I just wanted to check a few things about fleas, as not sure. I have been worming flash every month since we got him but the vet said that I didn't need to do flea stuff yet as he was not out and not in contact with other animals, now he is starting to get outside what am I best to do, do I get stuff to prevent fleas and if so what do you recommend? Also how noticable is it if a cat has fleas, have never seen them before so would not know what to look for other than lots of extra scratching! How big are they? Are they easily spotted? I have a flea comb so would that pick them up? questions questions qiestions!

Also after 6 months do I still worm every month? as vet initally said every month until 6 months and what is easiest but effective to use, have been using panacur paste but its a 2 man job as he gets bigger and more inclined to resist!

Fleas are tiny and move very quickly! You can tell if Flash has them if there little black dots, like black dandruff, on his bedding or if you comb him. There are many types of treatment available from sprays and shampoos to tablets and spot on. You can also buy collars impregnated with flea killer. Personally I use a spot on. I don't think the collars are very effective and cats are not too keen on sprays usually!
It's a good idea to treat bedding too. You can buy sprays to treat household surfaces.

Thanks for the reply, I have checked bedding and combed him and can not see any sign of anything, the reason I was asking is that he was just back from the vet yesterday after being neutered and while he was sitting beside me and i was stroking him I noticed something moving in his fur, it was a tiny litle thing, and when i pulled it out it hopped off my hand, was not sure if it was a flea or not as have never seen them before, i gave him a good checking over and can't see any more but I think I will go today and get something in case.

Also the vet nurse said to take out his litter and just leave in newspaper for a few days as he has not had stitches just to protect the area, however he does not seem to have been in the litter tray yet, even for a wee, I am wondering if he will indeed go in there with it being different, just need to wait and see i think for a little while longer. He is eating like a horse!! Obviously not keen on being starved before the op!

If he hasn't been in the tray since you took the litter out I'd put it back in, even if it's just a thin layer. Cats are creatures of habit, they don't like things changed about.

To test for fleas, use a flea comb to comb through the fur, especially around the neck, under arms and base of tail, and then wipe the combings onto wet kitchen paper. Flea dirt will show blood stains when you wet it.

If you ever do find any, spray bedding, and then wash it thoroughly, and treat carpets , especially around the perimeter, fleas are more likely to lay eggs around the edges than in the middle.

When he gets to 6 mnths you can worm three monthly with drontal tablets or talk to your vet about spot on flea/worm treatments. I think the spot ons can be used younger than 6 mnths, but not sure whether you would use them monthly like the panacur.

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Thanks for the reply Leah, I have just checked the tray again and it looks like he has had a wee so that has put my mind at rest a bit, no poo yet but then he didn't eat anything for about 20 hours from 7 pm sunday so will see what happens today.
thanks again

Bless him, good to know he's wee'd

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Well he doesn't seem to have fleas, not sure if last night could have been one that had gotten on him at the vets but I guess you would expect to see more, not even sure it was a flea, it dissapeared so fast off my finger when I caught it, I am paranoid now! I have bought a flea collar as I couldn't get to the bigger pet shop which has a locked cabinet to try to get something better so ended up just at supermarket, half wishing I had not bothered now as they seem to be rubbish I think I need to speak to the vet and get my head around what i am doing with regards to fleas and worms. I am such a novice at this


On another note he has still not had a poo, has had a few wee's though, I am not sure whether to risk him getting litter stuck in sore places by putting some in or else just wait and see if he does a poo, he ususally does one every day but then didn't eat for most of yesterday. he seems fine within himself, has been jumping about like a mad thing so obviously not in any pain.

Thanks for reply, I do have a book which I bought when we first brought him home, I have also asked questions on here and been given great advice. Flash loses collars too!