Could Frontline have been the problem ?

[pussnboots]

Some time ago I posted a Q on here about the concerns I had about my 18yr old cat and that I thought he was about to pop his clogs. Someone (can't remenber who ) suggested that perhaps Frontline could be the problem as some cats are allergic. Well my cat was due to have another dose about 3 weeks ago and I have not given it to him and now he is a different cat. He is more energetic, he is eating better, he doesn't sleep as much and I am wondering if it was Frontline that was causing all the problems. Trouble is what do I do now about fleas the stuff in pet shops etc is no good..so.. my Q is can anyone recommend anything which is as good but does not make your cat ill.

[radiogaga]

hiya puss.
i knew a mate who was reluctant to give his dog expensive pharmacutical (sc) products for fleas.
so he gave his dogs garlic. ! seriously. cut in half in a dollop of butter so it would slither down the throat.
when the dreaded fleas bit the dog they got a dose of garlic.
and it put them off.
you could try this on your cat. even try the garlic tablets if you think it would be better suited.
best of luck. radio.

[pussnboots]

My cat will only eat cooked chicken and prawns how on earth am I supposed to get garlic down him...but I will try...you never know till you try.

[Kleiber]

Hiya, pussnboots - you could try crushing some garlic & putting it on his food. You never know, he might like it! A friend of mine does the same & both her cat & dog get the garlic treatment. She swears it works, but heavens knows how she gets the cat to eat the garlic - I'll ask her next time I see her. Her husband reckons it works for worms in his chickens, too. K.
p.s. & I thought my cats were fussy eaters.....!!

[moonshadow]

I have a friend with the same problem as you with her cats and she went to the local herbalist. He made something up containing Citronella Oil which is an insect repellent and it worked.If you do think of using this please check with a herbalist as it needs to be diluted and they can advise you on how to apply it.

[Goodsoulette]

I dont use frontline, I use the tablets johnsons herbals thingys and we havent any fleas. My youngst son has a severe allergy to flea bites so its very important she doesnt get any and we have had no problems.

[pussnboots]

Thanks for all your tips. I am going to try the garlic, anyone fancy garlic prawns...yummy....meoww

[pussnboots]

How do u spell meoww...miaoo...meoow its a mystery better get the dictionary out me thinks.

[happyjo]

Hi Puss

Glad old puss is better!!!!

Jo x

[Goodsoulette]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meow

[Kleiber]

'morning, puss - I saw my friends yesterday & asked them about the garlic. They said they just get a smallish clove, open their cat's mouth & shove it down (rounded end first!). All I can say is that they must have a very obliging cat!!

[lizzydrippin]

Hi Pussnboots, I was just wondering, is your cat really at risk of catching fleas if you don't give her any flea treatments at all? does she mix with other animals that are likely to have fleas? or do you give her frontline purely as a precaution on the off chance that she may come across a flea? Only I have 12 cats in all and as it would be very expensive for me to frontline or stronghold them all every 5 weeks (impossible in fact) I just check them all with a flea comb every few weeks (or if I see a cat scratch),and if I come across even one flea then I treat all of them (and spray the house yearly as a matter of course). But, there have been spells of up to 2 years when there hasn't been any problems with fleas at all (wish I could say the same for the present as we have just had a problem after bringing in five 3 days old orphan kittens who were running with fleas) . These chemicals are pretty heavy duty and regardless of what the manufacturers tell you about needing to do it every 4or5 weeks (which they would say cos they want you to buy it that often) I don't think it really is necessary. I know a few people who just have the one cat and have never used flea treatments nor have their cats ever had fleas (touch wood! don't want to tempt fate). Lastly, there are people who use homeopathic treatments for flea control who say it works wonderfully well so If you do 'need' to take precautions,that also could be worth a try. Im sure you could get info about it on the net. Glad to hear that your 18 yr old is doing well now.

[lizzydrippin]

please give your cat my apologies for repeatedly calling him a 'she' when he is a he!

[tiggerwoo]

I have 3 little darlings and I have had no problems with fleas...I give them all a brush everyday. When I get the hairbrush out in the morning they are all queing up patiently waiting their turn. Everyone say....arrrrrrrrrrh

[lizzydrippin]

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrh, I wish mine were like that, half of them queue nicely (kinda) and the other half run and hide for the rest of the day!