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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Flea treating pets

20 replies

Fleahag · 05/05/2022 14:24

I remember reading or hearing a fact that 2 thirds of the cat owning population don't treat their cats for fleas and worms at all!!!

Do you try your best to stay up to date with treatments - YABU (as the above statement is rubbish)

Or you are one of the ones who doesn't even bother? YNBU

We try to stay up to date, we slipped up earlier this year though 😕

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 05/05/2022 14:33

I've always had tortoiseshells who ratted and my house would have been crawling with fleas if I didn't treat them monthly. I'd worm them about every two months. I've now just got one long haired lazy male and still get a monthly subscription of advantage. I worm him around every three months. He's cost me £200 in vets bills this year for a stupid cut on his face, so I don't understand why you'd risk their health by not looking after them well.

Original poster
Fleahag · 05/05/2022 14:37

@Ponoka7 me to. I think it's a scary statistic. Sometimes mistakes happen though. But I don't understand those who don't bother!

OP posts:
LabiaMinoraPissusFlapus · 05/05/2022 14:42

A woman I know proudly told me they don't go to the vets or flea treat, as it's all a con. Even when her cat was run over and hobbling, they wouldn't pay out for the vet. Cat recovered but was obviously in pain, poor thing. Anyway, she went on holiday for two weeks and came back to a house full of fleas, which she thoroughly deserved and I couldn't help but laugh at!

Horst · 05/05/2022 14:43

I admit I forget sometimes and then Have an oh shit moment and order some. So I do it but not as often all the time as should be done.

Mrsherdwick · 05/05/2022 15:40

Always worm/flea treat and vaccinations on time. Our vet sends a text when his treatments are due. Had to do an emergency vet appointment 2 weeks ago because of fresh bleeding PR. He had treatment (had colitis) and is right as rain now.

XenoBitch · 05/05/2022 15:49

Worm, yes. Fleas treatment, no. I treat fleas if my dog has them, which has been once in her nearly 12 years.
A lot of dog owners also don't worm. They send of poo samples every so often and only use treatment if anything is found.

Electriq · 05/05/2022 15:49

May miss it by a week or 2 but try to stick to monthly and have it delivered directly to house on a monthly subscription

GooglyEyeballs · 05/05/2022 15:51

Mine is all included in our health plan. It's like a tenner month and includes flea, tick, worm treatment and yearly shots. No idea why people don't sign up to it as most vets offer some sort of pet health plan.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 05/05/2022 16:22

Treat religiously every 3 months with Bravecto, he's riddled without it.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 05/05/2022 16:23

GooglyEyeballs · 05/05/2022 15:51

Mine is all included in our health plan. It's like a tenner month and includes flea, tick, worm treatment and yearly shots. No idea why people don't sign up to it as most vets offer some sort of pet health plan.

Yes we do the plan too, such good value especially as you get the annual jabs included.

Mountainpika · 05/05/2022 16:38

"Flea treating pets"

Do tell me - what do the fleas treat the pets to? Going out for a meal? A trip to the cinema? A day at the seaside?

kittykarate · 05/05/2022 16:45

Worm - definitely yes. Flea treatment is a bit more lackadaisical as they've never had fleas so never had the trauma of it.

FionnulaTheCooler · 05/05/2022 16:47

I've always done my cats but I get the good stuff on prescription now after the crappy spot on you can buy over the counter in the pet shop failed to do its job and we had an infestation. Wrestling two unwilling cats to be treated on a monthly basis is a bit of a pain but I really don't want to have to go through treating the whole house again.

OfstedOffred · 05/05/2022 17:00

I don't really worm my cat often. She is a lazy old bag who doesnt hunt or go outside much and there's zero sign she's infested. I do flea her but on occasion its been 4 or 5 months between treatments and she hasn't got them.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 05/05/2022 17:00

My cats are indoor-only and have never been flea-ed or wormed.

The dog gets flea-treated and wormed but that's because I take him to walk with me (dog walker) and I wouldn't want to spread anything or have him catch anything from the other dogs.

Notagain76 · 05/05/2022 17:11

I flea my cats 6+, 10 times a year and worm every 6 months (as advised and prescribed by vets) they are also all neutered, jabbed and microchiped. My dogs get deflead every month but never wormed as we send samples off. Their also neutered, jabbed and chipped

jamimmi · 05/05/2022 17:31

Following complete failure of front line flea treatment, and a return to a home that was hopping following a 2 week holiday, my cats are done every 3 months with bravetco from the vets. They send txt reminder and I collect and do it at home. Its not cheap but the pest control. Bill was MUCH bigger!

Pixiedust1234 · 05/05/2022 17:38

I tend to use flea treatment at the first sign of scratching which is usually twice a year. Dont forget that these treatments are toxic chemicals being injested/absorbed into a living creature and its a one size fits all. My cat is tiny but the flea vial is suitable for a cat upto twice her size so no wonder she's not well for a few days after. Its vet prescribed.

lljkk · 05/05/2022 19:29

I had a friend who said she flea treated when she "saw a flea." She had 1 dog, 4 cats who all slept with her & went outside daily in a densely populated area. She got away with occasional treatment because she wasn't bitten. If she was bitten by fleas she would have treated more, but she didn't have to. My dad was / is like this, he doesn't get or notice flea bites.

I am mildly allergic to flea bites. I get obvious bites if there are fleas in the home. I treat the cats monthly !!

Ajayjay · 05/05/2022 19:53

Flea treat our cat monthly as he has a flea allergy, so want to limit the chances of vets visit for steroids. Treat every 3 months for worms as he's a prolific hunter 😔
We had to change flea treatment from frontline to privonox last year, as it just wasn't working anymore, the vet said he'd had quite a few other owners who found the same.

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