Parasite question

[nanamouse]

I've been wondering, with all my cats indoor only, now that I'm not taking in any strays or even feeding them here at home anymore, is it still neccisary to have the cats on the preventative that covers earmites and internal parasites as well as fleas?

I'm not really sure of how all these are spread and acquired, but if they will be just as healthy with less chemicals I'd rather not be putting so many on them every month.

[Kittybits]

Well my kitty is an indoor cat and he doesn't take any preventative meds except the occasional flea & tick stuff. Since he is indoor and not around any other animals, I don't feel the need to give him his flea meds every month. I usually stick to every other month. I too try to minimize what I stick on him. I have ear mite treatment on hand if he ever does get ear mites, but I just try to stay vigilant. My vet never has told me that I need to give him anything preventative. So maybe check with your vet first, but I would say that as long as you monitor your kitties they should be fine.

[special]

I agree with kittybits Nana. If there is no one going outside, you should be okay.

Also as kittybits said, you may be able to drop to every other month now, with the flea treatment also.

Or even, stagger. Some get treatment one month, the other half get treatment the second month. So you're always treating, monthly, but not on every cat.

For instance if you've got two who are joined at the hip most of the time, treat one one month, the other the second month.

Is this making any sense? I just woke up, LOL!

You'll have to make a chart to keep track.

[nanamouse]

Fleas are almost a constant in this part of the country, and with the dogs and us going in and out I wouldn't dare do a summer without flea prevention for the cats too. I wish they made it for humans! Last summer my grandson sat on a chair at the drugstore while we waited for prescriptions, and got up scratching with fleas hopping under his shirt! Then I noticed the dog hair on the chair. Can you imagine what it's like inside the house of the last person to sit there?

As for the earmites however, if those are only passed from animal to animal, and the dogs don't have them than maybe the cats are safe. It's been a few months since I saw a sign of the last foolhardy little mouse to venture in, so there is nothing for the cats to hunt but catnip mice and milk jug rings, and those don't carry worms.;)

Witch has been treated only every few months or so all along as she has rarely permits that much contact. I sneak around with a tube of Revolution in hand, hoping to sneak up on her asleep, but often as not have to toss it when it's been open 24 hours. :rolleyes:

[katiem]

I was going to say the same thing you did nana, the dogs go out, the fleas come in. If you have to buy the flea treatment anyway why not get the one that has everything included and play it safe.

[nanamouse]

I was going to say the same thing you did nana, the dogs go out, the fleas come in. If you have to buy the flea treatment anyway why not get the one that has everything included and play it safe.

That goes back to the problem of no local vet stocking it, and having to buy on line. I researched the new product my vet carries, Promeris, and it sounds good but only protects against fleas, ticks and mange mites. I've noticed the stuff they have been on is less effective than before, I'm guessing that after a couple years the fleas are developing an immunity, so it's time to change for a while.

[tiffers]

Nana, continue to buy the Revolution. It's an all in one. Any time you open your doors or windows...any time you go in or out of your house...any time the dog goes in or out...parasites are floating in. They come in on the dogs, the come in in the air, they come on your pants and shoes.

[WimP]

It`s important/necessary to make the skin less atractive to fleas by maintaining the right degree of acidity (PH value). You can do this by giving one dose a week of the homeopathic remedy Sulphur 30x or 30c for 6-8 weeks. Can be repeated if necessary.

Or you can give Sulphur 200c, one dose 3 times a week at times of risk.

The (safe) homeopathic remedy won`t kill the fleas, because homeopathy can`t kill, not even a flea, but the skin will become less attractive to the fleas and deter them from living on an animal.

[MandyPug]

If it were me, i would not suggest sulphur to anyone who is not under the direct supervision of a homeopath that can see the animals hands on. Sulphur, from what i've been taught, is one of the remedies that you shouldn't screw around with. I've seen many dogs come in with a healing crisis because the owners read somewhere that sulphur was a cure all and they used it without the supervision of an animal certified homeopath in their area who could be hands on. My homeopath, who is our store resident animal certified homeopath will not even use sulphur because there are other ways out there that are less risky than playing with sulphur.