Ok, is it just our household where this is a major trauma every month?!

Hendrix and Jagger absolutely hate having this done, and my other half hates doing it as well so I'm the old nag who insists on doing it on time each month! He was trying to tell me it doesn't matter in the winter as there are no fleas, but I don't believe that is true for one minute - and also that it doesn't matter if its overdue. He thinks I'm being a fuss pot but the problem is, I have to take medication for inflammatory arthritis, and if I'm late with that, I know about it, so if something says apply monthly, I will apply monthly!

Also does anyone know a method of applying it where only one person is involved? It's occurred to me I will have problems when the other half goes back to sea - at the moment, one of us has to hold the cat and the other apply. We've tried doing it whilst they are half asleep or eating treats but as soon as they know what is happening they either run off and hide or wrestle with us to get away.

We did the treatment last night as we were late this month, and when I got up this morning Jagger had managed to over groom a bald patch between his shoulder blades trying to lick it off - although he couldn't reach and hence the over grooming... So I won't be doing an evening application again.

So is it just us, or is this a drama for everyone? And if it is nice and easy for you, please tell me where I'm going wrong lol

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Clare
Hendrix and Jagger, Brown Marble Boys (born 18 August 2013)
Hampshire, UK

It's a drama for us too. I usually have to pin each cat down and try and do it. Sometimes it takes a few tries

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Dallas, TX USA
Diesel - snow Bengal born 09/01/2013 adopted Feb 2014
Tuck, Chloe, Buddy, Lewis & Tia - rescue kitties
Clyde, Bleu & Coal - Great Danes

I don't do the treatments unless they have been scratching a lot, which is maybe once a year. Mine are all indoor-only cats.

When I do need to do it, I try to get them when they are asleep.

Some cats have a reaction to certain kinds, so the over-grooming could be because it was an extreme itching or burning. Maybe try a different kind next time? One of mine flips out if I use one brand, howling and rubbing all over everything trying to get it off. He let me run the faucet over him to get it off, which would NEVER happen under normal circumstances.

I think that if you are taking them outside, have a dog, or are introducing a new pet, it is necessary on a regular basis. If not, I don't see a need.

Hi Claire

I too have palpitations of panic when I have to do spot on stuff. I spoke to a cat behaviourist to try and find the best way for cat and human safety. She said best way is to scruff them. Sorry if you already know all about this but I did not so here goes. I wait till Oscar is having his breakfast, then calmly grab a handful of his scruff quite firmly. They instantly will start to squirm and you have to increase the firmness of your hold until they go still (something to do with calming effect of when mummy picks them up when kittens by their scruff they go still in her hold) I then squirt the stuff in the fur under my hand. It seems to work really well with calm cat and spot on done. They then get to finish their breakfast and give you filthy, hurt looks for a couple of hours!!!!!!!

Melissa

Bucklebury, Berkshire

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Melissa

UK
Oscar - Rescue (Rascal!!!) Bengal

Thanks you Melissa, I will give that a go!

Last time we tried wrapping them in towels. To be fair, Hendrix is no problem, but Jagger is a minx! He is a wriggly (and very strong!) eel and kept escaping the towel. Got him in the end though. Half went on when he was in his towel, and when they were both sulking in the spare room on the bed, I quickly did the other half which we'd squeezed into the cap and I could just quickly part his fur and dump it on him.

I always give them treats afterwards to try to give it a good association for them, but this is overridden by the chemical smell I think!

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Clare
Hendrix and Jagger, Brown Marble Boys (born 18 August 2013)
Hampshire, UK

It's a challenge with my two also. One is easier to catch so I do her second. I go for the jumpy strong one first. I wait until they are in that afternoon sleepy/nap time. I grab the back of the neck and squirt it very fast and give a little rub into the skin. They run away for a bit but come back around soon after. I distract them with play so it dries and they forget about it. I try to do it every month as I live in Florida and they spend a good amount of time out on a screened in patio laying around and playing. Even with the treatment, I see them scratching their necks and ears so I try to be on time with it.

Mine are absolutely hate being grabbed or scuffed. Especially Clive, he gets very upset and I feel guilty afterwards, I also feel I am loosing their trust by doing that. We accidently discovered two different approaches for them that do not involve grabbing,scuffing and overall forcing it into them.
Here are new approaches that have been working since summer.
For Clive - we wait for him to get onto tree to watch over the fence birds etc.then my tall husband goes to him and slowly pours it onto his neck rubbing it in without touching him. He is so busy watching birds, he ignores it completely. He only realises it if/when you touch him with your hand.
For Indiya
I start cuddling her and rubbing her back and neck areas, after a while I carefully start rubbing it into her neck . she will realise it after 5-10 seconds because of the smell, but that's long enough for me. She runs away for sometime but then comes back like nothing happened.