I need some advice about what I believe are mites on my 2 cats.

[Ineeda]

I'm sure I'll have to figure out a way to get my indoor boys to the vet, but here are my problem(s): A. I don't drive, so have to rely on finding a ride. B. One of my cats is a docile Coon, so he wouldn't be too traumatized but my other, a short-haired tux is a terror. I'd have a horrible (dangerous) time just getting him into a carrier, never mind having him poked and prodded by a stranger. (Because they're very healthy, they haven't been to the vet in years, since their boosters.) C. I have VERY limited income, so the cost would be extremely difficult to absorb. D. I'm worried about their exposure to the toxic chemicals probably used to eradicate the critters.

I have no idea how the infestation happened, as they are indoor cats and not exposed to other animals. But the poor guys have been scratching more than usual for about a week and last night I looked very closely under a bright light. To my horror, I spotted a tiny, very fast movement at the skin level. (I also have poor eyesight.) They're not fleas, rather itty-bitty shiny brownish critters. There's also some scaling on the tops of both cats' heads, and when I use my fingernails to "scrape" the scale off, the scrapings look black but when exposed to water, seem to be blood. Are these scales actually scabs from mite bites? Does anyone know of any non-toxic home remedies out there? I was thinking swabbing them with hydrogen peroxide or something like that.

[Curmudgeoness]

1. Sometimes, you have to use chemicals that you don't want to use.

But I think that a flea/tick bath would be a good start for your situation. It is low cost and should give some relief. Your problem will be a reinfestation. Obviously these critters are in your house so you will have to get rid of them too. At the time you do the bath, wash all places where they lay. If it were me, I would probably use Frontline or another product like this, at least for a while. I have used home remedies in the past, and I have never had something that worked for me and my cats.

If you have to take them to the vet, I find that leaving the carrier just sit there for a few days by the door will make it easier to get the cats in them. When you bring the carrier out, all fear systems go into high gear, and this makes it harder if you do it at the same time you are going to the vet. And the vet is always dealing with difficult cats (from what my vet tells me), so don't be concerned about that.

[Ineeda]

5. Thanks for your reply (and those that followed)

Taking your advice, I managed to get one cat to a vet this morning. The vet I preferred through recommendations had no openings for 9 days! After 45 minutes of trying to capture my terror tuxedo, I gave up -- heart pounding and sweating my *ss off! My Coon is sweet and docile, so no problem. Anyway, they were fleas, not mites. The vet applied Advantage to the one he saw and gave me instructions for the other one. Also recommended bombing the house, which I have done. What a royal pain! Apparently fleas are unusually bad this year and he said they must have gained access through a screen because my boys don't go outside. Thanks again, you kindhearted people! :grouphug:

[Lisa0825]

2. Do you know of any no-kill shelters near you? Some give free advice or

cheap help with problems. They figure it keeps cats in homes. I know that we have often done ear mite treatments for folks, for example.

The red stuff could be flea excrement. It is like you described because it is from blood.

It could be mange, which is caused by mites. Revolution flea control protects from mange, but if you have a case already, I think it has to be treated first.

[roody]

3. Google cat ear mites.

[badgerpup]

4. Some angels who run cat rescues...

...have written about using diluted Dawn dish soap on little tiny kittens to kill fleas and other nasty parasites.

I don't know if they have to let it sit in their fur for 5 minutes like it says for the fancy critter shampoos or if it's just wax-on/wax off.

The surfactant in the soap will clog the bugs outside surface (they don't have lungs like we do, respiration takes place via the 'skin') and kill them off very quickly...it suffocates the bugs rather than poisoning them with chemicals.

Also, if you can handle giving shots (and your kitties will allow it!) it is possible to give them their distemper etc. booster yourself.
I get mine at one of the local ranch/farm supply stores for $15 per dose (or you can get it on-line...Amazon.com has a lot of stuff).
I get the one with the leukemia vaccine for my indoor/outdoor monsters, otherwise it would run about $8- $9.

The only one that absolutely HAS to be administered by a vet is the rabies vaccine...that's a live virus and a very nasty one too. :hide:

Hope this helps...poor kitties.:hug:

[japple]

6. I think your cats have fleas and that you really need to do something

before you have a household infestation. At this point, I would be more worried about them being eaten alive by fleas than their exposure to toxic chemicals. The fast movement is the flea crawling on the cats. The brown grainy stuff is flea dirt. If you can get some Advantage, Revolution, or Frontline, apply that and see if their scratching stops. You said they are indoor cats, but the fleas can come in on your shoes or, in the right zone, hop right in through cracks in foundation, door seals, etc.

Diatomaceous earth (DE) can remove the fleas from your carpet and is a natural substance. Sprinkle it on the carpet, let it sit for awhile, then vacuum. You can google it and get more information and further directions.

Do you have someone who can help you put the flea treatment on your cats, then treat the floors/carpets. You really need to address this soon. Good luck, and keep us posted.

Edit to add: I see from your profile that you are in Florida, which is the flea capital of the world. I hope you can get someone to help.

[Ineeda]

7. Thanks japple, and you're absolutely right.

They are fleas. (See post above.) I did take one to vet and got treatment of Advantage, applied to the other when I got home, as soon as he came near enough! He was freaked out by my trying to catch him to get in the carrier. I flea bombed the house yesterday afternoon, taking all safety precautions recommended. So much for my worry about toxins, right? I've been cleaning floors, vacuuming upholstery, wiping down every surface I've ever see my guys on, etc. -- but have no carpeting in the house. Last night the critters were dropping off like crazy - yuck! Today the kitties seem completely 'cured' but I'm still skeeved out! My Coon puked up some liquid twice last night -- containing many dead ickies he'd obviously groomed off. <shudder> Today he's been sleeping in one of the litter boxes (clean, of course) which he's never done before. What's up with that? Regarding Florida being the flea capital -- the vet said this year is the worst he's ever seen. Thank you so much.

[japple]

8. Woo hoo, you've been busy. Glad you got your problem taken care

of. Since your cats don't go outside, you might want to get some Borax and sprinkle it all around your entrance ways which might stop the fleas from getting inside. Growing mint around your doors also helps. Fleas are bad this year, and ticks are worse. I'm in north GA and we had a very wet spring, but now it is HOT and dry, which I think is ideal weather for those pests. I even found a tick crawling on my computer screen the other day. I was probably the one that brought it in since I'm the only one that doesn't get protection every month! I am seriously thinking about getting some herbal flea/tick collars to drape around my wrists and ankles whenever I go to the garden. Your kitties might have gotten tapeworms from ingesting fleas, so you might get the vet to prescribe something for that, too.

BTW, my dog sleeps in the (clean) litterbox sometimes. It's behind the door in the bathroom, in a corner, and during thunderstorms, she heads to the litterbox until the storm passes. I think she likes that Feline Pine litter.

[Curmudgeoness]

9. A few other things you might try that are not as much work...

Put on white socks and walk around the house watching your ankles. If there are fleas, they will jump on the socks and you can see them. You will know if there are still fleas around, and where they are. I then put out saucers of vinegar where I find fleas and they will jump into the vinegar and die.

Don't worry too much about all the chemicals. Sometimes it is worth it, and as long as there is not a long term exposure every day, you and the babies should be ok.

I don't know what is up with the sleeping in the clean litter box. Just a cat thing? I would just keep an eye on that one for a couple of days to make sure there is nothing else odd.

Good luck---and you worked hard!

[HillWilliam]

10. When we fostered a dog that got abandoned and plonked over our fence

he brought *ALL* sorts of nasty critters with him. Our poor Dora, HillbillyBob's seizure alert dog, lost most of her fur from being allergic to the mites and fleas. The mites were gawdaful and all our critters suffered. Even WE were getting crawled on, GAH!

I googled right quick before I posted, so there is a version for cats. We used sulfurated lime dip. It stinks gawdawful but it's not heavy chemistry that will affect their liver and kidneys adversely. The kittehs will resent the aitchee double hockey sticks out of the process and you might want to wear gloves and a mask with a few drops of something in it (lavender oil or something you like) so your nails don't stain and you can stand the smell.

Wash kitteh thoroughly then apply the dip from head to toe. Allow to dry. You might want to crate them whilst they dry.

For your house, especially if you have carpet, use whatever to kill the adult fleas and eggs. You may have to resort to chemistry for that. If you have carpet, after you've treated, vacuum thoroughly. Get some DE (diatomaceous earth) either at a pool supply or an organic gardening shop. I got ours at Fifth Season, 40 pounds for $29. Dust lightly and use a broom to sink it in. If you can see the application, you're using too much. It only takes a tiny bit of dust to work. When the larvae you couldn't kill with the treatment hatch, the DE will take care of them.

Fleas have a nine-day hatch cycle. The mites have about a four-day hatch cycle. It would be prudent to vacuum thoroughly and re-apply the DE in four days and five days hence.

We went through it and solved it without resorting to liver-killing chemistry. If you have questions, please just PM me.

Take heart, you can solve it, even as unpleasant as it is right now.

:hug: