Subj:  Ideas on cause of bumps & salivation?

I have a 'mutt' cat that is about 5 years old and she stays outdoors.  It is
impossible to keep this cat indoors.  About a year ago, I noticed some
'bumps' on her back around the base of her tail.  They are really small
scabs and to me, look like bites.  They itch her continually.  She has
always been an outdoor cat and this condition has appeared in only the last
year or so.

About 3 months ago I took her to a vet.  The vet looked at her and couldn't
come up with a diagnosis.  I shared my theory, which was that they were flea
bites and she was having a reaction to the bites.  The vet said this was
possible but was also non-committal.  She suggested a shampoo, cortisone
injection, and a flea treatment (Program?).  This 'waste' of time/money cost
me $86.

All of this seemed to clear the spots up but not completely.  I treated her
with the flea drops for the next two months and they seemed to reduce the
bumps/scabs but not completely.  The last treatment is about expired and I
noticed that the bumps have spread and have now extended up to around her
neck and also on her belly.  They are most concentrated where they started -
on her back near her tail and on her haunches.

I live along the gulf coast in a house and the cat is exposed to fleas from
vacant lots nearby - regardless of what is in my yard.

Another odd thing I have seen her do is salivate uncontrollably.  It is not
foamy but rather very thick and clear with a couple of bubbles.  This will
go on for about 5-10 minutes and run out her mouth onto the floor and hang
off her chin.  While this is going on she seems otherwise normal.  I think
it is unrelated and have seen this only about 3 times in the last 8 months.

QUESTIONS
=========

1) Has anybody heard of flea bites (or reactions to them) manifesting like
this?
2) There are treatments that kill the fleas outright and some that sterilize
the fleas.  I am thinking that for an environment in which I am unable to
control the fleas, the best treatment is one that kills the fleas on
contact.  I am thinking the product that sterilizes the fleas might be a
'nice-to-have' but not optimal.  Thoughts?
3) Any ideas regarding the salivating?
4) The Bio Spot product is by the most inexpensive - if it actually works.
Has anybody ever used it?

==============================================================

Here are some things I gleaned from this group and compiled.  If anybody can
fill in more info and/or make corrections to this I would greatly appreciate
it.

======== CATS ===========================================
TREATMENT   INJECT DROPS INGEST  PESTI HOR- TICKS  CAT
                                -CIDE MONE       6-MOS
=========   ====== ===== ======  ===== ==== ===== =====

Program      6-mos 1-mos  1-mos    N     Y    N     $42
Advantage          1-mos           Y     N    N     $55
Frontline          1-mos           Y     N    Y     $63
Revolution         1-mos           ?     ?   dogs   $57
Bio Spot Stripe-On 3-mos           Y     ?    N     $10

(prices from www.1800petmeds.com)

Chemical      Trade Name  Web Site
========      ==========  ========
lufenuron     Program            http://www.programpet.com
                                http://www.petwellness.com/cathome.asp
fipronil      Frontline          http://www.frontline.com
imidacloprid  Advantage          http://www.nofleas.com
selemectin    Revolution         http://www.revolutionpet.com/
pyriproxyfen  Bio Spot Stripe-On ?

[Much of the information above was gleaned from previous posts to this
group.  One interesting thing that I noticed was that in several posts,
people had assumed that the topically administered treatments remained
topical.  In the face of that belief, the explanation on the revolution
website was very interesting:  "Once applied, Revolution enters the
bloodstream through the skin.  Concentrations of Revolution in the blood and
intestinal tract prevent heartworm disease and treat gastrointestinal
parasites, respectively.  Revolution selectively redistributes from blood to
sebaceous glands, which are found below the skin's surface.  Revolution's
presence in the sebaceous glands and in the skin is the reservoir of drug
that provides protection against fleas, flea eggs, ticks and mites."

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