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Original poster

Black blobs on cats ears

14 replies

Figgyrolls · 15/03/2011 22:54

My cat has quite large reddy/black blobs on his ears that MOVE. Can I assume these are fleas and if so why are they so large? He is an out door cat and very rarely sits on my knee but he does sit on all the childrens stuff all the time!

I only noticed them this evening and have immediately Advocated him, what else do I need to do? I think they might be rabbit fleas? Come help me out as have 7month and 3yo dd/ds.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 15/03/2011 23:02

Fleas get really big when they've eaten. If you squeeze them they burst fresh blood, though why you'd want to is beyond me.

Can you still buy spray at the vet to kill fleas in the house?

Original poster
Figgyrolls · 15/03/2011 23:04

I am so not squeezing those bugs! I really hope I can buy spray for the house - irrational as an hour ago I didnt' feel itchy but I so do now! Blush

OP posts:
Joolyjoolyjoo · 15/03/2011 23:04

I think you could be right- rabbit fleas are usually seen wandering around the ear tips of cats, for some reason! The good thing is that (IME, not gospel!) they don't seem to contaminate the environment to the same extent as dog and cat fleas, ie they stay on the host for more of the time. But I'd still probably get a flea spray for the house. And pick them off when you see them, and crush them (surprisingly satisfying Grin)!)

Original poster
Figgyrolls · 15/03/2011 23:13

Ooh Jooly yuk! but that makes me feel better as little bugger has been sitting on my bed! Will Advocate kill them?

OP posts:
Joolyjoolyjoo · 16/03/2011 00:10

It should do, but I have found rabbit fleas behave a bit differently from other fleas (I know, I know!) With advocate and the like the drug is absorbed into the skin and bloodstream, so it should. But because rabbit fleas seem to balance precariously on the ear tips they seem to be harder to "get"!

Mind you I haven't seen them for years, before advocate's time, so possibly it will be more effective than the older drugs, which were only absorbed into the skin,

But go on- pick em off!! You know you want to!

Gottakeepchanging · 16/03/2011 00:17

Rabbit lice.

I am an expert. We got a rescue Tom who ignored us for 6 months u till he got rabbit lice. I picked them off him every day for 3 weeks. Now he sleeps on my bed and is a softy.

You need lots of loo roll and a pair of tweezers.

First scoop as many as you can onto the loo roll. Crush them and burn it.

Then you just have to keep going with the tweezers. As you pluck them off they are crushed and killed. You could use fingers. You will think they have gone....

The next day there will be more (but less). Just carryon. It takes 3 weeks ish.

My father puts tcp on them (and sheep ticks) before tweeze ring them off off. He reckons it losens tne grip. I am not convinced.

Gottakeepchanging · 16/03/2011 00:19

You need to worm him as well. He will have eaten a rabbit.

Gottakeepchanging · 16/03/2011 00:19

Oh and they only stay on ears and don't spread to the house or other cats seemingly.

Original poster
Figgyrolls · 16/03/2011 10:55

Gottakeepchanging - he is a big rabbiter so this wouldn't suprise me at all! I hope what you say about them not spreading is true, tbf I haven't seen anything around the house and I have been pretty vigilant. He is now Advocated and am off to the vet later to replenish the stocks - it seems that last month neither dh or I put the advocate on thinking the other had done it Hmm that will teach me won't it! I am not looking forward to picking them off him as he will tear me to pieces!

OP posts:
Original poster
Figgyrolls · 16/03/2011 21:50

Fleas, they are sodding fleas. He is most unimpressed that he isn't allowed to go and repopulate that rest of the house with fleas, and I have bought massively expensive Blush flea spray to kill any fuckers strays that have jumped ship. The vet laughed at me and said it was the warm weather Grin

OP posts:
mumtoted · 16/03/2011 21:58

I found fleas on my cat tonight (just the normal sort, not the exotic kind your cat has!). She is 12 and has never had them before. Like you I'm itching just thinking about it!

Gottakeepchanging · 16/03/2011 22:03

Oh. Fleas jump and move when you try and get them. Lice don't. Fleas are quite big as well.

Original poster
Figgyrolls · 16/03/2011 22:09

Yup they moved, infact one jumped into the sink where it was ceremoniously drowned rapidly. I must be being think about the fleas tbh. I just thought they were smaller but apparently not!

They are grim, and the ones that aren't moving are to sodding fat to move!

Cat still pissed off but since putting the advocate on he has at least halved the amount on him so holding up for a good result! If only I can get the advocate without a prescription otherwise I am being bankrupted by the bloody animals - the dog ate a six pack of dog advocate Hmm idiot dog as had only used one and that little adventure cost me £45 plus another £45 to replace it. off to find some lovely vino methinks!

OP posts:
Gottakeepchanging · 16/03/2011 22:15

You can buy the vets stuff ( not sure it's advocate) on line from boots. It's about half the pricecand you get points. I wait until there is a 1000 extra points offer and stock up.

Pets at home as well

Frontline is the one I get.

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