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House Guest

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Jeff Mullen - 20 Nov 2006 03:44 GMT
A little over a month ago, I took on a house guest.  "Tigger"
owns a friend from a summer job.

There are two issues.  First, my house guest had a few
uninvited guests:  fleas.  I've bought her a flea collar
and am using Hartz Ultraguard (she's due for her second
dose tomorrow), and...it's not completely working.  I
haven't seen any fleas, but she's itching herself.  The
stuff seemed to run out of gas about a week ago.  Still,
there's been progress.  The threadbare cat that I got
from my friend has turned into a stronger, healthier
feline with a soft, silky coat.  In turn, the liking that
Tigger took to me has grown stronger as her health has
improved.

First issue:  anybody got any info to share on Hartz
Ultraguard?  Are there any other remedies that one can
use for this malady (alone or in addition to the ones
I'm using now) that won't cost an arm and a leg--
not that the Babies aren't worth it, mind you, but I've
only got so many arms and legs to go 'round.

I also have to deal with Sweetie.  He got his name for
the way that he is with two-legs.  With smaller mammals,
he has a slightly different personality.  It's sort of a
Jeckyl/Hyde thing.  In many instances, this is a GOOD
thing.  He endeared himself to a former landlord by going
out on the roof of the house and evicting the pigeons
from the gutter.  There was also the small matter of the
mouse that he presented to me for inspection shortly
after my arrival in my current abode.  The only problem
is that he seems to treat other cats the same way.

Which brings up the second issue:  is there anything
that I can do to better integrate this pair?  At the
moment, I've sequestered Tigger in one bedroom, with
occasional open-door intervals.  These invariably end
with Sweetie and Tigger getting into a fight of some-
kind.  Sweetie could weigh twice as much as Tigger,
and he's got a thick, luxurient coat of fur that also
acts as armor when he's fighting.  Though she's good
at squeezing into small areas and using her smaller
size to her advantage, I still fear for her safety.  I
also tried to borrow a screen-of-a-majig from the Singhs.
Didn't do much good.  There's a washer-drier next to the
bedroom door.  I put up the screen, and there was Sweetie--
BOING, PLOP--right there in the thick of things again.
The fun, of course, didn't begin right then.  It waited
until Tigger found a way to slink through the grating.
I should call Liz and let her know I'm going to have
to return it.

Any advice?
Pat - 20 Nov 2006 04:07 GMT
> First issue:  anybody got any info to share on Hartz
> Ultraguard?

I don't trust any Hartz products, but they never work anyway.

> Are there any other remedies that one can
> use for this malady (alone or in addition to the ones
> I'm using now) that won't cost an arm and a leg--
> not that the Babies aren't worth it, mind you, but I've
> only got so many arms and legs to go 'round.

Do what Ted Davis does - get the large dog size Frontline and use 1/8th dose
at a time. Much cheaper that way. I suck up half a ml in a small syringe and
apply. Any leftover can be stored in a small bottle.

> I also have to deal with Sweetie.

> Which brings up the second issue:  is there anything
> that I can do to better integrate this pair?
>
> Any advice?

Make their time together into a party. Try giving them catnip together.
Treats together. Play with laser pointer together.
Jeff Mullen - 22 Nov 2006 07:22 GMT
>> First issue:  anybody got any info to share on Hartz
>> Ultraguard?
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> at a time. Much cheaper that way. I suck up half a ml in a small syringe and
> apply. Any leftover can be stored in a small bottle.

How long should I go between doses?

>> I also have to deal with Sweetie.
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> Make their time together into a party. Try giving them catnip together.
> Treats together. Play with laser pointer together.

Thank you for your kind advice, but catnip has no affect on
Sweetie whatsoever--he's one of those cats who's immune to
it.  As a result, he has no interest in the stuff.

I'll try to find something else to help things along, though.
The general principal is a good idea!  Thank you again!
Pat - 22 Nov 2006 17:48 GMT
> How long should I go between [Frontline] doses?

Package directions say a month. That's what I do.
Takayuki - 20 Nov 2006 07:02 GMT
>A little over a month ago, I took on a house guest.  "Tigger"
>owns a friend from a summer job.

Both your babies sound like sweeties, but I hope you don't mean that
Sweetie is a cannibal!
Jeff Mullen - 22 Nov 2006 07:23 GMT
>> A little over a month ago, I took on a house guest.  "Tigger"
>> owns a friend from a summer job.
>
> Both your babies sound like sweeties, but I hope you don't mean that
> Sweetie is a cannibal!

Not yet--but I won't leave them together without at least a door
between them while I'm sleeping or away from the trailer.
Cheryl Perkins - 20 Nov 2006 13:48 GMT
> First issue:  anybody got any info to share on Hartz
> Ultraguard?  Are there any other remedies that one can
> use for this malady (alone or in addition to the ones
> I'm using now) that won't cost an arm and a leg--
> not that the Babies aren't worth it, mind you, but I've
> only got so many arms and legs to go 'round.

Maybe it'll work when the second dose takes care of any stragglers. I used
Advantage this summer, and gave a second dose at the vet-recommended
interval after the first.

> I also have to deal with Sweetie.
<snip>

Ah. Well. Lots of people recommend keeping them separate (as you are
trying to do) and introducing them gradually, or confusing the odours
somehow so neither smells 'strange' (rubbing both with tuna juice, or
switching their isolation locations). I've done the isolation and
switching, but eventually, I've ended up letting them settle their
dominance issues between themselves, trying to ignore the yowling as long
as neither is injured. I think it is important that both cats have
somewhere with access to litter, food and water that is either easily
defensible or totally safe, so that when things get too fraught they can
take take refuge. Or be placed in refuge. My little 16yo Mandy is
suprisingly aggressive and territorial for such a sweet little innocent
ball of fur (as I keep telling the vet, she's a real sweetheart at home,
where, of course, things go her way). It took her a long time to adjust to
her longterm companion who had to be put down in the summer, so I knew I
was in for a lengthy period of adjustment when I brought home Sam, a much
younger, soon to be neutered tom. At first, I leaned heavily on the
separation and scent mixing approach, gradually allowing more and more
together time. There was some stress expressed in a common cat way by
litter box incidents. A catsitter who was alarmed by the hissing and
yowling separated them entirely while I was away on a short trip; when I
got back, I started the integration again. Now, after 3 months, they have
occasional spats, but no litter box incidents, are never separated, often
sleep on the same bed (although not actually *touching* or too close
together!) and Mandy has even started returning to the downstairs area
that was Sam's domain and refuge.

So don't give up too early - the process can take a long time!

Signature

Cheryl

Baha - 20 Nov 2006 17:40 GMT
I wonder what you're feeding them?

Sabrina didn't come with any six-legged baggage, but she developed a
hellacious allergy after we brought her home. Richard fed her chazzerai and
she wasn't used to premium chow; recently it turned out that she's got an
allergy to fish-based food, and our good doctor gave her a shot of prednisone
that turned her around faster than Bill Clinton to a Big Mac. Her scabs are
nice and healed and her temper is greatly improved after her nasty bout of
itchies.

As for integrating, keep in mind that integration could take weeks or even
months. Sabrina didn't start coming out of the bedroom until we'd had her
over two months; and there are going to be squabbles. The suggestion to give
the kittyweed together is a good one, and helped with Sabrina and the others.
She's good with Stosh and Odessa now, but argues with Roxie over who gets to
be the Lady of the house and is still learning how to take Brandy's efforts
at play. Sweetie and Tigger are going to cuss at each other; that's the
natural order of things as far as I can tell, and they're still learning to
define their boundaries and figure out if you still love the both of them--
which I know you do!

Stosh and Brandy learned to jump the gate so you may want to raise it by
putting a plank across the door, that's wide enough to support the gate. A
similar thing helped us. So has playing Mousietail together, and believe it
our not, music; Sabrina is a dedicated Beatles fan, it turns out, and she
lets us know what else she does or doesn't like.

Consider Feliway too, you can get it at Petco. It has kitty pheromones that
calm them down. It's a hair pricey, but worth its weight in gold.

Blessed be,
Baha

>A little over a month ago, I took on a house guest.  "Tigger"
>owns a friend from a summer job.
[quoted text clipped - 49 lines]
>
>Any advice?
Kreisleriana - 20 Nov 2006 19:30 GMT
>A little over a month ago, I took on a house guest.  "Tigger"
>owns a friend from a summer job.
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>not that the Babies aren't worth it, mind you, but I've
>only got so many arms and legs to go 'round.

I wouldn't use anything with a Hartz label on my cats.  At best
they're ineffective, at worst, harmful.  Do a google search on Hartz
products, and you'll see a multitude of complaints about their
ineffectiveness and bad reactions -- rashes, fevers, etc.  

Don't mess around with supermarket remedies.  Frontline is fast and
effective.

>I also have to deal with Sweetie.  He got his name for
>the way that he is with two-legs.  With smaller mammals,
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
>Any advice?

Theresa
Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh

Make Levees, Not War
Baha - 20 Nov 2006 20:32 GMT
Jeff,

I strongly recommend you talk to Dr. Scott Newman of the Georgetown
Veterinary Clinic in Williamsville. Tell them I recommended him to you, and
talk with them about arranging for broken-up payments or holding a check for
you until next payday. They have a history of being decent about such things,
and Frontline is a damned good product.

Blessed be,
Baha

>>A little over a month ago, I took on a house guest.  "Tigger"
>>owns a friend from a summer job.
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
>Make Levees, Not War
Rhonda - 23 Nov 2006 02:23 GMT
Jeff,

I'd take the flea collar off right away. It could be causing the
problem. It emits a continuous poison and is just not healthy for a cat.
   We used to use Advantage (from the vet's) when needed and it was great.

In introducing them, be careful with your first cat. Give Sweetie lots
of extra attention and love. He needs reassurance that he's still going
to have his place with you.

When you are separating them, don't put the new cat in Sweetie's
favorite place -- for instance if Sweetie sleeps with you at night,
don't shut Tigger into the bedroom and keep Sweetie out. That will make
him more jealous.

Someone here suggested taking a towel and rubbing it on one cat, then on
the other to mix their scents.

Go slow, and hopefully Sweetie will calm down.

Fingers are crossed!

Rhonda

> A little over a month ago, I took on a house guest.  "Tigger"
> owns a friend from a summer job.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> and am using Hartz Ultraguard (she's due for her second
> dose tomorrow), and...it's not completely working.
 
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