Indoor Cats need Flea/Tick Prevention

 

Normally I treat my indoor / outdoor cats with Revolution.  This topical treatment provides protection against a range of parasites, including fleas, ear mites, worms and some types of ticks. However, my three senior cats do not go outside, the only time they get fresh air is by sitting on  our screened in sun porch.   When I found a tick on the indoor cats I knew that all cats needed protection against fleas and ticks.

(AI generated image created by Susang6) 

Cats with access to an outdoor cattery or screened in porch can still be exposed to fleas and ticks. Fleas can hitch a ride on clothing, shoes, or other pets, while ticks may find their way into the cattery or porch through small gaps in the screen or from other animals like our dog or our indoor / outdoor cats. While the risk is lower compared to cats roaming freely outdoors, it's not zero. 

My indoor senior cats get tropical Revolution treatment

Fleas and ticks can cause irritation, allergic reactions, and even transmit diseases.

If you are interested in learning more about flea and tick prevention treatments.  Here are the ones that I recommend. 

Revolution for cats is a topical treatment that provides protection against a range of parasites, including fleas, ear mites, and some types of ticks. For comprehensive tick prevention, you might want to consider products like Revolution Plus, Bravecto Topical, or Advantage Multi, as these are often recommended for tick control.

My veternarian recommends year-round flea and tick prevention for all cats, including those primarily indoors.  It's best to consult your veternarian to determine the most suitable treatment for your cat.

How to Get a Sick Cat to Eat

 

This past week one of my rescue cats became ill and refused to eat and drink.  His symptoms were a warning sign that something was wrong and made an appointment at the Veterinarian.    While I waited for that appointment, I needed to take steps to get the sick cat to eat.

Cats rely heavily on their sense of smell to stimulate their appetite, so when they have a fever and congestion, eating can become a challenge.

Here are some ways that I encouraged the sick cat to eat.

• Warm up the food: Heating wet cat food slightly can enhance its aroma, making it more appealing.
• Offer strong-smelling foods: Foods like tuna, chicken broth, or baby food (without onions or garlic) can be more enticing.
• Hand-feed or syringe-feed: If your cat refuses to eat, gently offering food on your finger or using a syringe with canned pate food that is mixed with water.
• Try different textures: Some cats prefer pâté-style wet food, while others might like shredded or gravy-based options.
• Reduce stress: A quiet, comfortable feeding environment can make a difference.
• Consult a vet: If your cat continues to refuse food, a vet may recommend appetite stimulants or other treatments.

Cats can develop serious health issues if they go too long without eating, keeping an eye on their condition is crucial.   In my case the rescued cat had a fever and congestion.  The veterinarian prescribed Miratax a topical application for cats only to stimulate appetite, antibiotics for fever and infection.

About Outdoor Cats and H5N1 Avian Influenza (bird flu)

 

We are devoted cat lovers and take pride in caring for a feral cat colony while sharing our garden with our own cats. Seven days ago, one of our personal cats, was happily playing in the garden with me. Just a few days later, he became seriously ill, suffering from a dangerously high fever, refusing food and water. Our cat is fully vaccinated and receives monthly parasite treatments, with no contact with other cats. This sudden illness is worrisome—what could have caused our cat to become so sick?   

As cat lovers, we want our feline friends to enjoy a happy and healthy life, whether they're lounging indoors or exploring the great outdoors. However, recent health concerns highlight the importance of extra caution for outdoor cats, as a new wave of illnesses, including the highly contagious H5N1 avian influenza (bird flu), is impacting domestic felines.

How Cats Are Exposed to Viruses Outdoors

While cats are naturally curious and enjoy roaming the garden or yard, even limited outdoor exposure can carry risks. Viruses like bird flu can spread through several ways:

• Contact with Contaminated Environments: Cats can encounter feathers, bird droppings, or other materials that may carry the virus.
• Airborne Particles: Respiratory droplets from infected birds or other animals can linger in the air, posing a potential risk.
• Indirect Transmission: Walking on or sniffing contaminated surfaces, like soil or outdoor cathouse where an infected cat or other animal could have contaminated with with droppings.

Symptoms to Watch For

If your cat has been outdoors recently, keep an eye out for these symptoms, which could indicate illness:

• High fever
• Lethargy and weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Difficulty breathing

Early detection is critical, so if your cat shows any of these signs, consult your veterinarian immediately.

Tips to Keep Your Cat Safe

To protect your outdoor-loving feline during virus outbreaks, consider these precautions:

1. Limit Outdoor Time: Avoid letting your cat roam freely and supervise their outdoor activities, especially during known outbreaks. You may want to install an outdoor cattery or teach your cat to walk on a leash.  
2. Monitor the Environment: Be aware of any local wildlife, particularly birds, that could pose a risk.  
3. Hygiene Matters: Regularly clean outdoor areas where your cat might walk or rest.
4. Boost Their Immunity: Ensure your cat is eating a nutritious diet, staying hydrated, and getting plenty of rest.

A Word of Encouragement

While the risks of outdoor exposure can feel daunting, the love and care you provide make a world of difference. By taking these preventive steps, you can help your cat continue to enjoy fresh air safely while reducing the chances of illness.

End of Life for 17-Year-Old Feral Cat

 The end of life has come for feral cat Lucy who has been in our care since 2008.  This feral cat was born in a limestone opening in a bluff in the woods by my home.   In her lifetime she had two small litters before being hunted and attacked by a wild animal who wanted her kittens.  Lucy fought off the wild animal that injured her and her one kitten.

2008 Lucy lying outside the garden shed with one of her kittens

2009 2nd litter  Lucy injured and brings kittens to my shed

Injured Lucy brought her two kittens to my garage where we trapped the nursing mother and all her kittens for medical care.  The cats needed medical care for 21 days and when they were released from the medical clinic Lucy had been spayed. 

All of Lucy's kittens were trapped, socialized, and adopted. Lucy could not be socialized so she was released to the colony that my husband and I oversaw.

Lucy the feral cat lived a very long life as the average age for a feral cat without human intervention is about two years.  Many feral cats that live in colonies that have human caretakers have lived 7 to 10 years.  

My husband and I take care of the cats in our colony and we watch them daily to make sure they are not sick or injured. We feed them and provide fresh water twice a day, in the rain, in the snow, or in the heat.   We also provide well-insulated cat houses and in the summer months, we have cooling mats for their houses.  But despite providing care to the cats many cats did not survive the feral cat lifestyle.   

I think Lucy the feral cat survived due to her camouflage coat, she could be lying on a rock and you would not see her.  She was very cautious and an excellent tree climber.

Lucy as a young adult cat lived in the woods adjacent to my home.  She took refuge in a thicket den which I located after a blizzard. She was snowed in and could not come to the feeding station so we took her food and water to her.

When Lucy was age 10  a red-tailed hawk airlifted Lucy and we were certain that her life had come to an end.  We did not see Lucy for a week but we had hope that she was still alive because we found a dead red-tailed hawk on the side of the hiking trail close to our home.  Lucy survived the hawk. 

 Then last spring while working in the yard and garden I heard a deer snorting in the front of my yard.  It was not a normal snort it was more of a warning. The doe deer had a fawn in hiding a few hundred yards from my side yard and I was worried that the fawn might be in danger.  I picked up my string trimmer and walked to where the warning was coming from.  On the edge of my property there is a rocky terrain with a steep drop off I saw Lucy the cat sleeping on top of a large rock that was about 6 feet off the ground and 30 feet away was a large adult coyote.

I quickly turned on my string trimmer and waved it above me to make look larger than life with a strange noise the coyote took off. The doe deer behind me took after the coyote and two other deer in the woods followed suit and chased the coyote out of our area.   Lucy slept through the entire episode she was age 16 and her response to danger had weakened.    

Here are a few photos of Lucy when she lived closer to our home 

We respect Lucy the feral cat and prepared her for winter with a wonderful insulated house that was donated by a friend of mine.   We set it up close to our side door and also set up a warming water bowl to keep her water from freezing. 

Lucy left the woods and did come to live close to our home.  She sunned herself on our patio chairs and made friends with a gray cat.  The two of them slept together, hung out together and the gray cat groomed Lucy.  

Other photos of Lucy 

             

Then in the winter of 2025, the weather was bitterly cold the temperature dipped to below 0 and there was snow.   Lucy and the gray cat spent 2 nights in the insulated cat shelter and on the 3^rd bitter cold night  Lucy the feral cat entered our house through our side door that was opened when my husband was bringing in groceries and she went and sat on the kitchen floor. 

My husband picked Lucy up she did not hiss, she did not snarl and he walked her to our enclosed side porch.   I set it up with a litter box, food, and water.  My husband brought in her insulated outdoor house. We also added an oil-filled space heater and a K&H self-warming cat mat.  Lucy lay down on the self-warming mat next to the heater.  

The gray cat that loves Lucy searched for her, he called out to her all night long and I feared that his distress calls would cause this cat to be hunted by coyote.  So, I trapped him and brought him into the room where I had Lucy. 

The gray cat was distressed but then Lucy picked up her head and he went to her and sniffed the gray cat relaxed.   United again, the gray cat groomed Lucy and then laid down next to her.  The gray cat will stay with Lucy until it’s her time to pass. Lucy is approximately 4 pounds and is eating and drinking very little.

Lucy enters the caregiver's home for end-of-life care

Lucy passed away on January 28th. at age 17. She had stopped eating and we took her to the veterinarian where we were told that she had cancer.  We euthanized her and buried her on the land where she was born.  

Lucy is the oldest living Feral Cat in history.  I have dedicated this blog to her as she was the first feral cat that we trapped and then cared for throughout her life.   Our hearts are broken and we will miss the feral cat that we called Lucy.