Advice please re flea treatment and food

[Wantajackrussell]

Hello, I have taken on a one-year old kitten as the owner said she had no time for it and that her husband often pushed it away with his foot!

I cannot trust her 100% with the truth .... her pets come and go frequently, they never look groomed and crave attention. She had told me that the one year old pussy I have taken on has recently been treated for fleas. I can't see her doing this to be honest and I wonder if I do it again now just in case. Also, she feeds him one pouch of Whiskers wet food a day and a small bowl of dried biscuits - is this enough? When should I offer feeds. Thanks for your advice. Also on a less important note ... how can I stop him scratching my leather sofa - I have bought him cat pole scratcher thing which does seem to use. Thanks for your advice.

Would just like to add that I have had his first vaccination done with another booster due and that I am going to enquire about getting him neutered. I take him to the PDSA as I am on benefits but do you know if they cover the costs of the neutering. I did have to pay for the vaccines. Thanks again.

If you have a fine tooth comb or nit comb use that to comb the cat and if he has fleas they will come out on the comb. Do NOT use bob martin anything flea stuff a quick google will tell you all you need to know about bob martin products!!

Boxes of cat food usually say 3-4 pouches a day, dried food I am unsure, it does sound he is not getting enough, does he beg for food? I have 3 cats and just feed them when they are hungry!

I think you can get help paying for neutering through the pdsa but I dont know how that works someone with more knowledge about that will probably be along soon.

You can free feed the biscuits, most cats won't overeat (unlike dogs). I give mine a 100g can at dinnertime and as many biscuits as he wants alongside that. The biscuits (Royal Canin) are his main food, the wet food is to give him some variety.

Not sure about neutering, but I do know that cat charities are keen to have animals spayed, so sure there will be some help. Hopefully thecatneuterer will see this thread, they will be the most clued up there.

Good idea about the flea comb, after combing, wipe it on a wet piece of kitchen roll. If it stains red, then that is flea poo. As mentioned, don't use any Bob Martin products. You can buy Advantage online here cheaper than vet. Has he been wormed? You can buy Drontal from the same place.

Scratching - It's really difficult to stop cats scratching where they want. Try spraying his scratching post with some cat-nip spray to make it more attractive to him. You could buy another post and place it next to where he scratches on your sofa? When he scratches your sofa, pick him up and take him to his post and rub his paws on it.

I would never free feed any food as up to 80% of cats will over eat and become obese given the chance. I like to feed my cats both wet and dry food I use a good quality grain free dry food (Arden Grange salmon and potato) and feed half the daily ration for their weight in the morning and 1 pouch of wet food in the evening. You could divide this into more smaller meals.
Flea treatment is very much a by cheap by twice product so I would suggest prescription products options are:

1. Activyl monthly then give a worm tablet every three months
2. Advocate monthly then treat for tapeworm more once 6 months
3. Broadline monthly which does everything.
4. Seresto collar change every 8 months worm every 3 months.