Flea treatment - HOW do they know?

[Silvercatowner]

I have two cats. They are very affectionate and particularly appreciate being tickled on the backs of their neck. I do this on regularly partly so that the flea treatment stuff doesn't come quite as much of a shock. But they seem to know as soon as I snap the top off the little vial, even if I do it in another room. And however much I stroke their necks, as soon as I replace my fingers with the flea treatment its as if I am trying to murder them. So now I have the flea treatment splashed over my tee shirt, a scratched arm and a cat who won't speak to me. I have no idea whether any of the flea treatment got to the right place.

Yep and even if you manage the first cat the second one then knows and you've had it. This is why we went over to the 6 monthly injections instead.

I normally spring it as a surprise when my cat is eating so his neck and head are down. I quickly just squeeze it between his shoulder blades.

One of mine knows the sound of the foil being broken and scarpers. The other one hasn't got that yet so I wait until he eats. Her, I break the foil and wait a few hours and usually pounce when she is dozing. I have to sort of cage them between my thighs so they don't run away.

Dreamies straight after also helps.

They can probably smell it 😅😅 we use the flea tablets , they are made with a taste , so our cat eats it thinking it's a treat 😂😂 hates worming tablets though

Yes! I’d snap the vial in stealth mode and still they knew! Also very thick, long hair, so I never knew if I was managing to get the right dose onto their skin.

I swapped a few years ago to the twice-yearly injection and we’ve been much happier since!

Thanks. They are both due their boosters soon and I'm going to ask about the injection. Big cat is still sulking.

You've just reminded me I need to do ours. I find whilst he's eating the best time otherwise we have full on diva attitude.

When they're sleeping can work. Open it in another room
Mine has his at the vet now - he's on a 3 monthly one which times with his steroid jabs so the vet can be the mean person

Haha my boy cat can detect it a mile off, fortunately his sister isn't quite as clued up For him, I have to lock him in our tiny bathroom before I even crack open the packaging so he can't escape.

Mine can tell as soon as I think about doing it, before I've even found the bloody stuff.

I now feed them and then hurl myself on top of the first one, clamp between thighs, hold onto her chest so she can't jump away, blow on the back of her neck and apply.

The other cat is more laid back and very food oriented so she comes back quickly after all the excitement so I can do it all again.

DH and kids find it hilarious, it's their monthly entertainment. Cats forgive me quite quickly...until the next time.

I really don’t know, but they do!

I only flea mine if I see signs of fleas so I don’t traumatise myself them. That goes for the dogs too.

Worming tablets is another one I only do if I see signs of worms.

They had worms for the first time last month and oh my god...getting the damned tablet down the dogs was harder than the cat for a change!

She scratched it but swallowed it and ran off.

The dog however, at first I wrapped it in cheese, she spat it out. I did a nice little ball of cheese, she still spat it out.

So I pinned her down and pushed it to the back of the throat. A tried and tested method that works. Until that day. When dog realise she sort of gag a little and bring it back forward...to spit it out

I ended up jamming my fingers right down her throat, clamping her mouth shut and then waiting until she finally gave up and swallowed