Ok, just got back from the vets and they had a new vet in the office. I LOVE HIM. He took a good look at her, did the culture on her skin, checked out every nook and cranny and said it is not mites, its allergies and probably allergies to fleas. After I insisted that I do not have ONE flea in my house, he rolled her over, dug around and came up with a flea. I cannot believe it!! He couldn't find any more, but one was enough to shut me up.
Of course, she is allergic to everything else, why not fleas? He gave her a steroid shot, and antibiotic shot and put Revolution on her, which I must do monthly.

He said the food change was good and to keep her on the green pea food, its much better anyway.

My chemical-free pest control guy is coming on Monday to treat the whole house, and I have lots of vacuuming to do.

Ironically, while I was in there - they rushed in a cat with tremors and really sick - someone had just given it a bath in Bio Spot and it was having an allergic reaction to it!! I told him about what happened with Lily last night and he said I was lucky her reaction wasn't worse. He does want me to bathe her tomorrow with Dawn to make sure it is off of her, and that the Revolution has gotten into her system well.

Lily is NOT going to appreciate 3 baths in 3 days. I am going to be getting THE FACE for a few days, I can just tell!!

Thanks again for everything! You guys are brilliant!

Poor little Lily. I wouldn't wash with a lot of that stuff. Yikes. I'm glad she is going to be ok and that the fleas disappear.
It's amazing what can happen to our cats isn't it.

I have to admit I am hesitant to bathe her again today. I scrubbed her really good with her allergy shampoo yesterday and rinsed her for a really long time. She seems to be ok today, just a little loopy from the shots I think. I dont know if I want to stress her out and put Dawn on her. What do you guys think?

It is amazing what our babies get into - just like children we have to watch them all the time. Only difference is they can't tell us where their "owie" is! I wouldn't trade her for anything in the world. Fleas and all!! LOL

If the vet thought it best to bathe her again, I would but I would also wonder if it is 'overkill' since you bathed her yesterday. If she is allergic to fleas you might want to ask him about capstar. It isn't a long term solution like Advantage or Revolution, but will kill the fleas on her within a very short time. Might be good to keep some on hand. Hope she is feeling better and forgiving for the baths.

OMG these shampoos are horrible! I'm glad she didn't have a worse reaction like that other poor kitty. Here's the thing, flea controls are toxins and though I know sometimes we have to use these products it is best to use the one with the fewest reactions. You can bring fleas in on your shoe and not even realize it. Jasee had a few on him before, once I never treated him as after finding one, he seeemed fine. But another I had to give him something and I used one dose of Revolution and never used it again. I refuse to put anything like that in him monthly. Keep in mind, we have to immediately wash our skin if it gets on us but we are putting it on them? So I'd say just use it now and if she seems fine I personally wouldn't give it monthly.

As for your house, you can have the exterminator out but it may never become infested. Here's a little trick I learned, set up little soap dishes around the house, put some water with some scented dish soap in it, for some reason they say the fleas get attracted to the scent and wind up drowning. Worth a try right?!

Good luck!

Aw- glad you have a new vet! Hopefully the steroid shot will help. I will say, my parents' cat had a steroid shot for flea allergies when she was about 1 year. She then had a terrible time with her weight for the rest of her life. She was very over weight, even though she ate very little. Now this was over 15 years ago, so hopefully the shots are better. But I just thought I'd pass that along. May want to keep an eye on her weight.
Sydney

Wow - so many things to take in. I never thought of Revolution like that. Guess it is time to re-evaluate that. I just don't want her to be bothered with fleas or mites or anything, but its not worth it to keep putting that on her skin. As for the steroid shot, I will keep an eye on her weight. She is 7.4 pounds now and has pretty much stayed that weight for the past couple of years. If it goes up - I will know why!

I think I am going to do some research on natural ways of flea prevention and set up some soap dishes. I am anxious to see if that works!!

My main concern is to make sure that Lily doesn't itch and get the scabs on her back and shoulders again. I hate feeling them and hate watching her scratch. Which she has not done today - thank God. Relief for my poor baby!

Once I know I have her issue under control, I will relax but not until then!

I'd feel confident in using the Revolution during flea season.
I use that I think, or the Advantage, can't remember which, when
we travel to Florida in the winter months.
I use one in December, before we leave, one in January and one in Febuary
while we are there.
I would just hate to think of her picking something up in those "Pet Freindly"
hotel rooms.
The package holds six applications, so I use the other three the following
year since the expiration date is still good.
I don't use it here during summer months, but would not hestitate to do so
should I ever see a flea!

Good luck with Lily, glad she has some relief from the itching!!
One thing I noticed with Dolly, while the steroid was still in effect,her
eyes never ran or teared!
Now that the shot has worn off, we are back to tearing and eye washing....sigh..
It was either the steroid shot or the antibiotic, but I'm thinking the steroid...

Purrs,
Joan

PS..perhaps the warning to wash ones hands after application is in case
you happen to get some on your hands, then accidently wipe your mouth or eyes??
Or handle food or little children.
I don't think it would hurt your skin...

There are some natural or holistic products that you can use also but do your research well, natural does not mean safe, especially with cats. If you find something search side effects in cats. Many years ago a Vet had me dip my cat in a product very much like that shampoo, she started acting the same way you described. I contacted another Vet and he said she was basically poisoned as she had absorbed it through her skin, he would never use that on cats I search for side effects in cats on everything I ever give my cats, before using it. If I don't like what I find I say NO, find something safe. Luckily my Vet is okay with that,...most of the time

Products such as Advantage, Frontline and Revolution are pesticides. Vets can "sugar coat" these products and tell you they are safe, but the reality is you are putting TOXINS on your fur-babies. I realize there are times when these products must be used, but I choose to use them very sparingly and only when absolutely necessary. I prefer to use Capstar but I currently have a bottle on Frontline spray on hand... here are the warnings for humans.

HAZARDS TO HUMANS. CAUTION. Harmful if swallowed or absorbed through the skin. May cause severe eye irritation. Avoid breathing spray. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling. Persons applying this product must wear household latex gloves.

If it's harmful when absorbed by OUR skin, how the h-e-double hockey sticks would it NOT be harmful to our furbabies?? Afterall, we are applying these products directly on their skin and fur. Plus, they are ingesting these products everytime they groom themselves. And some people wonder why cancer is so common in humans and felines??