Expert: Dear Tabbi - 8/20/2009

Question
My cat recently got fleas a few months or so ago. We have tried everything: the flea collar, raid spray along base boards in the house, vacuuming, sweeping, the liquid drops on his neck and now were trying the flea powder on him, the fleas seem like they are just getting worse and not getting any better. We gave noticed that he has been acting strange, hes also a feral cat. Hes been acting very skittish like missing the window when he goes to jump, laying in one spot for the whole day and not moving at all. Grumpier then ushual and randomly running from place to place. I don't know if hes a bit over dosed from the fleas treatment or the fleas are just bugging him. What can we do? or what do you think is wrong with him?

Answer
Kenda,

Cool it on the flea stuff! You are going to poison him with too much! Make sure you do not use over the counter flea medication. The fleas are getting immune to it. Get any flea products from a vet, they have the latest and freshest flea stuff. I put some over-the-counter flea drops (Zodiac) and it burned the back of my cat's neck! He blistered and lost the hair. So be careful. I wouldn't put flea powder on him too. The drops get into his system then he licks off the flea powder,  plus inhaling the flea spray = too much in his system!

I use a regular flea bomb to get the fleas in the house.

If he is running around and/or biting, that means the fleas are being killed and they are biting trying to survive. It takes time to work. It doesn't work THAT fast. You may want to TRY (smile) to bathe the cat to get all the excess flea products off of him, or have a vet sedate and bath him.

Later, you should worm him too. Cats get worms from ingesting the fleas (from licking, etc.).

Tabbi