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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Rescue cats. So upset

33 replies

Dolceandgabbana14 · 21/11/2017 07:55

Brought home two lovely rescue cats yesterday. Lady said they'd been treated for flees and worms. Found a couple of black specks yesterday but thought it was dust/dried crumbled up mud Blush but stroked one of them this morning and there was more. Realised it probably wasn't mud as I'd hoovered yesterday. Looked closer. Found lots of black specks. Googled. Nearly cried. It's fleas, although I haven't seen a live one.

I'm so upset. I feel dirty. And itchy. And how could they have been treated if this has happened? The lady said she used Advantage ten days ago, but she couldn't have done, could she?

We covered the sofas in blankets to avoid clawing until a scratch post is delivered. So in addition to the normal washing, we're going to have to do all that and everything else too.

DH is going to call the vet while I'm at work about treating them, as we want to use the strongest stuff but obviously a bit worried about doing that so soon after their so-called last treatment. We've got Indorex from our previous cat, after he went missing for a week we treated the house as a precaution and kept some Indorex as a precaution.

On top of all this, I was finding it hard to accept the cats. I really wanted them, but they're just not the same as my lovely old cats. I'm sure that in time I'll come to love them unconditionally, but at this very moment I feel like talking then and their unwelcome parasites back to the rescue please don't flame me for saying that Sad

OP posts:
Veterinari · 21/11/2017 08:00

It may be old flea dirt. Of they’ve been treated with advantage it’s v unlikely they have fleas but it could be dirt from a previous infestation that they haven’t groomed out yet. Don’t panic!

Wolfiefan · 21/11/2017 08:04

No flaming. I had moments where I regretted getting the terrible torties. It can be hard getting another pet after a loss. Wouldn't be without them now
Could well just be debris. Time for a good groom? Worth a vet check anyway. Good luck.

hellswelshy · 21/11/2017 14:53

Op it's hard getting new cats after losing old ones - we are on week 10 of our new adopted rescue girls. We only lost our old girl in August, so I had many moments of regret and wondering if it was going to be OK, they are so different to our previous cat..This has been hard as a family but particularly for my dds. Hang on in there, get the fleas sorted - comb or brush if possible, vets advice, keep them off the beds etc. Mainly though give yourself time, you've done a great thing to rescue them, that thought has kept me going, keep telling yourself that. And when they settle and are happy, with purrs and funny antics ,that will be your reward!! Smile

thecatneuterer · 21/11/2017 14:55

It could be old flea dirt. I doubt they would lie to you about that sort of thing.

And I'm sure you will grow to love them.

Tika77 · 21/11/2017 14:56

If there were live fleas you’d see the bites on yourself by now. I understand how you feel and that’s probably why you don’t like the cats at the moment.
Pets at home sells flea sprays for the house, you could use that for the time being.

Sentimentallentil · 21/11/2017 14:58

They could still have fleas if they were treated only once, it takes a while for them all to hatch and die

DumbledoresApprentice · 21/11/2017 19:27

My rescue still had left over flea dirt when I got her. She didn’t have fleas though. She’d been treated with prescription flea treatment.

missladybird · 21/11/2017 21:54

I adopted a kitten 11 days ago who had apparently been treated but she had fleas. Live fleas. Vets asap to get them treated

NoSquirrels · 21/11/2017 22:01

Have you flea combed? If you haven't found live ones don't panic! Also is the cat scratching? If not you may just be stressing unnecessarily.

And it does take time to settle with a new animal in the house. Especially when you still miss the old one. Sympathies! As you said, you'll come to love them unconditionally soon enough.

Original poster
Dolceandgabbana14 · 21/11/2017 22:51

Thank you for your support. I'm glad it's not unusual to feel this way about new adoptees.

DH took them to the vet today and they've been given a clean bill of health and a dose of Broadline each. Still no sign of live fleas so I'm hoping it's just residual dirt. We've kept them downstairs since we brought them home on Sunday, but I still need to wash all the throws that we've covered the sofas with, spray the sofas with Indorex and clean like mad. Do I need to do the whole house, bedding, airing cupboard, upstairs carpets etc? Just thinking about the possible contamination from our clothes as we've been upstairs after being in the same room as the cats.

The irony is that I posted last week about being worried about adopting cats from somewhere where standards of hygiene weren't great and one of my biggest fears was introducing fleas to our home Sad

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 22/11/2017 00:25

I don't really think you even needed to wash the things you did. You certainly don't need to bother doing any more.

I mean this kindly and I hope you will take it as such = you sound overly paranoid. Do you generally suffer from anxiety? Your cats don't have fleas. Your house doesn't have fleas. And even if either did they are relatively easy to get rid of and won't kill anyone. So please try to relax and get to know and enjoy your new cats.

Oh shit = that doesn't sound as supportive as I intended it to. Sorry.

Tika77 · 22/11/2017 07:30

I agree with the previous, you just said they were being given a clean bill of health. Stop freaking over something that’s not there. Was the blankets, hoover the sofas and that’s it, try to enjoy their company.

NorthernLurker · 22/11/2017 07:36

They don't have fleas. I really wish people who are overly anxious about fleas didn't bother getting cats. It's just setting up all parties for stress. You need to make an effort to welcome the poor beasts now op, they will sense your stress.

Sentimentallentil · 22/11/2017 09:11

I agree with pp, the vet says they don’t have fleas so you don’t need to worry.

Original poster
Dolceandgabbana14 · 22/11/2017 20:10

I was feeling quite reassured by your messages, and having been at work all day I've had time to give myself a good talking to and convinced myself that she doesn't have fleas. I've just been over and sat next to her, was stroking her and I'm convinced I saw two bugs in her white fur. They were near her neck and when I tried to get a closer look, they had gone. Cat (as yet unnamed!) got agitated and started growling at me when I tried to look more closely so I've backed off. They were fleas, weren't they? I've Googled and they looked like fleas. But how can they be fleas when the vet treated them yesterday morning with Broadline spot on treatment? What do I do now that the vet's treatment doesn't seem to have worked?

OP posts:
DoopityDo · 22/11/2017 20:18

First, it can take a few days for all the fleas to die off, but they’re on their way out, so that’s good.

Second, get some house flea spray and spray the edges of the rooms they’re in most.

Third, get a flea collar for your hoover bag and hoover the house.

Fourth, wash your cat blanket at 60. No need to do your sheets unless they’ve been on your bed.

Fifth, have a nice cup of tea. Or coffee. Or gin.

Maybe not a cup of gin. Smile

DoopityDo · 22/11/2017 20:20

It is likely that all of the above steps are unnecessary, but it doesn’t hurt to take a belt and braces approach, because fleas are annoying.

GladysKnight · 22/11/2017 20:21

They may or may not have fleas - most likely not if the vet says not, but as PPs have said, even if they do, it's not the end of the world. Mine have had fleas more than once (they go outside and catch them I think) and vet was always able to sort it, no harm done.

More important to let the cats settle and get used to you so if you do need to treat them it won't be an ordeal (for you all!). In the meantime hoover regularly (but not all the time!) perhaps rather than washing. Don't overdo the spraying that stuff is quite strong! Honestly, don't panic, it will all be fine!

Brazenhussy0 · 22/11/2017 20:24

OP, you need to chill the fuck out. Seriously. The cats have been checked over by a vet and there are no fleas. And even if there were fleas, as others have already said, they’re very easily treated and dealt with.

The cats are never going to bond with you if you keep prodding them and inspecting them like this.
Were you like this with your previous cat?

Original poster
Dolceandgabbana14 · 22/11/2017 20:31

Thanks for the advice. Cup of gin is tempting!

I've had cats for about 15 years and never had any issues with fleas. I'm upset that the new cats have seemingly arrived with fleas, even after we were told that they had been treated. It doesn't help that I'm very squeamish when it comes to things like fleas and headlice.

The difficulty I have is that we have limited them to the kitchen and living room, but I don't really have anywhere that I can put them whilst cleaning up those rooms without introducing the problem to another part of the house.

OP posts:
SparklyMagpie · 22/11/2017 20:41

OP you really need to chill out about this!

It's not going to do your cats any good seeing you stressed when they're also trying to settle into their new home

DumbledoresApprentice · 22/11/2017 20:44

They may not actually have fleas.
They are rescue cats. Many rescue cats arrive in shelters with fleas. The rescue will treat them and your cats have now had a dose of broadline too. The fact that the vet didn’t find any fleas suggests that they aren’t infested with them as fleas aren’t that difficult to spot. Either they have a couple of really stubborn ones that are resistant to the treatment or the flea dirt is left over from before and you’ve convinced yourself that you saw ‘bugs’ because you’re expecting to see them.

If the possibility of fleas is upsetting you this much though then it might best to return the cats. It sounds like you aren’t enjoying your new pets, maybe you just aren’t ready for new cats just yet or maybe you’re better off with a non-furry pet.

Fluffycloudland77 · 22/11/2017 20:49

The last time ours had fleas I squished them with my nails & went back to sleep.

i think they have to bite the cat to get poisoned?

EachandEveryone · 22/11/2017 20:52

I’m feeling anxious just reading this and I’m on holiday! How many times do you need telling they haven’t got fleas? Do you trust your vet? Poor little cats have come from a rescue you described as not nice to a game we’re they are being prodded and probed every five minutes how can they ever begin to feel at home?

missladybird · 22/11/2017 20:56

I brought my cat home almost 2 weeks ago and she had/has fleas. I felt as anxious as you do but more about spraying chemicals around my young dd so I have gone down the combing and vacuuming route.

It does sound like you regret adopting the cats though, despite the flea situation.