Hi everyone! I really don't know how to do this. I have never had to ask for help from anyone outside my family before. I'm a little embarrassed about this, but I don't know what else to do. I do not want to whine to everyone by going into great details with my sad story. After all, I am no different then most anyone else, times are hard for us all with food and gas prices going up. So, to make this as short as possible, here goes. I have a senior cat, Sarah, that has been pretty sick for the past 2+ years. She was recently in the hospital, for the second time, and she now has to take thyroid medication everyday for the rest of her life. I was not able to pay the vet bill in full when Sarah got out of the hospital. Thank God the vet lets me pay it out. I also have a mama cat and 3 of her babies that are 1 1/2 years old now. Mama (that's her name) was a feral cat that I kept food out for on my patio ever since she was a baby. When she got ready to have her first litter of kittens she came to me. So, I brought her and the babies inside the house for protection. I tried to find homes for them, all 6 of them. I was able to place 3 of them, but still have the other 3, and mama. This has been a big financial burden on me, but what could I do. I couldn't just put them out. The 3 boys have never been outside, but mama and Sarah goes outside. So I try to treat mama and Sarah every month for fleas, but the boys keep getting fleas also. I have treated them for fleas 3 times this summer and had to give them worm medicine 3 times. The fleas are just so bad this summer, it's like a vicious circle. I have been paying on this bill, but I have to keep adding to it also. I have done the best I could. I am 53 and disabled. With food and gas prices gone up I honestly do not have the money to finish paying this bill. I have always been a women of my word and paid my debts so this is really starting to stress me. And it worries me because sometimes I have to charge Sarah's medicine. Anyway, as I said earlier, I know times is hard for most all of us right now, but if anyone can help it would be a blessing. I have a chipin page at http://scarver.chipin.com/vet-bill if anyone wants to help. If anyone wants to make a donation directly to the vet, just e-mail me at s54indian@att.net and I will send you a copy of my vet bill and their address and phone number will be on it. Thank you for reading this. Have a great day.
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » General Chat
Please read, I need a little help.
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scarver welcome to the TDK family. There should be someone on when it gets to be daylight hours for the East Coast and Mid-West, we have a lot of knowledge people who can give some advice on finding assistance with getting the boys and Mom spayed/neutered and possibly other assistance. Also with the flea problems, if I could remember the stuff to put on your floors/carpet(s) that would help with your flea problem.
Posted 3 years ago by AZDEBRA 5/27 & crew #
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Diatomaceous earth - the purer quality, not the one used in pools, is recommended by some TDKers. It's natural, a little messy way to get rid of fleas. You just don't want to inhale it. You spread it on the floors and let it stay there a couple of weeks (if I remember correctly) and the fleas are gone.
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Diatomaceous earth is inexpensive and completely non-toxic. In my area, at a lawn & garden nursery, a 4 lb. bag costs about $10.00, and that's enough to treat a 1200 sq ft house (minimal carpeting & upholstery) and 4 cats about four times - enough to last for at least 2-4 years! It's used to treat both the cats and the house.
It must be food grade or horticultural grade; it cannot be pool grade (used in swimming pool filters).
You can get it online; one place that sells it, including shipping cost:
http://www.dirtworks.net/Diatomaceous-Earth.html#anchorfossilshellflour
You could get either a 1 lb or 5 lb bag. Chances are good that a 5 lb bag would last you for years. It's messy while it's applied, but that's only for 2 weeks, and there's a significant residual effect if you don't steam-clean your carpets or floor too often.
Posted 3 years ago by anncetera2 #
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bumping
Posted 3 years ago by paulajeanne #
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Thank you so much for the info. on Diatomaceous-Earth. I went to the web site and read about it. Wow! It can even be used to deworm the cats. This stuff could just be the next best thing to peanut butter. I am definitely getting some. All 5 of the cats have been spayed/neutered and vaccinated. Kittico neutered the boys and the vet spayed mama for free. I have been using this vet for several years, they are really good. But the doctor that I did use is now gone. She was very good to me and understood my situation. She would help in any way she could, such as giving me medication at her cost sometimes, spaying mama free, and sometimes not charging for the office visit. Unfortunately though, she left when Sarah was in the hospital this last time and another doctor took over. I like her also, she seems very kind but she dose not cut me any slack. Which is okay because she certainly dose not owe me anything. I was very blessed with the other doctor, and now someone else, somewhere, is being blessed. And that's the way it should be. By the way, my name is Sharon. I forgot to tell that. Oh yeah, what dose "bumping" mean? Have a great day.
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"Bump" is a way of moving a post back to the head of the line when someone thinks it is important to keep it active but has nothing else to add to the conversation.
Posted 3 years ago by ailuromaniac #
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Yes, Sharon, hi! I wanted to make sure others saw your posting this morning.
Posted 3 years ago by paulajeanne #
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I haven't had a flea problem yet this year Thank you God. I have had ticks on the dogs. My cats are declawed so they never go out. I use Frontline on all the animals. I have to wonder if the Diatomaceous Earth can be used in the lawn? Would that help eliminate the ticks? Because of the Frontline when they bite they end up dying but I would like to eliminate them all together. My parents boxer died of one of the diseases carried by ticks--spotted Rocky Mountain fever or something like that.
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It does work but it has to be reapplied after rains and watering.
Posted 3 years ago by ailuromaniac #
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I am not sure about the cost of Diatomaceous earth. What works for me inside is regular Borax that you find in the laundry soap aisle of the supermarket or grocery store. This is not Borateem, but the straight Borax. Just sprinkle it on your carpets and furniture, let it sit for 24 hours and vacuum up anything visible. Dust the furniture with it too and get it in the cracks of the upholstery. It is not toxic and works very well.
Networker
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Ailuromaniac will it kill ticks too? I wonder if it would have to be applied more than once a week, even with watering? How long does it take to get rid of insects like ticks? Do you have any other remedies that I can try. I know that the tick will die because of the treatments to the dogs, but I am worried because the initial bite can spread disease.
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It will kill any insect or arachnid. It would be like you rolling in a bed of broken mason jars, it cuts through their "skin" and they "bleed to death" by dehydration.
The reapplication is because the diatoms do not stick to the surfaces they are applied to and the watering/rains wash them away. The need for redusting would depend on the degree of your infestation.
If it is heavy, reinfestation from neighboring yards would cause a need for frequent re-applications otherwise every week or so or after a heavy rain would be fine.P.S. Networker BORAX is toxic to pets especially cats.
Posted 3 years ago by ailuromaniac #
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Now another question--full of them today. This will not harm the dogs at all? What about the turtle, toads, and skunk? To me this sound like the best plan yet. It will kill spiders? I was told by entomology on base nothing kills a spider because unlike other insects they walk on the top of their legs and don't groom so they don't get the insecticide in them. As I have said this year is the year of the spiders. Normally I don't mind them too much, but daughter is allergic to them. Her reaction to a bite is wicked. That is a good thing though because when she was bit by a brown recluse in a tire swing she reacted immediately. I took her to the hospital and she didn't lose as much tissue as most because it was caught so early. I wouldn't mind getting rid of a few of the 8 legged creatures though.
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I would like to share a sweet story with ya'll about "Mama" if I may? These apartments I live in has a creek that runs threw them and my first apt. overlooked the creek. We have a problem with feral cats here and they live around the creek. When I first moved in I had 3 cats, all seniors, Sarah, Ted, and Emily. I kept water and dry food on the patio for my cats because they liked going outside. Well, of course several of the feral cats got word about the free food and water and therefore become regulars. Mama's mother was one of them. I called her Mandy. She was a calico cat, very pretty. I tried for months to make friends with her but she wasn't going for it. She had had a litter of kittens and one day I looked outside and saw her bringing a baby calico kitten onto my patio. That baby kitten is now "Mama". She also brought a little black and white tuxedo kitten onto the patio, which I named Domino. Mandy knew those babies would stay on my patio when she was gone and she also knew that I would not hurt them and they would always have food and fresh water. They were probably 4 or 5 weeks old. They were feral also though and would not let me touch them. I actually had named Mama "Precious", she was just so pretty. But after she had babies herself I referred to her as mama so much that it has just stuck with her now. And Domino died when he was only about 5 or 6 months old. I had a big wood box on the patio as shelter for them and I looked out one day and saw him in the box. I went out to check on him and he was died. There where no wounds, so I don't know what happen. By this time of course they were leaving off of the patio, but he came back and got in that box to die. I don't know what has happen to Mandy. The apartments recently had several of the feral cats removed and I am afraid Mandy was trapped and taken away. It still makes me cry when I think of her. I feel like I failed her, because I know if they took her away they put her down. It hurts my heart to know she was never held and loved on, and she was such a good momma to her babies. I thought it was pretty smart of her to bring her babies on my patio. Anyway, this is how Mama kitty came into my life.
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No more harm to a larger animal than breathing dust from a sandstorm. It can be abrasive to skin in the same degree. Calcium Carbonate is what makes scouring powder rough and it is the main component of the little planktons skeletons that make up diatomaceous earth.
Spiders will be affected by the earth because it works externally not internally.
As a side-effect indoors, by keeping the home clear of insects the spiders will move elsewhere since the smorgasboard will be closed.
Posted 3 years ago by ailuromaniac #
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Aww that poor little tuxie boy kitten (black and white). Scarver sounds like the feral mama trusted you to bring her babies. What a sweet story. Welcome to TDK.
Posted 3 years ago by SylMiaFelixMomma #
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I need to correct a error in a previous post of mine. The grit of a diatom is a silicate compound (same as sand)
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/GeolSci/micropal/diatom.html#intro
will give you a good description of this amazing family of organisms and has pictures that will give you an idea of the variety of natural microscopic scouring pads they make.
Posted 3 years ago by ailuromaniac #
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Welcome to TDK scarver..I too know that vet bills just are not something that fit into the budget. I wish I could contribute to the bills you have but I'm unable. I can send prayers to you however and know that they are very powerful particularly within this little community. God Bless You! :D
Wow..Soxmom..I've seen the horror of what a brown recluse can do to a person. It truly is a blessing that your daughter was previously known to be allergic and help was so fast in coming! My friend wasn't so lucky and now has a vastly large area from her hip and side to her back that is trememdously scarred. She lived though...but barely. Her story scared the hell out of me.
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Yeah I was a little scared myself. She was only 9 at the time. We had just got here and husband had already been sent out. I was in a new town, hadn't been in the states in years, and had no idea where to go. Found the ER and had a great doctor. She has a scar on her calf but she calls it the battle wound and she won the war.
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Hi everyone! I posted for my first time on here a couple days ago, I really need some help paying off an existing vet bill. If anyone would like to help you can go to my chipin page at http://scarver.chipin.com/vet-bill. I would be so grateful for any help.
I also need another favor. Anncetera2 told me about a product called Diatomaceous Earth to help with fleas. Well, I have ordered some of it, it should be here today. So, if anyone has used this product before on their
cat(s) would you please advise me on how to apply it and how much? My biggest concern is my senior cat, Sarah. She has allergies and right now she has a few scabs here and there from scratching so much. I think she must be allergic to the flea bites. I do not want to irritate her skin, and she is so small, only weighs about 5 1/2 - 6 lbs. Mama and the 3 boys are all bigger. Well Frankin was the runt of the litter and he weighs 7+ lbs., but the other 2 boys and Mama weigh between 11 - 13 lbs.. Also, Frankin has short hair, mama and Charlie have medium length hair, and Cody has long hair. So dose this stuff need to be applied next to the skin or just rub it into the hair? I sure wish I had of known about this product a few months earlier, I could of saved a lot of money. Thanks everyone! -
Go head and dip your hands into the diatomaceous earth powder; coat your hands thoroughly. Then pet your cat. Massage it in, to make sure you get it down to the skin. Don't forget to apply generously to the armpits, belly, entire tail, chest, and legs (inside & outside).
After applying, their fur won't feel glossy anymore; it'll have a rougher texture to it. That's what you want. A black cat will look like it has a very dull coat.
Apply to everything upholstered in your house, and floors, and anywhere the cats spend a lot of time. Carpets can be swept after applying, but don't vacuum for a couple of weeks. Make sure some makes it under your baseboards.
Your entire house will look and feel like you set off a flour "bomb" indoors, but it's only for a couple of weeks. After the two weeks, the flea life cycle should be broken. Then, dust, sweep, and vacuum; I'd use a furniture polish or other attractant if dusting.
Good luck!!
Posted 3 years ago by anncetera2 #
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