DOES my cat have fleas?!

chibibinx

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Hi! New to the site, with a brand new kitten in our home!

So after doing a TON of research, Googling, watching videos on YouTube, talking to fellow cat owners, pet store and clinic employees, etc., we still can not decide if our kitten has fleas and what steps we should take about it!

We first adopted our kitten a week ago from a local, family-owned pet store and shelter. He's a black, short haired male about 12 weeks old. When we brought him into our home, he was every where! We let him on the couches, let him sleep in our bed. He is so gentle with his little claws and SO affectionate, we don't have any issues letting him roam wherever he likes, because he's a member of our family now!
I did have an initial allergy reaction to him, and quickly gave him a little kitten bath using Johnson and Johnson's baby shampoo, thinking maybe he was just dirty from the pet store, as I'm a little bit of a clean-freak-germ-a-phobe!

After the second night in our bed (he had already decided my head is the perfect spot to sleep at night
!), I found little black and white specs ALL over our pillows and on our sheets. It almost looked like black and white dandruff. I used a sticky-paper-lint roller and cleaned it all off.

After a little research, I figured it might be Flea Dirt. I did the test, took a few specks and placed them on a damp paper towel, and sure enough, the specks dissolved into redish-brownish water marks.

The thing is, our kitten doesn't scratch himself AT ALL! We have never seen a flea, and after checking him VERY thoroughly in all the right places (behind the neck, in the middle of his shoulder blades, down by his tail, his belly, his hind quarters, etc.), we still have yet to see one. We also used a Flea Comb VERY thoroughly and got NOTHING.

Does my kitten have fleas or is it all in my head? Did he have a flea, and this is just left over dirt? Maybe it's just black dandruff or kitty dander (is that even possible)? What steps should I take on my kitten and around my home to insure he doesn't have, nor will he get, fleas!?

Thanks for all your help!
 

otto

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He has fleas. And if he has fleas he most likely has worms.

Please get him to the vet right away, Bring a stool sample with you. Kittens can go downhill very fast from fleas and other parasites.

Your vet will advise you if he is healthy enough for a spot on flea treatment. If he is at least two pounds he can have a capstar which will kill all adult fleas on him for 24 hours, but he will need several months of spot on to kill the other fleas as the eggs hatch in your home.

In addition you will have to wash everything that is washable and vacuum vacuum vacuum, to rid your home of flea eggs and larvae (the eggs don't live on the kitten, they live in the carpet and upholstery)

Do NOT use over the counter treatments. They are not safe for kittens and cats.

Welcome to TCS! What's your kitten's name?
 
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chibibinx

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Thanks for the quick reply, otto!

I do have the vet medical records that say he had "Stcongid Deworming" on the 20th of August (whatever that means). Do you still think he has worms?!


I plan on taking him to the vet this week!

And his name is Chibi. I was so anxious to post this thread, I forgot to make an introduction thread, so I just made one! http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=221257
 

otto

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Strongid is for roundworms and hookworms, but does not kill tapeworms. He needs Droncit for that. And a kitten with fleas almost definitely has tapeworms.

I'll check out your other thread now, can't wait to hear more about Chibi. I have a kitten at home now too, such fun.

She also had a terrible flea problem. And has had to be dewormed twice.

Let us know how the vet visit goes. That capstar I mentioned is a "miracle pill" The fleas actually just drop off the kitten or cat after being dosed.
 
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chibibinx

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Well... Started using the comb again and wham - two fleas. We washed Chibi with Dawn tonight and after drying him, started combing again, and found 3 more fleas at his hindquarters.

I'm taking him to the vet at 8am tomorrow morning (I guess that would be, today).

Now, I only brought Chibi into my home About 8 days ago, do you guys think I got this on time? Especially with the whole... no scratching, only finding 3 fleas, etc?

We poured salt onto our couches and washed all the bedding, threw out every towel and blanket he slept on since he's been here, I waxed all the wood furniture, vacuumed all the couches/floors/etc., and threw all the clothes we've worn since having Chibi into the wash and nuked those too.

What do you guys think?
If I take him to the vet tomorrow, and the vet recommends Frontline, do you think my kitty and home are still in jeopardy?
 

strange_wings

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Treat for 2-3 months with the Frontline or another flea topical and keep vacuuming. Ask your vet about the deworming. Otherwise everything is fine. This happens from time to time.

How many dewormings did your cat have for roundworms? Was it just one dose of Strongid? If it was only one dose you have the possibility of your cat still having roundworms. There's two ways to deal with that, deworm for those too or use a topical that works on roundworms, too. (revolution or advantage multi)
 

mrblanche

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Advantage, which is applied to the back of the kitten's head, will take care of the fleas and probably kill all of them in the house, eventually. There are other formulations, such as Frontline and Revolution, that are also good. It's pricey, but after your vet prescribes them, you can get them cheaper online. And it works very well. One of those formulations will also clean up ear mites and worms of various types.
 

otto

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Originally Posted by mrblanche

Advantage, which is applied to the back of the kitten's head, will take care of the fleas and probably kill all of them in the house, eventually. There are other formulations, such as Frontline and Revolution, that are also good. It's pricey, but after your vet prescribes them, you can get them cheaper online. And it works very well. One of those formulations will also clean up ear mites and worms of various types.
Revolution treats fleas, sterilizes the eggs, and treats ear mites, roundworm and hookworm and prevents/treats heartworm. Not tapeworm, so Lily will still need a droncit.

Frontline plus kills adult fleas and sterilizes eggs. frontline without the plus kills only adult fleas. Neither frontline formula kills worms or mites.

Advantage Multi kills adult fleas and sterlilizes the eggs, treats/prevents heartworm, hookworm and rounworm.

Regular advantage kills only adult fleas.

Once you have fleas and eggs in the house it's best to use one of the spot ons that also sterilize the eggs, to break the life cycle of the fleas, that will eventually get rid of everything. I'd recommend at least six months.

Don't automatically assume the spot ons mentioned above (the only safe ones) are cheaper on line. Many vets sell at competitive prices so their clients will buy from the vet, where the products are guaranteed safe.

The Advantage products (made by Bayer) and the Frontline products (made by Merial) have both recently been made OTC, meaning the manufacturers now sell these products to other places than vets only.

But I rather think there is still a lot of counterfeit and bootleg stuff on the market. It's going to take a while for those illegal businesses to die out. So your best bet for these products is still your vet.

There is one other, newer by prescription only spot on product, but I can't remember the name of it, and being as it's new and not well labeled (there is a dog version that is TOXIC to cats, and a cat version, but the labels, last time I checked, were exactly the same so very dangerous.

If I can find the name of the product I will add it to this post

<edit> it is Vectra. Thanks to strangewings for mentioning it.


Never EVER use a dog flea treatment on a cat, they are not always identical, and k9 Advantix especially is deathly to cats as it contains permethrin. Never use a product containing permethrin/pyrethrin on cats.

Read labels closely.
 

strange_wings

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Originally Posted by otto

Regular advantage kills only adult fleas.
It kills larvae and lice, too (looking at box, atm).

I had to order some Advantage online, I wouldn't have had enough for next month. It was either that or buy Revolution (too $$$ and I don't need to deworm) or the newer Vectra (that has a lot of terrible reviews about making pets sick and fur loss) from my vet.
Frontline no longer works for fleas in my area.


You can order it online, but before you use it you better inspect the packaging then call the manufacturer to make sure the batch and EPA numbers on the box (and tubes) match up to what they've made.
I ordered from Doctor Fosters and Smith, called and do have the legit product. I actually suggest calling the manufacturer to double check even if you do get it from a vet, you don't know if they chose a cheaper supplier.
 

otto

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Vectra! that's the one I was talking about in my above post. Thanks, and yes, I would not recommend that.

There is ProMeris too, but I don't know anything about it.

Thanks for the correction on regular Advantage. Has the name of Advantage Multi been changed? On the website I see only Advantage and Advocate. Advocate does what the Advantage Multi did, so did they just change the name?
 

strange_wings

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My vet stopped stocking all the Bayer flea topicals so I haven't had my hands on any of the other ones recently.
Someone going to their vet soon (who stocks advantage) could probably ask.
Mine claimed that Advantage doesn't sell well.
I prefer it for just treating fleas - it's been around as long as Frontline, fleas don't seem to be resistant to it, and it works in 12 hours - 2 hours for newly "jumped on" fleas. Everything else takes up to 2-3 days, and 4-18 hours for new fleas. I suspect it didn't sell because he pushed the multi's that cost more since Advantage is so cheap now.

Cat and Dog Vectra is different. The dog version is called 3D and supposed to keep flies and mosquitoes away. But yes, it isn't safe if there's a cat in the home (like advantix isn't). It's also an OTC multi and just seems too questionable to me. Even if it is sold at my vet clinic.

I'm not as familiar with the other flea treatments having never used them. Believe it or not, I usually only treat the new cats and outdoor cats for fleas. This is the first time since ... '06 or '07 that I've had fleas inside - and I'm about 99% certain they came from the vet clinic waiting room.


Here's one product comparison chart.
 
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chibibinx

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So just got back from the vet and he says Chibi is healthy, normal, and has a great curious and friendly temper! But... he unfortunately does have some little fleas on him.

He gave Chibi a Capstar pill and three months worth of Frontline Plus. He applied the Frontline between Chibi's shoulder blades, but he seems to be able to reach it. Every now and then he'll reach back and give some of very end of the greasy hair one lick. It's been about a half an hour since the vet put it on his back. Is it alright for him to be doing this? I thought it was a strong chemical. I'm so nervous now!

In terms of deworming, his medical records from the place I adopted him say 1 Strongid and Feline Rhinotracheitis-Calici-Panleukopenia-Chlamydia Psittaci Vacccine (wow, what a mouth full) given on the 20th of August, and that FelV/FIV test came back negative.

Today, my vet gave him the Capstar pill, another Strongid, Fel-O-Guard III (2nd), and Frontline Plus.

He also said one of Chibi's testicles has not dropped yet. He said it's alright now, we're going to keep an eye on it, but by his 3rd visit, if it's not dropped, they'll have to go in to get it. He also recommends that I wait until Chibi is about 6 months old for neutering.

He said I was freaking out for nothing, and to relax, all I have to do is keep vaccuming and keeping clean, and it should be fine. He told me I should be good in about two weeks. He said the Frontline will definitely do the job, and all I have to do is keep clean. He said if I'm REALLY worried, I can keep bathe him with flea shampoo (even though I read this was harsh, I think I would only use Dawn soap, unless you guys think I should use a flea bath) and keep combing him, but that was such a battle, I almost don't want to put Chibi through it again.


Thanks for ALL your suggestions!! I've been reading a LOT of home remedies for getting rid of fleas (salt, lemon, etc.). Anything you guys can recommend, let me know! I really would rather NOT use chemicals like powders or bombs. Unless you think other wise!
 

strange_wings

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You don't need a fogger or a professional in unless your home is very badly infested. Catching it this early, that shouldn't happen.

You can use human food grade diatomaceous earth to dust carpets with. You'll probably have to order it online. It's completely pet safe, you could eat it if you wished.


You can toss a flea collar in the vacuum to help stun any fleas you suck up.

Flea shampoos aren't really a good idea. The pesticide residue stays on the cat and they ingest it while licking themselves dry. I'd just avoid bathing. It's a good idea for tiny kittens as fleas can kill them. An older kitten will just get itchy. Do keep combing with the flea comb and a bowl of soapy water (to clear the fleas off the comb and into). Get your kitten used to weekly to bi-weekly flea comb checks. In the future it will help clue you in early on if he gets fleas again.


And no, it's not ideal that they lick the frontline. It shouldn't be too harmful, but you don't want it to happen in the future. When you apply it next month put it at the base of your kitten's skull - right behind his head. Cats, as you've learned, can lick the lower part of the back of their neck. Dogs can't do this, which is why the instructions and even vets (used to dogs) make that mistake.

Hopefully his testicles drop. If not it will be somewhat similar to a spay as far as the incision size and healing time goes.
 
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chibibinx

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Alright! So updates!

We've been combing Chibi and have found no fleas thus far!
We also can't seem to find any flea dirt, nor dander or dandruff (guess the bath with Dawn the other night really worked well!).

Now, we live in a one bedroom apartment, brand new hardwood floors, with only a couch, a funton, and a papasan chair, and we do not have a single piece of carpeting in the entire house, unless you count the bath mat next to the tub in the bathroom! Remember, we never really found any fleas, nor have we been bit ourselves, we just found the flea dirt left on our bedding not to long ago. I try to keep a spotless home, and remember, he's only been in the home for 8 days. He had only slept in our bedroom the first two nights we had him, and we never let him in the room since. He's been sleeping on a towel under the papsan chair, and now and then, he plays in the papsan chair.

Now keep that all in mind while I let you know what I've done! As my biggest concern now that my kitty is healthy, is how do I keep our home clean!!!

So far we have washed ALL the bedding in our bedroom at hottest setting, and I bought new pillows to put in the pillow cases and threw the other pillows out. Do you think the fleas/eggs could have gotten through the sheets and onto pillows/mattress?

I also unzipped the couch cushion covers of our living room couch, futon cover, and throw pillow covers and we're washing those on the hottest setting as well.

Two days ago, we threw salt all over the couch, futon, papsan, and his little scratching post play tree thing (which, he's never really used). Today, I vacuumed the entire apartment, vacuumed the couch and futon and waxed the floors as well with floor cleaner.

I threw out all his bedding, and bought a new kitty bed and placed that under the papsan.

Anything else you guys recommend me doing? I'm such a germ-a-phobe to begin with, I always have a clean house, but now I'm terrified!

Main questions I have are:
1. Could flea eggs have gotten under my sheets and into my mattress? Could they have gotten under my pillow cases as well and be in the pillows?

2. If I had thrown my clean, folded clothes onto my bedding for as little as 5 minutes BEFORE I washed the bedding, do I now need to wash those clothes again?

3. If he had stepped into my closet for less then a minute, could there be fleas on my clothing which is hung in a small closet?!

4. Is salting/vacuuming the arms/back of my couch good enough for flea egg removal?

5. Is salting/vacuuming the papasan cushion good enough for flea egg removal, or should I throw it away and buy a new one?

5. Is cleaning the floors with pet-safe Swifter Wet-Jet solution/mop good enough for flea egg killing?

6. Is washing the towels I dried him with after his bath at the hottest setting in the washer machine good enough to wash them, or should I trash them and buy new towels, as they are the ones we use for ourselves?

7. Am I safe yet?! XD

And now I'd like to apologize for seeming so anal and paranoid!
I keep a VERY strict, clean home and I've been crying for days over all of this! Everything I google sounds horrific and terrifying, but my friends and family say I'm going crazy and have nothing to worry about! The vet even looked at me like I was nuts. They all say I caught it early, it wasn't a bad break out at all so I shouldn't worry, etc., etc. Am I being too crazy about this? Everything I read on the internet is telling me I wont have a clean for months and months!
 

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1&2: I kind of doubt it. But both could be vacuumed thoroughly. You should vacuum your bed regularly anyways due to dust mites. Pillows should be washed for the same reason - and would have been good enough for the ones you had.

3: I sort of doubt it if they were all hung up. It would be more of a problem of the clothing was down low or the had been slept on.

4&5: Vacuuming a few times should be enough.
5b: Mop a few more times (every other day for a week should be enough) and use the vacuum around the corners of the walls. You might want to pull the fridge out, cleaning it isn't excessive since built up dust behind and under a fridge is bad for it anyways.

6: They wash. No need to throw anything away.

7: Since you caught this early, I think you'll be fine after everything you've done and a just keeping up on your vacuum (which is good to do even if there were no fleas).
 

otto

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Since he was given a capstar you won't find any adult fleas on him, capstar kills them all. Now that he is treated with frontline plus, every time any eggs lying around hatch, the flea will be killed as soon is it jumps on him.

Regular hygiene is all that is needed, now, IMO.

I speak from experience having just been through the same thing. I treated all the adult cats before bringing the kitten in. She was contained in the bathroom for 24 hours, until she was brought to the vet for her capstar and kitten revolution.

About 2 weeks after she was integrated I started finding a few dead fleas, meaning the eggs/larvae that I had inevitable tracked out of the bathroom had been hatching.

Nothing since, though I will be treating the cats for one more month.

My small apartment is all carpet, and my furniture is upholstered and I have layers of throws and blankets everywhere.
 
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