OK... We're beginning to win the battle with fleas, but how to help our kitty heal from the bites/itching?

Our cat has developed a flea bite allergy after a road trip with us to Florida (MONSTER fleas down there!). We're getting on top of the fleas... fogging, diatamaceous earth, Advantage, etc. But our poor kitty is in the throws of a scratch/itch/chew cycle. He's pulled out hunks of fur, has scabs and chew spots all over him. He got a cortisone shot early last month, which helped a lot... but he's still obviously uncomfortable. The vet says it's too soon to give him another. Any suggestions on how to help the poor guy while he heals?

Thanks a bunch.

He probably won't settle down until you are rid of all fleas.

As to cortisone shots - be aware that the use of steriods in cats can cause diabetes. It does not happen all the time but many diabetic cats developed it after treatment with steroids. That does not mean all cats who get steroids will develop diabetes - I just wanted to make you aware of it.

Our Simon was diagnosed with diabetes on February 26, 2000 - not caused by steroids. We have adopted three other diabetic cats since then and there is a clear link between the diabetes of one of them and steroids. Another is also a steroid induced diabetic but the link is not as solid.

Whenever possible, use a non-steroids treatment if one is available.

Just for reference, here is how I tell people to deal with fleas - NOTE the use of foggers that not only kill adult fleas but also prevent eggs from hatching.

First get Frontline, Advantage, or Revolution from the vet to treat the cats. These products are intended to be used once a month to keep fleas off the cat.

Then, if you need to treat the house - which is often the case - use a product which not only kills adult fleas but also prevents eggs from hatching.

When we have bad flea years (haven't had one in along time - knock on wood we use Raid products for the house.

They make a fogger called Raid ® : Flea Killer Plus Fogger

http://www.killsbugsdead.com/fop_fkpf.asp

They also make an area spray called Raid ® : Flea Killer Plus Carpet & Room Spray

http://www.killsbugsdead.com/fop_fk_pc_rs.asp

We have had very good results with those products.

Remember, you want a product that not only kills adult fleas but also prevents eggs from hatching. If you use something that does not prevent the eggs from hatching, when they hatch you are back where you started.

There is a product, Capstar, which is a pill you give the cat. It kills all of the fleas on the cat within about 5 hours.

http://www.capstar.novartis.us/

It does not provide long lasting protection - it merely kills all the fleas on the cat.

You can use it to kill all the fleas on the cat and then treat the cat with Frontline, Advantage, or Revolution, and then treat the cat.

Ask your vet about Capstar and using it in combination with other products.

Capstar is available only by prescription.

We have used it to kill all the fleas on feral cats who we could not handle to apply something else. We transfer them to another cage or carrier, move them out of the room, fog the room, give them the Capstar in food, and then put them back in the main cage.

Capstar is like magic - it really will kill all of the fleas on a cat very quickly and it is safe enough that you could use it every day, if need be - though that would be an expensive way to control fleas, day to day.

Indoor cats can get fleas that people carry in on their clothes. If you think that might be happening, get an insecticide you can spray on the yard to kill fleas.

You will probably need to get a sprayer. The ones that attach to the end of a hose might be the type you could use.

Ask the people at a garden store, Lowes, or Home Depot, or similar store for help picking an insecticide and a sprayer.

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