Chiggers on my cats

[RJC]

I had a thread here before about a skinny cat. The advice and insight here solved my problem at that time and I thank you all that posted. Now comes another dilemma, three cats, all brothers all inside/outside animals, inland but coastal area in N CA. This fall they have all acquired some kind of chigger or mite infestation. I took the worse one to the vet and he said chiggers and that Frontline would solve the problem. I clean their ears with an ear wash and have medicated with the frontline but 6 weeks and no success. Vet said ear mite solution probably would not work, but to use the Frontline every 2 weeks. Now one of the cats gets seriously delirious with Frontline, so I struggle to bring myself to do this more frequently.

Any suggestions.

 

[Lynn]

Frontline ...as in the monthly flea treatments, little tubes? Why every two weeks? What does the package say? If it says monthly, I wouldn't use it anymore than that. It is a poison you know. I've had better luck with 'Advantage'. You can get it on line cheaper than the vets.

For cats ears I like 'mineral oil'. It drowns the little buggers. I have got different ear cleaners for cats, some are worthless.


"Now one of the cats gets seriously delirious with Front line, so I struggle to bring myself to do this more frequently."

I wouldn't use it on that cat anymore. The poor thing.

 

[AddisonRose]

RJC, I am sure there are more qualified animal people on the board, but I read recently of using Vicks Vaporub. It not only kills the chiggers, but also soothes the irritation from them.

I gave my cat Frontline once, and she sat in a corner for a week just staring and shaking her head. Never again.

AddyRose.

 

[RJC]

AddisonRose

Thanks, what do you do for ticks and fleas?

Lynn

Mineral oil seems like a good idea but what kind?
BTW the vet said Advantage only kills 6 legged and not 8 legged which I guess is what chiggers are. Of course he does not carry Advantage.

I don't know if he was telling me truthfully about the chigger being the infestation. I do know someting is infesting them.

We have not had freezing temperature here yet maybe when that comes that will kill them outside.

 

[Lynn]

You can get plain mineral oil at the drug store. It is easiest to get a small plastic eye dropper to put it in the ear with. Just use a couple of drops and massage the cat right under the ear. I use a tissue to clean the junk that comes out. Try to wipe out the ear afterwards with a wet cloth. You will probably have to repeat in a few days.

I have used a cotton ball, paper towel or tissue if I can't find a eye dropper.

 

[RJC]

Lynn

I'll try that, thank you so much.

 

[AddisonRose]

RJC, my cat is an indoor cat. The only time she gets a flea is when it hops a ride on my shoes into the house. Then it's a flea comb, orange peel wash, mothballs in the vacuum (vacuuming daily) and alot of laundry. Good luck. AddyRose.

 

[Willow]

One treatment that I find is effective for fleas is Dawn Dish Detergent. NOT Dawn Ultra...but the original formula. Dawn is an excellent degreaser and it removed the protective coating on the flea and the flea then drowns. I cannot say it is 100% effective in heavy infestations nor can I say that it would help with chiggers but it won't hurt the cats. Of course there is the issue of bathing them which is traumatic to the cat...and you.

I suspect that a good flea shampoo...which specifically says you can use on cats...would work and if you bath once with Dawn and then with the flea shampoo that should really have a good kill rate for the creepy crawly things living on kitty.

I think I would try a topical treatment purchased at the vet first and then, if that didn't do the trick, resort to the bath. You will have to be very careful about 'over treating' with too many chemicals as cats are extremely sensitive to some flea and tick products. Even flea treatments that are approved for cats often cause illness and death in sensitive cats. The horror stories from owners are numerous enough that any treatment should be done with great caution.

Willow

 

[RJC]

Thanks Willow

One of my cats is very senitive, he is always with me, and with any such treatment he goes off and crouches down and looks back as if to say "why do you treat me like that when I love you so much." After a couple of hours he comes back for his loving. But it is hard to medicate him, especially because I know it does hurt him.