Advice needed-- indoor cats

[MerryBlooms]

Do you have your strictly indoor cat/s on Frontline or Revolution?

[glinda]

1. no

These are chemicals. Chemicals are processed through the kidneys and liver and affect them. BUT....be vigilant about killing any mosquitos or capturing fleas if they are around.

[MerryBlooms]

2. We live on the second floor and our guys are not exposed to any

outside animals or lawn. Our deck is screened and they're not allowed out without us. I have told the vet how uncomfortable I am with poisoning the boys monthly... she isn't hearing me. ( She gave me the EXACT same line from last year, "We had two cats this year test positive for heartworm and one was strictly indoor".

I'm so disgusted and determined I need a new vet.

[Upton]

3. No..I don't know that I'd feel safe..

I do put Frontline on our dogs but that's a different issue. Our two cats are kept exclusively indoors and I haven't found a flea on them in years..

[MerryBlooms]

4. Neither of these cats have ever had a flea-

what the vet is paranoid about is the one cat in two years (supposedly) who got heartworm from a mosquito.

[glinda]

5. Find a new Vet.

[ginnyinWI]

6. Yes get a new vet--this is just silly.

I also have two indoor cats who only go outside with me watching them, and otherwise are on a screened porch or inside. Our vet has never even mentioned using heartworm chemicals to me.

And-- I work as a volunteer at an animal shelter, and there they ONLY see heartworm in animals who have been brought up from the Southern states. ( They have way more animals down there than they can handle so they often get sent north.) It just isn't very common here in the upper Midwest (I see by your profile you are in Chicago--I am only about 80 miles north of there.) An animal can only get heartworm from mosquitos, and if it isn't mosquito season, then there is no reason to medicate a cat or a dog, is there?

[MerryBlooms]

9. Thanks for the info-- very helpful.

[Curmudgeoness]

7. I have an indoor cat

and I use Revolution once a year in mid-summer, just in case. If I were to see fleas, that would be another story. I do this once a year to make myself more comfortable, and because occasionally I will let the cat go walk around the yard with me.

I think that if your vet is insisting that you use a medication that you feel uncomfortable about, it is time to find another vet. My vet has never suggested this, and I was the one to ask for it. I would not be offended if something was suggested, because I can't know everything that I should do, but I like that my vet will let me research things first and doesn't push it. That is as it should be.

[MerryBlooms]

10. As you and others have stated, it's probably time for a new vet.

[avebury]

8. My precious Cookie is an indoor cat and

I don't have her on Frontline or Revolution. She is almost 18 years and I have had her for 15 years. She is doing really well for her age and I have been really careful about her shots. I don't want to give her anything that is not critical for her health. Barely tipping the scales at 5 pounds I finally gave up on any thought that I could get her to pack on the weight so whatever she wants is what she gets. Quality of life is what counts most.

[MerryBlooms]

11. Continued good health and happiness to your precious Cookie and you.

[PotatoChip]

12. Thank you for asking that question.

I too wondered about that, but totally forgot to ask my vet on my cats' last appointment. Had too many other questions since this is my first experience w/indoor cats.

[ceile]

13. Yes.

I live in TX and have a dog. Fleas and mosquitos are the norm. However, I don't treat them unless I do see fleas- which for them is about 3-4x a year. If you don't actually see any, then I wouldn't bother.

[MadrasT]

14. No, and my vets recommend *against* it.

No reason to put chemicals on indoor cats who aren't exposed.