Some help with a great group of problems!

[Fire Fox]

Well, I'd just like to say that I have not run at all but I do not have regular internet so it's a little dificult. I should probably have mentioned that the male cat is neautered. And I have ordered some flea spray and have booked them all into the vets. You guys have to remember that not everyone can afford to vet 5 cats at the same time! Thanks for the sort of advice, I understand that being harsh is the best way but sometimes it's a little over the top. As I said in the original post, I look after these cats very well, I spend a fortune on food and special treats and they are all happy little kittys, just so happens that I came into all these problems at a bad time. Thanks anyway.

I think you are doing well at taking on board all our straight talking  please do stick around as the ladies (and gents) here are absolutely lovely - caring about humans as well as cats. IMO expensive foods and treats are a complete waste of money when you have five cats with that same nutrition being sucked out of them by parasites. Kittens can die of anaemia from a flea infestation and worms can perforate the bowel of an adult cat (invariably results in infection and death), that is how serious the situation can be.

As far as financing ongoing vet care goes I highly recommend the MoneySavingExpert (MSE) forums, especially the Debt-free Wannabe (DFW) board. If you are on benefits you are likely eligible for using the PDSA, if you are in debt you can go onto a Debt-Management Plan (free), if you are on a low income then it is rare there are not cut backs that can be made - for inspiration there are entire families living on just £4K per year after housing using the MSE DFW board.

If none of the above apply to you then IMO you should find a way to get these cats rehomed ASAP. If your children were overrun with parasites they would be removed from your care by Social Services, just because your cats are friendly towards you does not make them happy when they have a severe allergy and hormones running riot. I have no doubt that you care deeply and sure your personal circumstances are very stressful, so please do not think we don't understand. I lived on IB for a couple of years, JSA during 2010 and currently minimum wage, there are many others who post on Purrs in the same boat. 

Nutrition is my thing so I will finish with that. Arguably a balanced raw diet is one of the highest quality diets for a feline. The good news is this is cheaper than any branded commercial pet food - frozen chicken portions, pork kidney and pork liver are all £1.40 a kilo in supermarkets, ox heart a little more. My large male can be fed from the supermarket for around 30p per day and he really enjoys his meals! Some raw feeders get huge bags of meaty bones and offal FREE or for pence from a friendly butcher.  You would probably need a little freezer space and to do some research into the correct balance of meat, bone, heart, offal and fat but we can help you with the latter.

[Feline Costumier]

I recommended treating the house but not with a bomb, those things are evil! I'm afraid I would go with the vet recommended sprays and just put in the hard physical work. Pain in the backside? Yes. Best option all round for mine and my furries health? Yep.

If you can't afford to treat five cats at once then you shouldn't have five cats, it's as simple as that. Again harsh but you know your financial situation and then ignored and allowed your cat to breed by not neutering. It's irresponsible.

What if they all came down with a dangerous tummy bug, easily treatable with vet treatment and anti-biotics but if left could kill them? Not so easy to be dismissive about it then is it?

The fact is, your animals are suffering greatly, they are infested with fleas and have been for 6 months, there isn't a favourite food in the world is going to make them feel better. As others have said, feeding them well is only a small part of sharing your home with animals. You are their provider of everything, including medical treatment when they need it. There is nothing over the top when an animals welfare is at stake.

[CatGirl]

I entirely agree with dancer.The best thing to treat the household(in my opinion)is a bomb,i recently bought one for a friend who hasn't computer access,from Amazon it was about £17,the kit is supplied with a mask and gloves.My friend had never had fleas before and she was also fed up with getting bitten,she tells me the house is now clear! She's also going to regularly use Frontline every month all year round,as i do.

[Canterbury_cats (Sharon)]

Well i may get shot down for this.. But forget the expensive food and treats and instead put it towards vets neutering bills.. The cats will benefit more from that then anything...CP branches can help with vouchers towards costs of neutering cats so just contact your local branch and ask for some help if finances are an issue.

[Liz]

Sorry to add my two penneth worth but food and treats are not the only thing involved in good cat care a vet is something they will need throughout their lives and if you say that you couldn't afford to put all five in at once then perhaps you should have staggared the getting of them or had Mum neutered prior to now having Mum and kittens!

I had 9 of  mine at the vet yesterday for basic injections and Flea treatments and my bill was £377 and yes we go without things so the cats have the best of treatment - I have 30+ cats who all get this !

[mmisssinisterr]

What's worrying me is that she (?) has posted and run, from what I can see from last log in, none of the responses have been read so these cats are still suffering

Well, I'd just like to say that I have not run at all but I do not have regular internet so it's a little dificult. I should probably have mentioned that the male cat is neautered. And I have ordered some flea spray and have booked them all into the vets. You guys have to remember that not everyone can afford to vet 5 cats at the same time! Thanks for the sort of advice, I understand that being harsh is the best way but sometimes it's a little over the top. As I said in the original post, I look after these cats very well, I spend a fortune on food and special treats and they are all happy little kittys, just so happens that I came into all these problems at a bad time. Thanks anyway.

[Canterbury_cats (Sharon)]

Please get all these cats neutered!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Nearly all the issues you pose (other then the fleas) are related to too many cats in one household and all those hormones getting teh best of them.. In my "rescue" experience.. haveing too many females around is BAD NEWS!!!!!
Just by the fact taht this little pride of cats do not always get on, proves the point.. There is in some instances.. just one cat to many!!!

Book them all in to be neutered ASAP before you end up with more cats then just 5 and any CP branch can help you with vouchers if the cost is something of a problem.. Just dont let it get any worse!
Sorry to go on but being involved in rescue we hear this story day in and day out and it gets well depressing that no one listens to us!

[Feline Costumier]

What's worrying me is that she (?) has posted and run, from what I can see from last log in, none of the responses have been read so these cats are still suffering

[Fire Fox]

    other than

Poor cats 

  It's very positive that Misssinister has taken the time to post on Purrs, I know those of you who run rescues or volunteer your time come across many who simply don't care about their living possessions. I know I look back on my first rescues and wonder how much longer my Tom would have lived  had I known about feline nutrition and had the confidence to ask for a referral to a specialist. Indeed I would not have had cat insurance for Noah if it were not for posting on the MSE pets board and being directed here! 

[bunglycat]

That flea bomb sounds horrific -if you have to use a mask and gloves 
These cats need URGENT VET  attention , like now !!!

[Mark]

    other than

Poor cats 

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

I have just looked up flea bomb and do not tthink this is a good idea.

Much better to get to the vets get some house spray, flea meds and wormer.

This way the problem will be resolved, no potential pollution, no bathing cats, no having to put them outside along with yourself!

Thye vet way is safer for the cats and for yourself.

Taking short cuts isnt gonna work.

[CatGirl]

Please get them all sorted,all cats should be spayed/neutered by six months,as for the fleas,i have just recommended a flea bomb to a friend who also had trouble with fleas.She was getting bitten rather badly,i bought her a bomb from Amazon,there's a mask and gloves provided.

[JackSpratt]

Another good household spray in Indorex. It's about £10 but is very effective, and to be honest if your flea infestation is that bad nothing short of Indorex or Acclaim will have a chance of working.

DEFINITELY get all the cats spayed and neutered. Not sure if it's all over  the UK but our local CP has an offer on that with one of their vouchers you can get the ops done for £10.  So for £50 all the cats would be sorted.

It's true that once all the cats have had their ops their hormones will change so until then you won't know if it will make a massive difference or a little. But they definitely need doing.....

Hope you get the flea issue under control soon. Welcome to Purrs!

[Yvonne]

Hiya and    from me too

I use Frontline on my cats and Acclaim on the carpet

best of luck with your little visitors

[Fire Fox]

  from me too!

Another vote for an urgent visit to the vet for neutering, prescription flea treatment and worming (worms can be spread by fleas). I once moved into a house with an advanced flea infestation and had to have the professionals to treat the property THREE times before we were clear. I was under the impression that most fleas lived in carpets, but learned they can also live in any soft furnishings and crevices in hard floors and skirting boards.  Some local councils offer pest control of fleas cheap but you need to have all the cats done at the same time.

You have probably spent far more money on ineffective over the counter remedies than you would have on veterinary treatments. Noah was recently Strongholded (fleas, ear mites and worms all in one) which was only £7 per dose  and can be cheaper if the vet makes a prescription and you buy online. If you are on benefits or a very low income please use the PDSA for any urgent treatment - the longer the situation is left the more kittens needing homes and the more stress you will be under.  Also it is not advisable for a brother and sister to breed together, even worse if dad is allowed to breed with one of his kittens.

As far as training is concerned the first issue is going to be neutering so their hormones are settled, the second making sure all the cats are parasite free third reducing the numbers as many cats (including mine) do not like to live in close proximity to other cats. Then try clicker training: a clicker is a couple of pounds and there are 'how to' videos on YouTube. Adversive methods like smacking or tapping on the nose will not help train a cat that is already showing signs of stress.

Good luck and I hope you stick around Purrs! 

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

6 months! You have let it go on far too long without visiting the vet and it sounds to me like flea allergies have taken hold.

Get them all to the vet ASAP, get proper treatment for them. You will need an effective flea treatment for your home too, Indorex is good and can be bought from the vet. You will need to do the whole house, top to bottom, completely and thoroughly and several times to ensure the flea infestation is under control.

Mum should be spayed, there is no reason to allow any cat to have kittens, just one look at the Rescue section on this site illustrates that quite clearly. Mum is hormonal, possibly going to come into heat and has a nasty flea infestation and allergy, wouldn't you be grumpy too?

Also, the kittens will be maturing and so their hormones will also be running rife.

Your boy cat should be neutered, boy hormones make male cats aggressive.

Once you have sorted all this out, then come back to us for some help with the behavioural aspects but until they are all medically sound and sorted, behavioural advice is pretty pointless.

I'm sorry if this seems harsh but you need a greater sense of responsibility and urgency about this situation.

  to Purrs

As Dancer has said this all needs sorting ASAP.  Dancer's answers may seem harsh but there really is no gentle way of answering you questions.  We are harsh but we are fair 

I hope you are able to get your flea problem sorted .... fleas are nasty little bliters and once they take hold can be difficult to shift but it is a battle that needs to fought and won for everyones health and happiness.  Good luck and I'm sure your vet will be able to assist with advice on prudocts. 

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

  to Purrs 

I think this will provoke a lot of the same questions and answers so be prepared 

So guess I will be the first and please remember we are a site dedicated to rescue cos everything said will be because of that. Dancer has beaten me too it she types quicker LOL

Definately your cat should go to the vets asap and apart from frontline, no powders, spot ons ,flea collars etc from over the counter should be used as most are inaffective or dangerous.  i know that Pets at Home are now selling , i think drontal which is a good wormer.

Your female cat needs spaying idf the kittens have finshed sucking and you really need to discuss this with the vets when you take her in about her other problems. If cats have fleas badly they often have worms too!

I hope that your male cat is neutered and if not he should be asap.

As Dancer has said get the cats to the vets asap and sort out medical probs first, if one cat has fleas , all do and you seem to have a major outbreak in the house and a vet bought house spray will dewal with this verfy quickly. As heating gets put on this will encourage eggs to be hatched and the fleas are breeding fast on your cats.

Please come back to us when you have seen the vet....good luck 

The vet will be able to sell you a good house flea killer to use along side whateever he prescribes for the fleas.

[Michelle (furbabystar)]

Was just going to reply but Dancer has said everything I was going to say !

[Feline Costumier]

6 months! You have let it go on far too long without visiting the vet and it sounds to me like flea allergies have taken hold.

Get them all to the vet ASAP, get proper treatment for them. You will need an effective flea treatment for your home too, Indorex is good and can be bought from the vet. You will need to do the whole house, top to bottom, completely and thoroughly and several times to ensure the flea infestation is under control.

Mum should be spayed, there is no reason to allow any cat to have kittens, just one look at the Rescue section on this site illustrates that quite clearly. Mum is hormonal, possibly going to come into heat and has a nasty flea infestation and allergy, wouldn't you be grumpy too?

Also, the kittens will be maturing and so their hormones will also be running rife.

Your boy cat should be neutered, boy hormones make male cats aggressive.

Once you have sorted all this out, then come back to us for some help with the behavioural aspects but until they are all medically sound and sorted, behavioural advice is pretty pointless.

I'm sorry if this seems harsh but you need a greater sense of responsibility and urgency about this situation.

[mmisssinisterr]

Our household currently has 5 cats, Kitty, Snuggles, Suki, Coco and Liquorice. Kitty is a male, around 3 years old. Snuggles is female around 2 years old, and Suki, Coco and Liq are all Snuggles kittens (female) that she had earlier this year (She had another one, Marley, but we gave him away). Unfortunately, it seems that all of them have fleas. Very very bad fleas. I am absolutely covered head to toe in bites and i think so are the cats. For the last 6 months we have used everything from flea collars, powder, frontline, house spray, everything and nothing has worked! They have gotten so bad that i think Snuggles may be infected with some sort of disease as after she had the kittens, she began to suffer from itching and shedding (I just thought this was the heat, but obviously not) and has now got scabs on her skin around her anus, neck and ears. I know that she is probably a vet case, but is there anything i can buy that could ease her symptoms a little? I hate seeing her in a state, it's very difficult for her as she is very irritated by this. Also, it seems that she's turned against her kittens, she won't allow them anywhere near her without hissing and batting at them. Why is this? She was a very good mother, and was always with her kittens.
Another problem that i can't seem to figure out, but probably understand why he's doing it, is Kitty hates all the other cats. Him and Snuggles (who are from the same mother, but a year apart!) were the only 2 cats up until earlier this year when Snuggles gave birth. He didn't like being around her when she was pregnant and now, barely stays inside the house. He is very aggressive and won't let either me or anyone else near him unless he's in my room and he's asleep! And then, he still likes to scratch me to death. Now, is this just a territorial thing? Because it's really starting to upset me, as he was my first cat, and i had no idea that this would cause him to be so upset. Is there anything i can do or teach him not to scratch or attack me and the other cats? I've tried the yelling and slight tap on the nose, but i can't even get close enough before he lunges. He growls all the time, and hisses when i touch him. Please help guys, my cats are well looked after but dealing with 3 kittens and 2 cats that can't bare to be around each other is started to drive me nuts!