Worried the vet thinks I’m abusing/neglecting my cat

[bluedonuts]

I have two cats, I’ve had them for six years and I love them to bits. One of them has always been very timid and anxious - I’m not sure why, he usually stayed inside and would be with me 24/7. If anyone he didn’t know ran in the house he would come straight to me or hide. He’s always felt safest with me. When we moved, my other cat was desperate to go out and so we got a cat flap, but my timid cat has started going out too now. We give them wet food morning and night and they have two bowls of biscuits out every day which get refilled. But since my timid cat has gone out, he isn’t eating as much. It’s impossible to get him in once he’s out so as soon as he is in I give him his food. But he’s usually there morning and night for his regular dinners.

My timid cat also has dermatitis and has has skin issues his whole life. He’s had countless steroid injections and treatments, but he’s sensitive to pretty much anything.

At the end of last week I noticed he had a bit of a bald spot on him, and noticed he’d been in more than usual. I called the vet and got an appointment today and she spoke to me quite aggressively. She told me that he’d had a reaction to fleas and that he needed antibiotics. She also told me I wasn’t feeding him enough and that he was losing weight because of it. I explained there was food out 24/7 and if I notice he hasn’t eaten as much I give him treats because he will go straight for them. She also said I wasn’t treating him for fleas. I have kept up with their flea and worming treatment and use advocate. I also have pet insurance if anything happens. When I asked her if she saw fleas, she said no, she was just guessing that that is why he had a bald spot.

We’ve also had no signs of fleas and their fur has been checked and they do not have any signs at all.

But from the way she was talking it sounded like she thought I was neglecting my cat and I’m really worried about it. I’m worried the RSPCA is going to turn up on my doorstep!

If she was going to contact them, would she have told me?

Sorry, I’m feeling very anxious!

I've just gone through a nightmare with my cat where I felt the same, like I was doing something wrong. She needed an operation after an injury, then busted those stitches and I had to rush her back in etc etc..!

I felt awful and like I was doing something wrong but my vet has been lovely and supportive and just reminded me that animals are animals and don't always play by the rules in terms of leaving stitches/scabs/wounds alone when they should!

You need a new vet!

And I understand animals can still be allergic to fleas even when treated can't they? When you treat your pet, fleas can still bite, they just die from them treatment before an infestation takes over. The animal can still have a reaction to that bite. Or at least I'm pretty sure that's what I was told years ago about one of my cats at the vet!

She may be right about the fleas but worded it badly! My cat has an allergy to fleas and if she gets one bite she gets sore and makes it worse by scratching making bald spots. We keep on top of her flea treatment but it literally only takes one rouge bite. My vet explained to me that the flea treatments stop fleas being able to live on/infest that cat but they won’t stop the odd bite. I really wouldn’t worry about her calling the RSPCA she has probably seen much worse and you are visiting the vet so hardly being neglectful!

Keep your cats in. Cats are doing terrible damage to the wild bird population. And before you ask, yes, I used to have three cats. I checked with rspca and was told they'd live healthier lives and as long as they weren't alone they'd be fine. All lived to a very good age including one that died at 18....

No, cats are not doing terrible damage to the wild bird population. This is from the RSPB website:
www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/gardening-for-wildlife/animal-deterrents/cats-and-garden-birds/are-cats-causing-bird-declines/

Surely people who are truly abusing/neglecting their pets don’t even get a foot past the vet’s door? Op you sound like a fantastic cat owner and I agree you need to find another, more sensible, vet.