What remedies exist for a cat beflea'd?

October 24, 2012 2:13 PM

What remedies exist for a cat beflea'd?

My most faithful feline associate
while I, at length, was absent
has, it seems, become woefully beset
by fleas or lice
or something that bites and leaves
her in a most agitated and sorry state.

What is worse, in her noble fight with claw
and tooth and paw against the ravages of the louse
she savages only her own poor hide
like the shattered villages of your enemies countryside

Pray tell me then, O hive'd mind, in
whatever way can I contrive to expel the curse
from out her fur, to soothe and nurse her skin to health
and thus in truth, above all else
repair her temperament

I thank you for your time, my friends, and know
however polish'd be your two cents -- you are of course
before god and the courts, NMV. whom I would counsult, could I afford

posted by sarastro to pets & animals (15 answers total)

Hie thee to the vet for Vectra post haste. Also get poor kitty a flea bath while there.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 2:16 PM on October 24, 2012

Revolution
Is the way to go
Where both fleas and mites
meet their deadly foe.
Burma Shave
posted by jamaro at 2:17 PM on October 24, 2012 [11 favorites]

I most humbly do suggest
You call your vet, as he knows best
So call me, maybe
posted by infinitywaltz at 2:18 PM on October 24, 2012 [2 favorites]

We're trying Revolution today
(actually last night, I say)
The vet says it's the best
We'll put it to the test.
Hoo, ha, hooray.
posted by amanda at 2:21 PM on October 24, 2012

Here at the Vet School where I work, Capstar is all the rage. It doesn't provide lasting protection like Vectra or Revolution, but it works in minutes. You can double up with one of the topicals to provide insta-kill plus long-term destruction. It's not clear from your poesy, but if she has been at home during the infestation, you may want to treat the environment with something like Knockout as well.

But, verily, you should call your vet to see what they recommend for fleas. They will probably be happy to tell you over the phone.
posted by Rock Steady at 2:23 PM on October 24, 2012

Advantage, Frontline;
See your vet for a prescrip.
Avoid OTC.
posted by jferg at 2:23 PM on October 24, 2012

Alas! No vet?
Amazon.com is your best bet.
Advantage, FrontLine, and others
were I your kitty, my druthers.

Be wary of flea shampoo
for some kits react badly to the goo.
A flea comb is a cheap solution
to a lovely resolution.

If these remedies do not suffice
in your kitty's battle with fleas - or lice!
To the vet you must hie
Else the critters will not die.
posted by cooker girl at 2:24 PM on October 24, 2012 [2 favorites]

Tragic kitteh woes
may be ameliorated
using this method
posted by lalex at 2:27 PM on October 24, 2012

I'm not a poet, alas...

I did, however, recently have a beflead kitty of my own.

Advantage kicked the tiny flea butt, verily.
No prescription needed, btw.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:48 PM on October 24, 2012 [1 favorite]

Indeed, friend, Advantage has proved to be best for all my many cats. And, being light of purse as yourself, I send you to the all-powerful Amazon, where you can buy Advantage from the British Isles at mere pennies. And until it arrives (it may take a week), take up the cudgel yourself against those pesky mites. They can reproduce like... well, fleas, but you have fingers!

Here's what to do: Buy a flea comb, fill a bowl with warm water and a drop or two of dishwashing detergent. Gently comb kitty, who will purr, pinch the fleas caught on the comb and drop them into the water. No nasty squishing, and soon, no frantic scratching.
posted by kestralwing at 3:02 PM on October 24, 2012 [1 favorite]

It probably varies by geography, but the fleas here (SE VA) have been resistant to both Frontline and Advantage for the last couple of years. We found out the hard way when our neighbor's beagle darted into our house and we let him hang out for a few minutes, which led to a whole-house infestation. Revolution works very well for our cats, and as mentioned above, Capstar is great for giving immediate relief.
posted by gimli at 3:03 PM on October 24, 2012

In addition to all recommended above I'd get a bunch of cheap lit/heated glue traps from a hardware store. These work really well when it comes to capturing stragglers hiding in carpets etc where they wait for opportunities to jump on your legs and bite you. Really helps getting rid of all fleas once the cats are de-flead.
They look like little plastic UFOs with a glue disc and a little light bulb inside and they usually plug into wall sockets. I guess fleas are attracted to the heat of the bulbs, jump in and get stuck. They're a bit smelly until aired out. The openings are too small for the cats to get in/stuck.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 3:39 PM on October 24, 2012

It is poverty
that brings us to this sorry state and so
we carry our cats into fleadom
unprepared, unwashed (because nobody washes a cat) but never
unloved.

So! Stride forth unto the vet's office
poor as you are, summon up
a hundred dollars for the visit
because the over the counter stuff
doesn't work
for shit.

At the vet's they will extol the virtues
of Frontline
and Advantage
and perhaps Vectra, the new one.
Look deeply
into the eyes of the receptionist and say
I am very broke.
What worked - this year -
for your cat?

Pause.

Step back.
Whimper, perhaps.

They will tell you what is working this year.
Every year is different.
This year they have Confortis.
I hear good things
About Confortis.
But I can't afford it.
Still!

Confortis exists!
Meanwhile.
Get Frontline. Or Advantage.
Hope for an early frost.
As do we all,
Really.
posted by mygothlaundry at 10:13 PM on October 24, 2012 [2 favorites]

also, fleabomb your house.
posted by jannw at 2:18 AM on October 25, 2012

In addition to the Advantage, we also did the flea comb routine that kestralwing described.

Also, we regularly vacuumed every square inch of carpet, rugs, cat posts, and upholstery in the house. Every room, even if kitty doesn't go in them. You also have to get under tables and beds, so lots of furniture moving is in your future.

Then, we gave all carpets, rugs, cat posts, and upholstery a good dose of this stuff (the spray can, not the pump bottle.) It took about three cans to adequately cover our home. They, you keep-up with the vacuuming. We would vacuum, then take the bag out, put it in a gallon freezer bag, and put it in the freezer until the next vacuuming. It was our dedicated flea-bag. After three or so vacuumings, we tossed the bag and started a fresh one.

We looked into the pill-based solutions, but pilling our boy is a life-threatening adventure. We stuck with the topical solution.

Good luck!
posted by Thorzdad at 4:11 AM on October 25, 2012