Herding Cats with Dr. Ashley Manos: Monthly Roundup for Parasite Prevention

itchy_cat.jpgMonthly Roundup for Parasite Prevention

Its that time again that dreaded time when I have to roundup my cats and apply their monthly topical heartworm and fleapreventative. Never mind that I have theluxury of having a sun room dedicated exclusively to the cats, and never mind thatI can close the door to the sun room, thereby trapping my unwilling victimswith no chance of escape its still quite an ordeal.

Heres the monthly scene me running around trying tocapture a cat, the cat leading me in manycircles around the room, and finally me succeeding in capturing a squirmingcat and practically sitting on him to keep him still to apply the product. Each time I apply the small amount of liquidto his back, my cat twists his neck back to look at me in a pose not unlikepoor Regan MacNeil from The Exorcist. After being released from my grasp, he runs off as if Ive just appliedacid to his back. The rest of the day isspent with the cat giving me very dirty looks and probably plotting mydemise. So it goes each month. Mr. Bones, my wonderful special cat (he wasborn with cerebellar hypoplasia) is the absolute master of these looks.

Although my cats hate this they will have to consider it anecessary evil. Even though they liveindoors, their risk of disease from heartworm infection and fleas stillexists. Additionally, I want to reducetheir chance of acquiring other diseases and parasites that are transmitted tothem (and some that can infect me) by these vectors. I certainly can bring in the rogue flea on myperson, and then end up with a flea infestation in my home; and I often see mosquitoesbuzzing around inside my home during mosquito season. Therefore, each cat is treated monthly everymonth out of the year. Any cat at riskof tick exposure (indoor/outdoor cats, outdoor cats, and cats that live withdogs) should be treated with a tick preventative (Frontline for Cats) monthlyas well.

So sorry Mr. Bones and the rest of the herd you can keepplotting my demise. Thankfully, theyusually forgive me for my monthly transgression and allow me to continue tocater to their every whim.

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Dr. Ashley Manos, Associate Veterinarian, Nashville Cat Clinic

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