Rick and I were gone for a good part of the weekend. We didn’t take Milo with us because he’s a cat and doesn’t handle going to new places very well. He loves the car ride but once we are somewhere he’ll hide for most of the time. Plus I worry that he’ll get out and get lost. So he stays at home with a giant pile of cat food and a full thing of water. The longer we are gone the more water options I leave him with, two or three bowls sometimes the sink full.
We got home fairly early today. I was the first one in the house with Xiann. Put her down and called for Milo, he wasn’t at the door to greet us, which was different. He came out to see us and then was gone again. Milo does what Milo wants. I did however notice that he was rather twitchy when he was out. I’ve said before that we’ve had a hard time with fleas this year. I made a mental note to retreat the carpets with Borax and rub them down with Apple cider vinegar. Should get flea shampoo and bathe Milo. That will be interesting.
I wasn’t in a big hurry though. I had a very relaxing day yesterday and was going to take it slow. After our morning of crazy searches, another story for another post, I needed to react slowly. Roll with it. So I took my time getting ready. We didn’t leave for quite some time. At one point and time Rick went looking for Milo and found him under the covers on my side of the bed. Weird, but I’ve seen him do that before. He likes to hide in the bed when I’m making it. No big deal. I surprised him later when I was doing laundry. He was being very lovey-dovey with me. I thought it was just because I had been gone for a couple of days.
Later though when Rick went to play with Milo again, after we had left and come home again, he pulled back the covers and found something. He called me in the room and I saw my pink bunny blanket, the underside of it had bright red blood smeared on it. There were smears on the sheets, some places it was darker that others. Milo was sitting in the hall looking small and miserable. Poor baby. Okay, no waiting for a bath, I’d do it now, possibly risk loosing an eye or the ability to use my hands. Oh well. My poor baby.
I filled the tub up; Xiann went to the living room, thinking that it was for her. I picked up Milo, for a second he was happy to be scratched a loved. Then his legs stretched out reaching for anything that would pull him out of the water. I haven’t had to bathe him in over a year. The last time I did my arms and chest were covered in red scratches.
Milo almost got away from me, went climbing up the shower curtain. That’s when Rick came to help me. He held Milo’s front feet, I held onto him rear end and soaped and rinse him. The poor thing yowled and tried so hard to get loose before giving up and actually just laying in the water. The fleas fell off. They were huge! Not a lot of them, but they were enormous. After letting the water out I wrapped him up to help dry him off so he wouldn’t get cold or make more of a mess. After a minute or so he started to purr and love on me again. We gave him treats and realized that he was starving. He must have itched most of the time we were gone and didn’t eat, hiding under the blanket trying to get relief. Rick even found sloughed off claws. I’d seen blood under his claws when bathing him. He wasn’t missing any but his feel seemed tender. He may have chewed on them.
Well, he’s been fed and given water and lots of loves. He sat on his windowsill for a little while. He’s now curled up under their chair. He is relaxed though seems a little stressed still. I’d have to say I’ve never seen a cat have such a problem with fleas.
Tomorrow, I still have to get some things so I’ll pick up some serious flea deterrent. I’m not big on chemicals but Frontline might be needed to supply a little relief so I can continue with my treatment. I just hope it works. It doesn’t seem to last a whole month sometimes. But my babies need some help so it will be okay. We’ll get through it and do some more research.
So ends the most recent battle with the jumping evils. I think we won this as well. We aren’t planning on being gone for next weekend. Not both of us anyway. I am working, bleh, for a few hours on Saturday. But we’ll be able to keep an eye on him, make sure he doesn’t start acting crazy itchy.