Are some cats more susceptible to fleas? Is it the new house? Or do I need to change my approach?

[Mushroomwithaview]

I treat her monthly, and 4 or 5 days before the next treatment is due without fail she starts itching and if she sleeps in anyone's bed we get bites. (and woe betide us if I go over 4 weeks between treatments - which in my experience wasn't the case with other cats we've had).

Are we failing to get rid of them in the apparent 3-week break with no fleas?

Is she more susceptible to fleas than any of my other cats have been?

It is noticeably more of a problem since we moved house. Is she consorting with our new hedgehog neighbours and getting them that way?

What could I be doing differently?

Flea treatment products do become less effective over time as the fleas become resistant to them.

Over the counter flea treatments aren't usually effective. I think it's a case of checking what the vet advises.

Fleas are a real pain!

Prinovox from the vet works for 3 months. We switched after fleas arrived with a new kitten and caused an infestation! But be warned, I just posted about this - the change in law means my vet wants to see my cats every six months to prescribe it causing unnecessary stress to them and expense to me. The vet visits, prescriptions and med costs will amount to £750 every six months for us!!!!

But if your vet is kinder they may do on a yearly check.

How long ago did you move house?
Because I would be wondering of the new house already had a flea infestation when you moved in, and some of the resident fleas are now hitching a ride with your cat.
Have you treated the house itself for fleas, or just your cat?

It sounds like you’re not completely getting rid of it between treatments.

Different house can mean more or less issues. Do you have different flooring in this house? More or less carpets?
Have you treated the house?

That is expensive. Do you have alternative vet options?

I go to my local Vets4Pets who are very good. I have a pet plan which costs £15.00 a month - £12.50 a month for the first year as it was on offer.

This includes an annual health check plus flea and worm treatments and they need to see the cat yearly to prescribe these. Two more free vet consultations per year are also included plus a certain number of nurse visits and other offers.

Sorry to hijack thread, but have a few questions about flea and worm treatments myself if that’s ok? My old cat (almost 13) hasn’t had a flea or worm treatment for years and we’ve not had any issues. She also only sees the vet if there’s an issue as she absolutely HATES going in the car, so I don’t see the point in stressing her unnecessarily. last time she went was a few year ago now.

However we’ve just got a second cat from the rescue and they have advised on monthly flea and worm treatments, so my question is, are these really necessary if my other cat doesn’t have them and has always been fine without?

What treatment are you using and are you also treating the house and washing things like beds, blankets and pillows on a hot wash?

What flea treatment are you using? Are you spraying carpets, etc with Indorax?

@Melon2312 i don’t worm or flea my cats but they’re indoor cats. If I had an outside cat especially who hunted I’d be concerned about worms. I’d at least be sending poo samples off for a worm count which you can do online cheaply.

i do this for my dog who I also don’t worm and her poo is clear. I do give her ground up pumpkin seeds every day which is meant to be a natural wormer, not sure if cats would eat them. I did have a rescue dog who appeared ok once but the poo sample came back riddled in worms, tape, round and hook worms and I’d have had no idea if it hadn’t been for testing.

She is about 9 (rescue - not really sure) and finds going to the vet unbelievably stressful. I avoid putting her through it if at all possible.

If I were not entirely getting rid between treatments, would we not would get itches / bites between treatments? We do seem to have a three-week break eery month. I think I need to Google the life-cycle of a flea.

I am going to investigate Indorax. Thank you.

I really think you need to be treating the house.
If you're not treating the house for fleas, it doesn't matter how often you de flea the cat , live fleas will still hitch a ride on her and live in soft furnishings/crevices/gaps in floorboards.