Cat i adopted after it was abandoned

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SUSANRS1450
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Cat i adopted after it was abandoned

Post by SUSANRS1450 »

I adopted a little cat that I think someone had abandoned in August 2013, she had kittens which I got adopted, caught the cat, Cats Protection League neutered her for me. I kept her indoors for a few weeks after this as she had had a traumatic time. After having her for 16 months, she still will not let me stroke her, she is absolutely petrified of people. She comes and goes as she pleases, in all the time have had her she has never messed in my house, I have 4 other cats as well, who do not bother with her, she plays with two of them, her favourite one is my 15 year old tom cat. What my problem is that she has a flea infestation and because I cannot get near her, I cannot treat it. I have noticed in last day or so that she seems to have fur missing from her side. Her fur looks a little patchy. Has anyone got any advice on how I can treat her, taking into account cannot get anywhere too near her, she will let me stroke her tail, but that's it. I am an experience cat person have had the all my life, I am 64 now. Her name is Dolly and she is the spitting image of the Felix cat.
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Lilith
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Re: Cat i adopted after it was abandoned

Post by Lilith »

Hi Susan - we have a bit in common I think - I'm 62 and have had cats forever too :) However, there are some cats who just don't like handling. I once bred a Siamese girl, loved and cared for all her life, who hated human contact, despite every attempt to socialise her. Two of my present cats have to be handled very tactfully; they come and give me loads of affection but just hate being picked up. One was given to me as an adolescent kitten; the other, like your Dolly, was feral.

Poor lass, she's had quite a time of it and it sounds as if the fleas have caused eczema, or else she may be plucking her fur when washing, because of the irritation. Have you got a friend who could help you trap her in the bathroom, say, or lure her into a cat carrier with food and take her into a confined space and help hold her? Sounds like you need two pairs of hands with this one. If you could get her into a pillowcase it might help - but in such cases, as you'll know, they develop eight legs, claws of steel, and the strength of the incredible hulk!

She'll be furious with you of course, and deeply offended, but I doubt if she'll do a runner from such a lovely home :)

Good luck - oh and I recommend savlon and a few bevvies after the deed is done, for exhausted humans lol.
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MarkB
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Re: Cat i adopted after it was abandoned

Post by MarkB »

The only thing I can think of is Program suspension. It is a paste you add to food. Not cheap and only suitable for cats that eat all of their food (Obviously so they get the full dose)

I tried it once with one of my cats that used to have a bad reaction to spot-ons. He wasn't a fussy cat and usually polished meals off, but he detected it in his food and refused to eat it.

Not sure if there is anything else on the market.

http://www.animeddirect.co.uk/search/al ... /relevance" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Meandmymunki
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Re: Cat i adopted after it was abandoned

Post by Meandmymunki »

Capstar flea tabs work brilliantly and kill all their alive fleas within the hour and can be crushed in food, the downside is it doesn't kill the eggs, but I have 5 cats, one is a feral who has the capstar in her food once a month, the others have advantage, herd immunity from the others advantage and her capstar seems to keep all fleas away.
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Lyn from Australia
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Re: Cat i adopted after it was abandoned

Post by Lyn from Australia »

There is a long lasting version of Capstar called Comfortis here in Australia, also available in the UK under a different name, which I can't remember. Kills all adult fleas within an hour an continues to do so for about a month, therefore also killing any other fleas the cat may pick up, or any which hatch from pesky eggs.
booktigger
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Re: Cat i adopted after it was abandoned

Post by booktigger »

Lyn from Australia wrote:There is a long lasting version of Capstar called Comfortis here in Australia, also available in the UK under a different name, which I can't remember. Kills all adult fleas within an hour an continues to do so for about a month, therefore also killing any other fleas the cat may pick up, or any which hatch from pesky eggs.
It is called Comfortis over here, but not sold by all vets.
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