OTC flea shampoo on her. Yay! I'm glad for sites like this which give us REAL info on what works and what is unsafe (despite the company's claims).
So maybe a spray bottle with a little dawn liquid in it, and another bottle with no soap to rinse with. Some cats take to a bath ok, some don't.
For the diarhea, I think you've gotten some good advice, but I doubt if the remedies will work if it's a worm problem. It will work if there's a digestive upset or imbalance. Just make sure he's nice and hydrated. You might want to take some canned food and water it down for him, just so he stays nice and moist.
My problem child, Pippin, won't eat pumpkin or yoghurt or prescription food for that matter.
I understand the frustration. Cats can live for over 20 years so it can be tough when you have a house full of older kitties that just get ill enough to cost money, but not ill enough to need help passing. I'm sure it can get overwhelming.
I agree with you, the tape worms aren't super dangerous. I mean, yeah, you don't want your cats to have them, but I don't think it's an emergency situation unless the cat starts to decline/get dehydrated/lose weight/vomiting because of them.
I hope he gets better soon! I wonder if the humane society or some other cat rescue might be able to get you some low cost vetting. Especially for something simple like fleas or worms where you just need a bulk price or something. It's probably worth a call and since you're on a fixed income, I'm sure you'd be approved for it.

Dev

Also, for the flea issue. A inexpensive things that works well is diatomateous earth. You can buy a very large bag of it at the co-op/feed store and simply brush it into the carpet and rub it onto the cats coats. Make sure when you are rubbing it on the cats that you cover their mouths so they don't breath in too much dust. It is made up of tiny diatoms that kill the fleas by cutting them and the dehydrating them. Farmers put it in their animals feed to get rid of internal parasites and people put it in flour so that it won't be infested with bugs in the pantry. You can put it into your cats food as follows to kill worms: Cats 1 tsp. per daily ration. Rub at full strength into coat for fleas and sprinkle on bedding. DON'T get the kind for swimming pools. Get the food-grade bag from the co-op. I have used this and it works wonders to get rid of the little buggers! The dust is so fine it sinks down into the bottom of the carpet and you can vaccuum and not have to worry about vaccuuming it all up.

Originally Posted by Oogieone

Also, for the flea issue. A inexpensive things that works well is diatomateous earth. You can buy a very large bag of it at the co-op/feed store and simply brush it into the carpet and rub it onto the cats coats. Make sure when you are rubbing it on the cats that you cover their mouths so they don't breath in too much dust. It is made up of tiny diatoms that kill the fleas by cutting them and the dehydrating them. Farmers put it in their animals feed to get rid of internal parasites and people put it in flour so that it won't be infested with bugs in the pantry. You can put it into your cats food as follows to kill worms: Cats 1 tsp. per daily ration. Rub at full strength into coat for fleas and sprinkle on bedding. DON'T get the kind for swimming pools. Get the food-grade bag from the co-op. I have used this and it works wonders to get rid of the little buggers! The dust is so fine it sinks down into the bottom of the carpet and you can vaccuum and not have to worry about vaccuuming it all up.

Click to expand...

Are you positively sure that this won't harm her cats? If the daily ration is 1 tsp., how much would they consume by licking themselves or each other? - Its great if you came up with an affordable alternative - I just haven't heard of this before and want to make sure her cats stay safe.

Originally Posted by Rockcat

Are you positively sure that this won't harm her cats? If the daily ration is 1 tsp., how much would they consume by licking themselves or each other? - Its great if you came up with an affordable alternative - I just haven't heard of this before and want to make sure her cats stay safe.

Click to expand...

The human or food grade diatomaceous earth is perfectly safe. Don't breathe it into your lungs so when applying it to the rug and furniture cover your mouth and nose and keep the kitties out until it settles. Use a broom to get it down into the carpeting. This stuff is great. We had a stray and I mixed about 3/4 tsp. in his food to help him with internal parasites. Some humans even add some to their food occasionally for the same reason - internal parasites.

We used some around the door sills for an ant problem this spring - haven't seen an ant since.

Thank you Karmasmom....I know ALL ABOUT the Borax....have been looking in every store here in Jacksonville for it.....Publix, Winn-Dixie, Wallmart...etc., etc. Just got back from Target....they don't have it. I used in when I was in Miami and it worked....and they sold it. Since it is really a laundry detergent....guess it is too old fashioned for the stores to sell now with all this new good smelling garbage out now!!! Anyway....bought salt...went on a site that many people recommended table salt....am going to try that.

Guess I will have to give in to going online to order the borax...and that is going to cost a fortune with shipping costs. I have REALLY tried...can't find the darn stuff!!!!

Thanks for the advice, but at this point...with all of them being so old, I just could not take the chance....at this rate, they already warn about putting some of the flea killing chemicals on old cats.

Thanks....

Salt didn't work for me...
They put diatomaceous earth in food...it is perfectly safe...just as safe as them licking dirt off their coats...and a lot safer than any kind of advantage-like chemical pesticide...farmers wouldn't give it to their livestock, which they spend alot of money for if it wasn't safe...too much salt is more harmful than too much dirt... I wouldn't use borax though...

Originally Posted by Yosemite

The human or food grade diatomaceous earth is perfectly safe. Don't breathe it into your lungs so when applying it to the rug and furniture cover your mouth and nose and keep the kitties out until it settles. Use a broom to get it down into the carpeting. This stuff is great. We had a stray and I mixed about 3/4 tsp. in his food to help him with internal parasites. Some humans even add some to their food occasionally for the same reason - internal parasites.

We used some around the door sills for an ant problem this spring - haven't seen an ant since.

Click to expand...

Originally Posted by toomany

Thanks for the advice, but at this point...with all of them being so old, I just could not take the chance....at this rate, they already warn about putting some of the flea killing chemicals on old cats.

Thanks....

Click to expand...

The FOOD GRADE Diatomaceous Earth is a natural product, heres some info on it .........
http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/defaq.html

Originally Posted by toomany

However, I am looking around for a multiple cat site, so that I don't get replies from younger people who only have one cat, telling me I should not have so many cats if I can't take care of them.

Thanks to all of you who honestly tried to help and put themselves in my shoes.

Toomany

Click to expand...

Originally Posted by toomany

At any rate....I won't be coming back to the Forum if people are going to throw guilt in my face for rescuing cats that have lived so long....and, I also got older in the 13 years I have had them...

Never mind....I won't bother anyone here anymore...you all have more important things to think about, especially younger cats.

Bye

Click to expand...

Toomany,

I'm sorry you are feeling so down, it is definitely coming out in your posts. No one here is purposely trying to hurt you and I hope you can see that if you are even still coming to this site. You keep mentioning that you are done with this site and it is a real shame. This site has so many people who all love cats, we all come from different backgrounds and experiences and this is what makes us able to help each other. everyone here has offered advice to the best of their experiences to help you make informed decisions. And it looks as if you took many peoples' advice and sought further information to validate it, which is good because yes, you DON'T know everyone's background.

many many people here own multiple cats, myself included and some even own 8 or more. you needed immediate help so those particular who have been in some similar situations may not have been right there to reply, but the rest of us tried. As I read, I think there were only two comments mentioning seeing a vet and they were just trying to help. Unfortunately is isn't the help/advice you were looking for. I'm glad though that there were some real intuitive thoughts going on to help you.

I hope you continue to visit the site to receive support and advice as we are all cat lovers. You mentioned before that you have 16 aging cats. We are all here to give you support through the tough times that are inevitably ahead.

Please don't think that just because posters haven't been here as long as you or don't have as many cats as you aren't serious cat lovers.

we are, and care.

TooMany: Where in Jax. are you?

As for the borax Iknow up here Wal-Mart and other major stores sell it but its sold in the insectide bug spray area. Also Big Lots and Dollar General/ Family dollar should sale it as well.

Also a fine tooth comb or nit comb will help. Use that to comb the kitty and have a bowl of dawn dish soap and water beside you to dip the comb in to kill the fleas.

Originally Posted by Pami

The FOOD GRADE Diatomaceous Earth is a natural product, heres some info on it .........
http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/defaq.html

Click to expand...

13 cats and 2 dogs here. I understand the struggle with fleas and also have cared for aging cats. The dogs bring the fleas into the house. I go the extra mile to keep the dogs treated for fleas/ticks to limit it as much as I can. I too don't like to use poisons on my critters if I can help it - I nearly killed a greyhound from using vet prescribed flea spray one time.

I struggled with fleas for years until I found this product (diatomaceous earth - DE). Whether you use this or Borax, vacuum everything in your house before you apply, then use a broom to sweep this into your carpets. Move the furniture around and get all the cracks/crevices. Wash all bedding.

For the cats themselves, I've not tried to put the powder on them directly, but have either used a flea comb dipped in dawn detergent solution or used the Advantage tip that Sarah gave you earlier. As you stated, I tend to not treat the older cats with products like Advantage if I can help it. If you do the DE / Borax treatment and treat all the cats with Advantage, that's usually enough to stop any infestation. The rare times that I do advantage, it's usually once a year.

i don't have any suggestions for the fleas. everyone else seems to have that covered.

i had a suggestion for the diarrhea if your kitty won't eat yogurt (only one of mine likes yogurt). i take acidophilis capsules for my own stomach issues. when nabu was on antibiotics and had diarrhea really bad after, i gave him part of a capsule in his food (1/2 in each wet food meal). he ate it right up. the capsules are relatively inexpensive, i buy mine at target.

Originally Posted by Yosemite

The human or food grade diatomaceous earth is perfectly safe. Don't breathe it into your lungs so when applying it to the rug and furniture cover your mouth and nose and keep the kitties out until it settles. Use a broom to get it down into the carpeting. This stuff is great. We had a stray and I mixed about 3/4 tsp. in his food to help him with internal parasites. Some humans even add some to their food occasionally for the same reason - internal parasites.

We used some around the door sills for an ant problem this spring - haven't seen an ant since.

Click to expand...

I am soooooooooo glad to know this! Fleas and ants!!! Woo-Hoo! If it works on my ants you will be my new best friend. I think MY ants were trained at the Academy of Perpetual Pests.

Originally Posted by littleraven7726

i don't have any suggestions for the fleas. everyone else seems to have that covered.

i had a suggestion for the diarrhea if your kitty won't eat yogurt (only one of mine likes yogurt). i take acidophilis capsules for my own stomach issues. when nabu was on antibiotics and had diarrhea really bad after, i gave him part of a capsule in his food (1/2 in each wet food meal). he ate it right up. the capsules are relatively inexpensive, i buy mine at target.

Click to expand...

I just want to say that one should never use human remedies on their animals without consulting a vet. Their bodies and ours react differently to the ingredients so please do NOT give anything to your cat without a vet's OK (but I'm sure you already know that seeing as you've been caring for these cats for a long time).

Originally Posted by Yosemite

I just want to say that one should never use human remedies on their animals without consulting a vet. Their bodies and ours react differently to the ingredients so please do NOT give anything to your cat without a vet's OK (but I'm sure you already know that seeing as you've been caring for these cats for a long time).

Click to expand...

yes, i got an ok. it was also something we only did for a couple meals, in the way you would yogurt. definitely not long term. his little tummy was tore up from antibiotics.

here is what www.peteducation.com says about it.

A fellow co-worker heard a program on uses for vinegar. One was to mix 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water and using a spray bottle, spray the cat for fleas. He used this on his cat and swears it worked. I posted a thread on vinegar and fleas a few weeks ago and reply posts were positive on this. My cats don't have fleas, but my daughter's Chester does. She hasn't tried vinegar yet cuz Chester would half kill her in the attempt. She has given him a bath in Dawn and that helped. Frontline didn't do much. BTW, Chester likes baths but will not tolerate a flea comb. Silly cat.

Thank you for posting this.....I wanted to, but did not want to put myself into any more "trouble" for saying this is an absolute "no no".