I just moved to the southern US and am experiencing a flea outbreak like I haven't experienced since before the discovery of topical flea meds (what? 20 years ago?!?).
A couple of months ago, we adopted a shelter kitty who was three years old. I didn't notice any fleas when I first got her. I foolishly let the Revolution schedule lapse for about three weeks after we got her because (1) my last indoor kitty never had fleas, and (2) this new kitty came to our home with an ear infection, URI, mouth ulcers and a high fever (apparently a flare up of calicivirus). I didn't want to tax her system any more with the flea meds.
After having her maybe a month, we noticed the fleas! My kids were getting bitten up, and I saw flea poop/eggs wherever she went. The vet did tell me that this seemed to be a bad flea year, but I am wondering if the wall to wall carpeting in our apartment (and the fact that we are in an apartment) is partly to blame. Are apartment complexes more notorious for flea problems?
Anyway, we just recently bought a house and will be moving in next week. She is due for Revolution on the 20th, but the vet also gave me acuguard which I plan on giving her a few days before the move (I don't want to bring these fleas with us!). The vet also suggested having her groomed/bathed at a grooming place so she had a flea free start.
Does this sound like a reasonable plan? I really am quite surprised at this flea infestation.
Advice? Thoughts? Commiseration?
By the way, we have given two doses of the Revolution. The second dose three weeks after the first at the vet's advice. But, the fleas just keep coming. With my other flea ridden cat (from my childhood) once we started giving him topical flea meds, the fleas just kind of disappeared. We are not experiencing that with this cat. And now I see she has tapeworms. Ugh. I'm thinking I'll have her dewormed when she is groomed.
A couple of months ago, we adopted a shelter kitty who was three years old. I didn't notice any fleas when I first got her. I foolishly let the Revolution schedule lapse for about three weeks after we got her because (1) my last indoor kitty never had fleas, and (2) this new kitty came to our home with an ear infection, URI, mouth ulcers and a high fever (apparently a flare up of calicivirus). I didn't want to tax her system any more with the flea meds.
After having her maybe a month, we noticed the fleas! My kids were getting bitten up, and I saw flea poop/eggs wherever she went. The vet did tell me that this seemed to be a bad flea year, but I am wondering if the wall to wall carpeting in our apartment (and the fact that we are in an apartment) is partly to blame. Are apartment complexes more notorious for flea problems?
Anyway, we just recently bought a house and will be moving in next week. She is due for Revolution on the 20th, but the vet also gave me acuguard which I plan on giving her a few days before the move (I don't want to bring these fleas with us!). The vet also suggested having her groomed/bathed at a grooming place so she had a flea free start.
Does this sound like a reasonable plan? I really am quite surprised at this flea infestation.
Advice? Thoughts? Commiseration?
By the way, we have given two doses of the Revolution. The second dose three weeks after the first at the vet's advice. But, the fleas just keep coming. With my other flea ridden cat (from my childhood) once we started giving him topical flea meds, the fleas just kind of disappeared. We are not experiencing that with this cat. And now I see she has tapeworms. Ugh. I'm thinking I'll have her dewormed when she is groomed.