Hi all! First off...I'm just sick..sick..sick of this California heat. Triple-digit heat has been beating down our backs now for wks. It seems there's no end in sight. The heat you know,affects our furbabies tremendously. Right now I'm having some problems w/2 of my outdoor kits. Ms.Hissy & her boy Naughty have developed some severe allergic reactions & I'm not sure what I can do. I can get close to Naughty & I've checked him out some. He rolls over to show his belly also. There isn't a flea on him (altho it's flea season). He's chewed himself into head-to-toe scabs till the hair comes out. Then,when the hair starts to grow back,he chews some more. I've dusted him w/flea powders sprinkled on a cloth & at times,tried the flea meds (which I can no longer afford). None of which lasts for long. His mama,won't let me remotely close to her since she's back in her feral life. She seems to be doing the same chewing up of herself. The 2 stick together most the time. When Prettygirl(Naughty's sis)shows up,she doesn't have a bit of problems. To look at her & feel her,you would think she was an indoor kit. Unlike the others,she spends time on the rooftops,away from harm's way. I know they've been chased out from some of their cooler spots by the persistant racoons. I'm afraid this chewing could be brought on by their laying in the same places as the coons at times. The thought of trying to retrap Ms.Hissy to even get a closer look is laughable. Any ideas as to what I can try(at least on Naughtyboy) that may help w/what looks like allergies?
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Purrs
ANY Suggestions?
(9 posts)-
-
-
Hi Susie! I've been curious too this summer as mine show no signs whatsoever of having any fleas yet I've caught them doing the scratch, scratch, scratch routine myself. It's funny that you mention Naughty's sister hangs out on rooftops alot because Shady does too and it seems to me that he has the least amount of problems. This makes me suspect the dreaded little ants we've been consumed by this year. Tuffy has the most sensitive skin and has been just haunted with itchy scabs but not one flea or flea droppings to be found. I think they're napping in areas outdoors where unbeknownst to them while they're sleeping...the little buggars are climbing on and having a little taste of the kitty skin. I know they bite because I've had them bite me before. We've resorted to dabbing itsy bitsy amounts of neosporin onto the worst spots and I'm praying that the end of the summer season will also bring an end of the ant problems. It's hard to know exactly where they're napping outdoors otherwise I'd sprinkle the spots with diatomaceous earth. It's supposed to be good for killing ants as well as fleas. Oh and of course we give an occasional dusting of the cats with it too. I'm thinking it's why we've had no fleas. Not positive though.
-
-
Hahah...well I just got bit the other day by one of those tiny little buggars and it made me wonder about the outdoor napping spots for dogs and cats both. The ant that bit me was tiny...I didn't even feel him on my arm til he bit. I know he didn't fly so their stalking abilities must be quite good! LOL!
-
Thanks Julie & Karen. And your right about the ants. We've been overwhelmed by them. I've caught Naughty numerous times laying directly out on the ground. The foxtail stickers are even more widespread than the ants. I'm sure those cause them to itch as well. My poor mama's boy just is in terrible shape because of it. I also have to put their water bowl w/in an iron skillet & keep a smidget of Dawn soap/water between them. It keeps the ants out of their water & prevents the racoons from dumping the water all over at night.
As for the Diatomaceous Earth. I've never been able to try it. The only way you can buy it is the internet & you need a credit card to do that. I don't have any credit built,let alone a credit card. :(
-
-
I hear ya, Susie---the heat seems to bother us more than the cats. Remember, they originated as desert animals. My ferals always seemed to find the shady spots. The problem you are having is a puzzle--hope the other suggestions help.
Posted 2 years ago by Sheba's Mom in Raleigh, NC #
-
Thanks Sheba's Mom...altho,you'd never find me laying in the 'cool spots' they do....shuddering thinking about all those dark areas under the house that have all those ugly,crawly things hiding in them. At the moment, it's 100 degrees in the shade here. It's early enuf that the temp. will probably climb another couple degrees before days end.
Reply
You must log in to post.