Tips for my cat?

A question about : Tips for my cat?

Any tips for flea control? (Haven't the foggiest where he even got them from! :confused: ) I bought an expensive flea collar, but that doesn't appear to have done any good + commercial flea powder. Any EO that might help or other homemade remedies?

He is an indoor cat (no debating that please) and this is his first summer with us. I need advice/tips on how to cope to prevent him escaping when windows/doors need to be open for air :confused:

He believes himself to be joined at the hip to me, so it's actually going to be quite a task! Even when I go out to do a bit of gardening, he cries like he's been abandoned/starving/abused/neglected.

He's one year old if that's relevant.

TIA

Not sure where to post this, so please move to appropriate place if needbe.

Best answers:

• Avon SSS ....
• Avon's Skin so soft (or whatever it's called now) have a look at THIS thread
  Quote:
• I've had cats all my married life and found that the frontline spray from the vet is the most effective at dealing with the problem. It is a bit pricy though!
  Just spray on cat (to do this first corner cat in room with no exits ) Cat will not be best pleased! Do not expect to be forgiven for quite some time! When cat finally comes back (after long huff behind settee) try combing you should be able to remove some of the corpses.
  Good luck Queenie!
• I also agree with the 'Front Line' suggestion - our cat has terrible problems with fleas, she's actually allergic to the bites and it brings her skin up in terrible lumps - frontline clears this up almost entirely, well worth the money..
  we dont have any problems with keeping our cat indoors - we usually have to prise her off the radiator to get her to go out occassionally!!
• Wouldn't want to attempt to wash our cats with SSS! or the dog! The very best thing is Frontline, you have to get it from the vet, just pop in & ask for it then you don't have to pay for a consultation. It's not cheap, but it really, really works. I've not found anything else, chemical or otherwise that works half so well. It comes in a spray, or in capsules that you squeeze onto the animal's skin.
  ooops, sorry, posts crossing!
• I'd echo this, Frontline drops are the only effective long term treatment I've found. You may need to treat your carpets too, I get the carpet spray from the vet with the drops, it is expensive (about Ј18 2 years ago I think) but one can is enough to treat our whole house for a year, it has a long shelf life if you don't use it all & it works, unlike cheaper stuff from the pet shop
  As for where he got them, he may have carried the eggs into the house with him when he first arrived & they could have been laying dormant (upto 7 years!!!) waiting for the right conditions to hatch in. The carpet spray will kill any unhatched eggs too.
• Yup, Frontline is the best way to go and you'd need to get it from your vet. As you've only got the one indoor cat you might be better off getting the drops than a bottle, as it would go out of date long before you could use it all. I had to recently throw away half a bottle full as it had gone out of date (approx 2 yr shelf life) and I use it on 2 cats and also a snake that had mites last summer, but like you my cats are indoor cats so a couple of sprays a year is sufficient to keep them at bay.
  Remember that even though your cat isn't going out to pick them up that you can bring them indoors on your own clothes, either from the garden or if you visit friends that have cats etc and if he currently has fleas then they will also be living in your home, in carpets, soft furnishings, near radiators etc. You can treat the home with a product called Nuvan Staykill, again available from vet, if you think you have a problem with them.
  Good luck and hope you get rid of the little blighters
  Edit: sorry, cross-posted with Lillibet which has reminded me, this time of year is when fleas will be hatching out all over as the weather gets warmer so get them blasted NOW before they go on to lay more eggs
  While I think on, he may also need worming, assuming you haven't already done that (or may have used supermarket products ) so while you're at the vet getting Frontline ask for a Drontal wormer tablet (around Ј2) which will get rid of any internal nasties he may have too
• Hiya,
  Our cats used to be indoor, but somebody brought their dog to visit and we got fleas. We used Frontline drops - much easier and more effective (I find) than the spray. We also got a household spray from the vets to treat the house. We used frontline for 2 months and sprayed the house both times then used nothing. With the cat being an indoor cat you shouldn't get fleas really - unless you have mice....
  I would not judge on the indoor outdoor debate as I have been in a similar position. Cats adapt really well - the younger they are when you get them the better. Ours were rescue, timid and we lived by a road. The CPL were happy that they were indoor cats due to the circumstances and the state of the cats - in fact that was one of the conditions. We moved a couple of years later to a village in Wales where it is nice and quiet. After a couple of months the cats were now settled and chilled so we decided to let them out. The older one who was a timid, midget, persian cross was thrilled to bits and loved it. The other one who we got as a kitten was another matter - it took weeks to persuade her to go out and even when she did she would throw herself into windows and doors (5-6ft up) screeching to be let in! She is now mellow and wanders in and out as she pleases - but spends most of her time sleeping in the bedroom. We've been here 4 years and only recently descovered one of our neighbours has rescue cats - all indoor dwellers due to their circumstances and they are all happy and well.
  Ours (we only have one now) just got used to the dog we've had for a few months - I wonder how she'll do with the chickens I'm planning for later in the year...
  All the best
  SAM xx
  PS: You can always ring the Cats Protection League for advice they are really helpful.
• nothing further to add that's helpful, as the ONLY stuff that works is Frontline, although I'd never heard of the spray and I don't think my two would ever thank me for that!! I use the little packs and put it on the backs of their neck against their skin, and then stop them from cleaning each other!
  For people with dogs that live near the sea....so off post un true - sorry! My friends vet always recommended a run in the water to get rid of the fleas! She found this much easier as her dog was also allergic to the fleas and their nasty little bites!!!
  As for where they came from, has he been having parties with Mr.Hedgehog or Miss. Fox when your back's been turned???!!!!!
  Indoor/outdoor : my friend has 5 cats....and only 2 of them even want to go outside!!!! She has no idea why, the other 3 are quite content to watch the world go by from the windowsill. I think the main point is, that little puss has the love and attention he needs....his favourite place will be on your lap, whilst your on MSE.... (if he has any sense )
• Interesting point about indoor cats (sorry I know that you said it isn't up for debate :rolleyes: )
  If you have a cat that doesn't want to go out or can't for whatever reason then what's the problem with that? I mean.... what cat doesn't want to spend it life asleep on top of the ironing pile or on your lovely clean duvet or lying on the kitchen worktops after you've just cleaned it?
  Inside in front of the fire or outside in the rain... I know what I'd choose
• yep our cat is happy as pie with indoor status - she HATES it outside, the wind ruffles her fur you see, she doesnt like that - she ventures out onto the porch sometimes but anything but a slight breeze and she's back in by the radiator again. She is also a big wuss and cant stand the damp patch on the back of her neck from the front line - dont ask me how I managed to raise such a softy!
  I forgot to mention - she actually has a choice - she lives with my parents in the country!
• We used the frontline spray rather than the drops as at the time we had 3 cats and 1 springer spaniel so it was financially better to just buy one spray to use between them! Now sadly I just have the 2 cats (who I love to pieces, really ) so perhaps it's time to go buy the drops and stop the "torture"
• Yes, C_Q ... some people have strong views on the subject (which, while I respect their views, I didn't want to stir up LOL )
  My previous cats were outdoor cats ....
  ... one came home with snare marks on his rear legs = amputation!
  ... one managed to stagger home to take his last breath on our patio (assume run over? Nope, cats who are run over do *not* reek of PETROL!! )
  ... one struggled to stagger home, but only made it to the boundary fence and signs of torture were equally evident on his corpse.
  It was truly heartbreaking. I swore I would never have another cat!
  I didn't bank on my d9yo who has always put down "Kitten" on his birthday/Christmas list since he was old enough to do one I relented last year and surprised the boys when they came home from school with our adorable new family member! (Spot the 'softie' )
  Funnily enough, it also cured his blankie/thumb sucking habit ... the moment we got our furbaby, he immediately ran upstairs, grabbed his blankie and put it in the basket because: "He'll be missing his Mummy and needs it more than I do; I've still got my lovely Mummy who just made all my dreams come true"
  Thank you all for such great advice! !!!!!! the expense on this issue - it's worth it
• What about something like this during the summer to stop him getting out through the window?:-
  https://www.betterware.co.uk/
  Insect Window Screen 18103
  Easy-trim window screen to prevent insects from flying in through an open window. Allows fresh air to circulate. Attach around window frame using the self-adhesive touch-fastening strip. 130 x 150cm. See also Door Insect Screen Offer (Code 19362).
  nr: 12003443
  Ј4.99
  
  
  
• As a responsible cat owner you have to do whatever is going to be best for your cat. If that involves keeping them in so that they're safe then that's what you have to do.
  If I had a cat that cried at the door morning, noon and night for months then I'm sure that I would relent and let it go outside but if I had a cat that needed to stay indoors, I would keep it in. !!!!!! what anyone else thinks.
  BTW.... maybe in a couple of years I can borrow your method for prising my youngest from her 'dirty blanket'