Well, I freaked. Called the vet who said because of his age, they don't like to do things like Frontline or flea collars until last resort. Step one, give the cat a bath. Step two -- strip beds and do sheets, etc. Step 3 -- vacuum. Again and again. Step 4 -- Lather, rinse and repeat if they don't go away in a couple of weeks.
Well, I think you know where I'm going with this one. And let me say, it wasn't fun. I'm sure it wasn't fun for Gypsy, either.
The kitchen had just been cleaned -- now there was soapy water everywhere. Which is better than dirt, I guess. Or fleas. Mostly he just tried to get away, but now and then he'd let out this bloodcurdling scream.
I will say, baby shampoo is making him very fluffy! I'll also say that before he dried out, his skinny tail made me laugh.
Well, then, I decided that it was time to rearrange the bedroom furniture, as long as I was stripping everything -- turn the mattress, move the bed, vac under it (where Gyp sometimes hangs out.)
Now, my bedroom isn't very big, and boy -- what a mess. I will say I slept better than I have in ages and I wonder if it was getting rid of the under-bed dust.
Meanwhile, Gyp wants his regular sleeping spot by me and was having trouble adjusting to the new arrangement -- and I was of two minds having him in bed with me. By the time I sat down to watch Dancing with the Stars, I felt as though I had been through a war!
Time passes. We have bathed again, far more successfully and compliantly this time. We've vacuumed early and often, and I'm thinking we may have this licked. That said -- regular flea checkings are now part of the daily routine!I hope everyone had a lovely holiday -- onward and upward -- let the Merriment Season begin!
Poor Gypsy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope that you have this problem licked! I think it would be SO HARD to give a cat a bath! She does look a bit happier in the last picture....
ReplyDeleteAwww! The poor little guy! Fleas are the worst!
ReplyDeletePoor Gypsy. Fleas. Eek and oh no! I hope you have gotten the fleas and the little bugs will be no more! Gypsy is so cute. I want to hug him.
ReplyDeleteRocks says hi to Gypsy.
Dogwood
Aww. Poor kitty. And POOR Jeanie. What a lot of work. Just think though, Jeanie - no spring cleaning under the bed next spring. Yay!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you didn't put a flea collar on him -- I know they can be very dangerous to cats.
ReplyDeleteGypsy looks so bedraggled sitting there in the water! I have given my cats a bath before and it's not an easy task. Mostly I end up getting a bath, too. I hope all those pesky fleas have gone on to wherever fleas go. I'm sure Gypsy doesn't want them!
ReplyDeleteOh, poor Gypsy! A wet cat is an unhappy cat...I hope your problem is soon solved by all this bathing and cleaning.
ReplyDeleteOh no! At least it seems to have been eliminated. Margot got skunked last week and the bathing process was no fun - I feel your pain!
ReplyDeleteKarla
oh yikes....what a chore !
ReplyDeletei hope all the fleas have headed south for the winder:)
Oh, my gosh. I showed my husband the pic of Gypsy all wet. We both aawhed over him. He looks so pitiful.:) But you gotta get rid of those fleas.
ReplyDeleteDid I ever tell you we had a cat named Gypsy? She was a girl. So sweet.
I hope you get rid of all the fleas. It isn't easy. They keep coming back. We had to bomb the place and then bomb it again two weeks later when all the eggs hatched.
I hope the fleas are gone and I know it was traumatic for you; BUT, the wet cat pictures are both adorable and funny.
ReplyDeleteNothing sadder than
ReplyDeletea wet kitty!!
I'm surprised at
fleas, this time
of year...bummer.
I love DWTS, too!
xx Suzanne
I remember as I teenager our dog had fleas, and I had flea bites all over the bottoms of my legs. It was awful! Fleas don't survive long in my neck of the woods now though. Nothin is more pitiful than the sight of a wet cat...and more funny. Poor Gyp, looks like he weathered the crisis and came through a his stately beautiful self.
ReplyDeleteJust remember, dogs have servants, and cats have slaves!
(And if you post doesn't make me itch, the "word verification" is "antsy"))
Now, that is one terrifying prospect. Dixie doesn't even like being picked up. There's no question what would happen if I tried to bathe her, and I'm not sure I wnat to go to the ER looking like a refugee from a knife fight.
ReplyDeleteI do use Advantage. I get it from the vet and use it about every two months. It seems to hold things in check, though if she shows evidence of the little critters I will do two months in a row. It's time for another treatment. I need to give myself a pep talk and do it.
I suppose vacuuming wouldn't hurt, either. ;-)
Just an added note - I got caught up with your postings and loved the pics from the show. Those felted purses looked especially nice!
ReplyDeleteSmiling again seeing Gypsy in the tub. Oh I do hope you have it licked. I am sure he was about as thrilled with the bath and Joey is with getting his nails trimmed. Not happy at all.
ReplyDeleteoh my what a panic
ReplyDeletegood thing you were observant Jeanie
poor kitty kat he looks less than enthused about the bathing ... hope the fleas are history!
oxo
OMG
ReplyDeletePoor poor Gypsy :(
He is looking very sweet
I think Kareltje would be very ANGRY.
He hates water ...... lols
Gypsy is also a indoorcat
how he gets fleas,
I cannot believe it !!!!
Sweet sweet Gypsy
you are very sweet
a cat a bath hahahaha....
sounds so weird :(
Poor poor sweetie
We are sending you
many many cuddles and hugs
you are a fatastic puurrr friend
Kareltje =^.^=
Anya
I remember when we got the dreaded notes from school that someone had fleas and we had to do what you did with our kids. It's a lot of work! But thankfully the kids didn't squirm like Gypsy. :)
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine trying to bathe my giant tom cat, he'd have me for breakfast.
ReplyDeleteFrontline has changed the way we handle fleas so much, it makes life so much easier. A flea infestation doesn't mean any inconvenience at all anymore with that. Sorry you can't use it. Do you have a younger animal too? If so, I've noticed that I don't need to use Frontline on all of the pets in the house, just half. It still stops the pests!!
Poor Gyp! Poor you! Bathing pets is kinda, well, ugh. Which is why I guess the grooming business booms. Cuz after you bathe your pet in-house, there's a terrific amt of clean up. But good for you for your caring and tenacity.
ReplyDeleteAnd I hope the Gypsy gets to resume his normal life and sleep spot. Those darn little fleas. Makes me think I'd better check the Ancient Beagle and see what could be going on.
Happy HOlidays!
We bathed Chewie yesterday and he was so bedraggled and sorry looking for himself. Poor Gypsy but it's better than strong chemicals. I hope you got them licked and his skinny tail is cute. Give him a hug from snowy Aberdeen.
ReplyDelete