Warning to all Cat Owners!!!

mindripper

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I just wanted to warn all cat lovers so hopefully they won't have to go through what I'm going through now. My oldest cat (16 years old) was the most lovable little calico you could ever want. She was a sweet little cat who only weighed about 6 pounds. I also have dogs and the dogs apparently brought fleas into the house (my cats are strictly indoor cats). I treated all the pets with flea treatment. I had been working a lot of overtime and since I drive over an hour to work I wasn't home much for the last month. I didn't have a lot of time to spend with my pets but I made sure to feed them and give them a pat on the head so they knew I loved them. Sunday night my little calico didn't seem to be herself and one of the other cats was almost standing guard over her. I picked her up and she was still crawling with fleas even though she had been treated a week ago. Her gums and tongue were almost white. I gave her a bath with flea shampoo but she started getting weak. I rushed her to an animal emergency hospital and they said she had severe anemia from the flea bites. They were going to give her a transfusion but she was unresponsive and had a very weak heartbeat. They recommended she be put to sleep. I just held her and cried and they asked if I wanted to see her before they did it. I said yes but she passed away before they had the chance. I spent Monday burying my little buddy and I still feel that if I had only noticed it sooner she might still be alive. Everyone, please keep an eye out for this. I never knew fleas could kill a cat and now my poor Patches is gone and it could have been prevented. I loved that little cat and I miss her terribly. I feel like I failed her. I don't want anyone else to have to go through what I'm going through right now so please take care of your cats.
 

hissy

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Fleas and ticks can indeed kill cats and kittens quickly as they cause anemia and also fleas bring on tapeworm invasions. It always safest to treat your cat with spot on treatment from your vet- either Advantage or Frontline, and never over-the counter products as many will harm your pet instead of helping it.

I am sorry you and your cat had to learn about this before it was to late.
 

myrage

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aaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww...
I'm soooooo soooooo sorry about your calico (Patches??). That just broke my heart. I have a calico (mystyc) that I love very very much. Well, I love all my girls, but when someone talks about calicos, and torties, my little ears perk up.

Thankyou for the warning, and I'm sorry nobody gave you a warning before this.
 

<3baci-n-system

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i am so sorry to hear about patches
i never knew that either about fleas. thank you for making me aware of it. i'm soooooo sorry mindripper that you had to find out the hard way. you and patches are in my thoughts
 

prissykitty

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I am very sorry to hear about Patches, that's horrible. I have seen Flea-bite anemia in cats before, and I have seen it kill. A lot of people think fleas are just pests and they are so tiny, how could they be anything more than just a nuisance. Unfortunately they can suck the life right out of your animal. Kittens and Geriatric animals are the most susceptible. Hissy brings up a good point. If you cat has fleas, then he also probably has tapeworms. Treating for fleas is a big deal. To successfully control them you need to treat three things. Your pet itself, the environment (Especially under chairs and couches), and outside and around your house. For treating the environment I recommend using a product with an IGR (insect growth regulator) in it. It's a lot more expensive, but it's worth the money. Once you get things under control, it's always a good idea to get a pest-control service started. I've got some folks who come by once a month and spray indoors and outdoors. They use a citronella-based product which is safe for cats. I haven't had a flea problem since.
 

kittenkiya

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I am so sorry about your loss. I can't think of anything that would hurt more. Are you OK?
 

creepyowl

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I'm so sorry to hear about your cat!


I'm going to take extra care with fleas from now on. I wasn't aware your cat could die from them. Luckily Em is flea free and he gets his monthly flea treatment I got from my vet.

Hug to you mindripper
 
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mindripper

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Thank you all for your thoughts. No, KittenKiya, to be honest I'm not ok. I don't really expect to be anytime soon either. I've lost pets before, usually to old age. It's not easy but it's something you know is bound to happen and you can say that it's time had come and it had a nice life and you took good care of it. This is different. It shouldn't have happened and it's my fault. I keep seeing her little face and I can't stop thinking about her. You're right. I can't think of anything that would hurt more either.
 

kittenkiya

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Don't beat yourself up. If your baby was still here, she would snuggle up to you and probably lick your face for all your hard work to help her, and then fall asleep. Our babies love us no matter what. This is NOT your fault. If you knew this could happen and did nothing, that would be different, but that is not what happened.
 

hissy

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Mindripper, it is one thing to intentionally harm an animal. It is quite another to not really understand all that is involved in caring for a cat. Don't blame yourself for this, accept blame for what it is, a part of the grief process. One of the five steps actually. Don't what if yourself about it either. I know from which I speak because recently I lost two sweet cats. I still blame myself for their deaths too even though others have told me it isn't-
 

kumbulu

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Mindripper, I know it's a very difficult time for you right now but please treat your other cats and dogs with Frontline, Advantage or Program now so that you don't have to go through this again. Don't forget to worm them too.

I'm so sorry you've lost your lovely Patches.
 

dawnofsierra

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Loving my beautiful baby girl
I'm so sorry you lost lost your sweet Patches. Thank you so much for sharing this information with us so that others are not forced to go through with the pain you have endured.
 

lorie temps

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I am heartbroken to hear your story. I know it leaves you with guilt as well as grief. We are having a terrible time with fleas this year too and because of having to wait to treat a mommy and her kittens, we've been worried. The mommy has kept the flea population (somewhat) under control, but has eaten them while cleaning the babies. Now of course she has worms and will be going to the vet.
Again,
I am so sorry for your loss.
This is a perfect way to honor your baby by warning others.
 
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