Query: Fleas and Cat Behavior

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Kevin Benko - 18 Aug 2003 20:39 GMT

Yesterday was Fleaday.
We bathed our three cats and dusted/bombed the place. It was
approximately a 12-hour process.

I noted that one of the cats had considerably more fleas than the other
two. I have two guesses as to why, and I was wondering if anyone can
offer me a reality check on my two guesses.

All three cats are strictly indoor cats. The cat in question (LaNeige)
is a Cymric/long-haired-manx, the other two are domestic shorthairs.
LaNeige has one of those two-layers-of-fur things going on with the outer
layer being long, fine, and "puffy". He seems to be no less healthy than
the others. He does seem to be more floor-oriented, though. The other
two cats levitate onto kitchen cabinets, bookshelves, and everything
else-- whereas LaNeige spends most of his time on the floor. I think
it's a Manx thing.

My guesses are that it's either the fact that he hangs out on the carpet
where most of the fleas *were*, or the quality/quantity of his fur that
attracts more fleas than the other two.

Considering the time and effort my wife and I put into Fleaday, I would
like to think that the fleas are all gone (but we'll be doing a followup
dusting/bombing in a few weeks to make certain). But I do get curious as
to why things are the way they are, and am wondering if anyone could give
me any input?

Thank you, in advance.

Signature

Kevin Benko

I am posting in a public forum, please respond to me in a public forum.

Reply to this Message

MaryL - 19 Aug 2003 00:25 GMT

> Yesterday was Fleaday.
> We bathed our three cats and dusted/bombed the place. It was
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> Thank you, in advance.

Unfortunately, I can't answer your question. However, I am curious about
what product(s) you are using because you refer to "dusting/bombing." I
think you should also add either Advantage or Frontline. They are available
from your vet and will be much more effective than dusting. If you do this,
be sure to let your vet know what other products you used. You may need to
wait awhile before following with one of these products.

MaryL

Photos of Duffy and Holly (pictorial history of my blind cat Duffy's
integration into our household):
Duffy, Part I: The Introduction -- http://tinyurl.com/8y54
Duffy, Part II: Life at Home -- http://tinyurl.com/8y56

Reply to this Message

Kevin Benko - 19 Aug 2003 16:55 GMT

[snip]
%: Unfortunately, I can't answer your question. However, I am curious about
%: what product(s) you are using because you refer to "dusting/bombing." I
%: think you should also add either Advantage or Frontline. They are available
%: from your vet and will be much more effective than dusting. If you do this,
%: be sure to let your vet know what other products you used. You may need to
%: wait awhile before following with one of these products.
[snip]

Product brand names aside[1], we used several room/carpet foggers, and
everywhere where we were not absolutely certain that the foggers would
"hit" we moved the furniture and tossed down some flea powder.

We don't plan to treat the critters unless we see more cooties, but we
will be treating the environment again.

[1]: I only mention specific brand names if there is a problem. If they
aren't paying me for mentioning their name, then they're all "Brand X"

Signature

Kevin Benko

I am posting in a public forum, please respond to me in a public forum.

Reply to this Message

Cheryl - 19 Aug 2003 02:16 GMT

> Considering the time and effort my wife and I put into Fleaday, I
> would like to think that the fleas are all gone (but we'll be doing
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Thank you, in advance.

No idea. But if the flea problem is that bad, I'd get him checked for
worms, too.

Reply to this Message

Kevin Benko - 20 Aug 2003 15:39 GMT

[snip]
%: All three cats are strictly indoor cats. The cat in question (LaNeige)
%: is a Cymric/long-haired-manx, the other two are domestic shorthairs.
%: LaNeige has one of those two-layers-of-fur things going on with the outer
%: layer being long, fine, and "puffy". He seems to be no less healthy than
%: the others. He does seem to be more floor-oriented, though. The other
%: two cats levitate onto kitchen cabinets, bookshelves, and everything
%: else-- whereas LaNeige spends most of his time on the floor. I think
%: it's a Manx thing.
%:
%: My guesses are that it's either the fact that he hangs out on the carpet
%: where most of the fleas *were*, or the quality/quantity of his fur that
%: attracts more fleas than the other two.
%:
%: Considering the time and effort my wife and I put into Fleaday, I would
%: like to think that the fleas are all gone (but we'll be doing a followup
%: dusting/bombing in a few weeks to make certain). But I do get curious as
%: to why things are the way they are, and am wondering if anyone could give
%: me any input?
[snip]

My original query was only concerned with the question of why one cat
*had* significantly more fleas than the other two. I suggested that it
might either due to the quantity/quality of the cat's fur or the behavior
of the cat.

The issue of getting rid of the fleas in the first place is irrelevant to
this thread.

Does anyone out there have any input as to the validity of my guesses as
to *why* the cat in question had more fleas than the other two?

Signature

Kevin Benko

I am posting in a public forum, please respond to me in a public forum.

Reply to this Message