Expert: Dear Tabbi - 8/14/2008

Question
I have 5 cats 4 of which always spent a lot of time in the livingroom with me and slept with me.  The other was always a loner but spent a lot of time with me.  In the past 2 weeks they ALL refuse to come into the livingroom or to sleep with me.  One stays in the dining room by himself.  He used to come around 4 AM and petted me wanting me to let him out, he doesn't do that any longer.  He doesn't even seem interested in going out.  Two live in the kitchen, one in the upstairs hallway and one in a bathroom.  If I carry any of them into the livingroom the dig their claws in and run to get out.  Right before this started I thought they had fleas, I picked up some drops at PetSmart and applied them, it didn't help their scratching and it has not killed the fleas.  I ordered Frontline Plus and Advantage from 2 different places since I cannot find them locally so I can use whichever gets here the soonest.  They are not eating like normal either.  The one in the upstairs hallway has always preferred to be there but he did associate with the rest of us but lately he actually seems even more crazy.  I have tried everything, cleaned everything, sprayed the house trying to get rid of the fleas, everything I have read about or thought of.  This one in particular does have little sores that look like the flea bites and he seems to call for me constantly but he's just not himself.  They are not using their litter boxes like normal.  I have dumped them and even dumped out the unused litter and got new, no change.  I'm at my wits end could all this be because I bought something that was obviously useless at PetSmart instead of insisting on Front Line or Advantage?

Answer
Donna,

If you kept the package there is usually a toll-free number on the box or a website that you can ask questions about the product and the reactions of your cats. Check before applying the new flea products about how long you need to wait before giving the cats additional flea medicine.

Usually the drops make the cats drool if they lick it or it is too strong, but there are some brands of flea drops that have been known to be fatal to cats. I would call your veterinarian to ask about what brands people have had problems with.

The cats may be associating you and the living room with the flea medicine and are upset about it so they are ignoring you and staying out of the living room.

You also may have been using too much flea killer, etc. in the house around the cats which could affect them.

It also could be something totally unrelated and just a coincidence with the flea drops.

Anytime a cat's behavior changes it is good to take it to the vet for an exam. It may be a medical issue related to the flea medication or it may be another medical issue. Since you have a few cats I would take the two that their behavior has changed the most, maybe the one with the bites too.

Tabbi