Welcome to the Wednesday Cats of Catster! Each week, we share a narrative from certainly one of our cat-loving Catsters. This week is about Crystal and her soul cat, Ivy.
The final time we spoke, I shared a few of my favourite recollections of Ivy throughout her first couple of months with us.
This week, I needed to the touch on certainly one of my not-so-favorite recollections: Ivy’s flea infestation.
Have you ever ever seen a kind of buggers up shut in a kind of extraordinarily zoomed-in photos? These issues are straight out of a nightmare! And, very troublesome to do away with.
Ivy is a rescue kitty, and seeing as if she was nonetheless a kitten when she was given up, she didn’t have any vaccinations and wasn’t spayed. As I’ve talked about earlier than, she bought her vaccinations, and was fastened earlier than I picked her up.
It actually by no means occurred to me that her earlier household wouldn’t have given her tick or flea treatment, both, but it surely ought to have!
One morning, I awoke and had some cuddle time with Ivy in mattress. She was sitting on my chest purring away, and all was nicely.
That’s once I noticed it. A tiny black fleck moved throughout her little white chest. I initially thought it was only a speck of grime, however upon nearer inspection, I noticed that it was positively transferring. I parted her fur and shock, shock: there have been extra!
Additionally price mentioning right here is that since we bought her, she was very energetic and did unusual issues. Some issues specifically stood out and made extra sense upon my flea discovery.
Within the earlier days, she would scratch herself towards each floor in the home. She could be laying calmly, sleeping soundly, after which immediately get up, ferociously lick herself and begin darting round. What appeared like regular, kitten habits at first (which I’m positive a few of it was), really was her making an attempt to rid herself of the itching the fleas brought on. Realizing what indicators to look out for relating to your cat having fleas is essential!
Panic mode ensued. She had been on each floor in the home by then, exploring and snoozing on the sofa and in mattress with us.
I instantly went to our native pet retailer and bought the mandatory provides to do away with these horrible little critters.
She bought flea and tick treatment, and inside a few hours, the fleas had been dying off. I might actually decide them out of her fur with a tweezer—which I did—and he or she was already appearing calmer.
It hadn’t occurred to me to examine her fur once I first bought her as a result of I used to be simply so overwhelmed by the joy that the thought didn’t even cross my thoughts. I felt horrible for some time about it, figuring out that she was in all probability extraordinarily uncomfortable and itchy, and we didn’t do something to assist sooner.
After the flea-bus (Ivy) was handled, it was time to sort out the remainder of the home. I put every part she had touched within the washer and disinfected the entire surfaces, together with the sofa and the mattress. My pores and skin was crawling at this level, and it felt just like the fleas had infested me, too!
After scrubbing the home, myself, and medicating Ivy, issues calmed down. For the subsequent couple of days after that, Ivy had her fur parted and checked tons of of instances a day till, finally, there have been no extra indicators of fleas, together with the poo and the useless ones.
It was additionally evident that she was rather more comfy, and he or she now not jumped up when sleeping or scratched herself towards surfaces as typically. I informed Ivy to please converse up subsequent time one thing was unsuitable, and he or she replied with silence. As anticipated.
PSA to all cat house owners, new ones and seasoned ones: examine your cat for fleas repeatedly, be according to their tick and flea treatment, and don’t ignore habits you assume is even a little bit bit out of the unusual.
If the fleas stay untreated, it might probably result in severe well being issues and even demise to your kitty. Fleas may also be dangerous to people and carry some illnesses.
On this case, it’s completely higher to be protected than sorry.
Have you ever ever needed to take care of a flea infestation? I positive hope not, however be happy to share your story with us when you have!
Thanks for studying, Catsters! We’ll catch you subsequent time on Catster.com!
CHECK YOUR CAT FOR FLEAS!
Okay, bye!
This text options Crystal and Ivy in our Wednesday Cats of Catster sequence.
